How to Remove Video Background

When editing a video clip with a simple background, or a solid-colored backdrop (i.e. a “green screen”), it’s easy to replace that backdrop with another image or clip.

Known as “keying” the shot, today’s editing software makes it possible to remove video background layers in just a few steps. Below, we’ve outlined how to key your videos with Final Cut Pro X.

Begin by ensuring the video clip has an evenly lit, smooth, and solid-colored background. Green and blue are typically the best colors for keying, but other colors can also be removed. Flim your clip with your chosen background color, then follow these steps.

Select Your Clip

Ready the replacement clip in the Final Cut timeline. Drag it from the browser into the timeline, append the clip with the E key, and connect your first clip by selecting it and pressing Q. This will link the two clips.

Use Keying Effects

Navigate to the Effects browser (or open it with Command+5), click on the “Keying” category, and drag the “Keyer” effect from the browser onto your original clip. Upon releasing the mouse, the Keyer will automatically attempt to remove the clip’s background. For those with professional green screen setups, this may be all that’s necessary. However, DIY videographers might need to adjust the effect’s settings.

Make Adjustments

To fine-tune Keyer parameters, press Command+4 to open the Inspector window, then click the triangle next to “Keyer” to reveal the effect’s advanced settings. A good way to assess the effectiveness of the Keyer is by clicking the “View” button in the Inspector, which will transform the clip into a grayscale matte. This highlights where the software has removed parts of the background. If the foreground shows noticeable black marks, or the background has white marks, you might need to adjust the Keyer manually.

To do so, return to the Keyer settings and set the Strength to 0. Then, to eliminate video background colors, specify the color values to be removed. Select the Sample Color icon and drag over a clean section of the clip’s background to obtain a sample. For more accuracy, click the Edges icon and drag a line from the background onto your subject. This helps to keep the edges of your subject well-defined while also removing as much background color as possible.

You can adjust the Spill Level slider to remove any residual background color that spills onto the subject. Excessive Spill Level can introduce unflattering colors to your image; too little, and the background color may still be visible. Balancing these adjustments will provide the best result.

Cover image via M.Aurelius