Short answer
Get a smooth, matte chroma green (paper, wrinkle-resistant fabric, or a pop-up for one person). Light the screen and the subject separately, as evenly as you can. Stand the subject well forward: guidance runs from about 3 to 6 ft at minimum (Finchley) to 10 ft or more (Adobe). Size it so the screen fills the frame behind them at that distance.
Material
-
01Smoothest
Chroma green paper
Best for: full length studio keys
- Widths
- up to 140 in (tech green)
- No wrinkles, so the key is cleanest
- Savage sells 140 in only in a few colors, tech green among them
-
02Flexible
Green fabric or muslin
Best for: home studios, travel
- Sizes
- 6 x 9 ft and up
- Folds away
- Pull it taut and steam it, or wrinkles shade the key
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03One person
Pop-up green screen
Best for: streaming and video calls
- Size
- about 5 x 6.5 ft
- Rim keeps it taut
- Too small for full length
Lighting it
- Light the screen and the subject separately. Keep screen light off the subject and subject light off the screen (Finchley).
- Even beats bright. A hot center with dark corners is harder to key than a slightly dim but even screen. Use soft sources such as softboxes or LED panels with diffusion.
- Separate the subject. A rim or hair light from behind helps the edges stand out.
- Check with the histogram or a light meter across the screen.
Distance and size
Adobe suggests about 10 to 15 ft between subject and screen (Adobe); Finchley says at least 3 to 6 ft. In a small room, take what you can get and light more carefully. The farther back the screen, the wider it must be to fill the frame: run your numbers in the size calculator.
Questions people ask
How far should you stand from a green screen?
As far as the room and screen size allow. Finchley suggests at least 3 to 6 ft; Adobe suggests about 10 to 15 ft. More distance cuts the green light that bounces onto the subject, but the screen must be wider to fill the frame.
Green or blue screen?
Green is the usual choice for video because camera sensors record green with the least noise. Blue helps when the subject wears green or for some night scenes. Many pop-ups are green on one side and blue on the other.
Why does my green screen key look bad?
Usually wrinkles, uneven light (a hot center and dark corners), or the subject too close, so green spills onto their edges. Smooth the screen, light it with soft sources, and move the subject forward.
What size green screen do I need?
For a seated streamer or video call, a pop-up around 5 x 6.5 ft. For a standing person full length, a long fabric or 107 inch paper with a sweep. The size calculator works for green screens too.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Sizes, colors and listings change; check the product details before you buy, and follow the maker’s care instructions.