How to Create a Mirror Which Shows No Reflection Using Green Screen Techniques

With a green screen, you can take video or photographs of someone, and then paste the foreground image into a different background. Usually, a green screen is used in front of a reflective pane. But, if you don’t have one of these items, then you can put your green screen on top of a mirror. Unlike traditional mirrors, this mirror does not produce a reflection of the items in front of it. You often see this effect in vampire films. So, you may be asking yourself a question: how to create a mirror which shows no reflection using green screen techniques?

Well, first of all, you need the right supplies, and these include the following:

Double-sided tape

Lighting

click to enlarge

Green Screen

Editing Software

If you already have a professional studio, then you probably have already made the lighting, video editing software and green screen investments. If not, then you can create your own green screen using dye and old fabrics, and you can use lamps as your lighting. These items plus the double-sided tape should cost you less than $20.

The video editing software, however, can be expensive. But, you can always use the free downloads, or you can purchase one of the cheaper programs like Windows Movie Maker.

Now that you have your materials, it’s time to create your mirror. First, measure the interior of the mirror, and cut out a section of the green screen that perfect matches the dimensions of the mirror. Make sure that no sections are exposed, or it will compromise your effect. Next, tape the green screen section to the mirror using the double-stick tape.

Setup your scene and your mirror, and adjust the green screen lighting so that it consistently illuminates the green screen. Make sure that there are not any wrinkles or inconsistent lighting on the screen, or this will make it harder to edit the image during post-production.

Next, film your scene with your actors or objects in front of the mirror. You can even film from the perspective of the mirror. Try to avoid actors or objects that are supposed to have a reflection. Only film the things that you don’t want to have a reflection.

Now, it’s time to open up your film in your video editing software program. Import the video, and convert each clip into an individual layer. Make the non-mirror footage as your top layer, and make your mirror footage the bottom layer.

Start removing any green sections of your mirror, and usually this is done via an eye dropper tool. Then, merge the two layers. You must, however, make sure that the mirror footage shows through the top layer.

Once you are done, watch your film clips again and try to find any lingering green spots from the green screen. Then, save your clips so you don’t lose your work.