Chroma Key Green Screen Editing Software For Mac

Green Screen is a film-making technique that allows film producers to add a variety of visual effects to their video projects.

Move your cursor over to the green screen clip, and then right click on it, choose Green Screen from the drop down menu to enter the editing interface. Move your cursor over to the green screen.

Those visual effects include replacing video backgrounds, superimposing the subjects onto various backdrops, combining animation with live acting, to name a few.

Although it is widely used in the movie and television industry, anyone can use this technology to create their own production, from short films to engaging presentations and clips, since the emergence of the apps discussed below.

In this post we will look at the top 5 best green screen apps everyone can use in 2019.

1. Best Overall Green Screen App for PC: Movavi Video Editor

Free Trial Version Available, Runs on Windows and Mac platforms

Movavi Video Editor is hands down, the best app for using green screen technology. It is available for both Windows and Mac platforms and there is a free trial version available for download. Using this software is fairly simple and it is suited for both beginners and professionals.

Key Features and Tools:

  • Drag and drop feature is quick and easy
  • It comes with a library of pre-made video effects, allowing you to be more creative and unique when editing your videos
  • Special effects include Mosaic, green screen, split screen, face-off and many more
  • You can add animated titles to your production, producing unique and stunning results
  • Other advanced features include zooming, video stabilizer and pan as well as reverse playback

To use the green screen feature in Movavi Video Editor:

Step1. Import both the green screen footage and the preferred background to the software.

Drag and drop the green screen footage to the video track and then the preferred background to the PIP track located under the green screen footage.

Step2. Select the green screen footage and then click on the chroma key option from the List icon on the left sidebar. When the chroma key control window pops up, the software will automatically detect the green color in the background.

Chroma key software download

Step3. All you would need to do is click anywhere on the green color, and the software would automatically remove it from the screen, leaving the subject to the forefront.

2. Best Green Screen App for Mac: iMovie

Free software (Mac only platform)

Fortunately, if you have a Mac platform, iMovie is available for free download, which is advantageous because there are not many video editing applications available for this platform.

iMovie is easy to use and can easily detect and remove the green screen from the background of your videos.No need to search out other higher-end products since iMovie chroma key option can also work for blue screen backgrounds as well.

To use the green screen feature in iMovie:

Step1. Upload both the green/blue screen background footage and the preferred background footage to the iMovie software application. Drag and drop both videos to the timeline, placing the green/blue screen over the other footage.

Step2. Ensure that you clicked on the green/blue screen footage on the timeline and then go to the top of the preview window and click the “Video Overlay Settings” button.

Step3. Select “Green/Blue screen” from the drop-down list. Your green/blue background magically disappears!

Step4. You can further fine tune the video by using thecropping tool or by adjusting the softness.

3. Best Green Screen Apps for iPhone/iPad: Do Ink

iPhone, iPad $2.99

Green Screen by Do Ink is featured in iTunes under “Best New Apps in Education” which was designed to allow anyone with an iPad or iPhone to create amazing green screen videos. There are two options for you when using this app, you can either import a prerecorded video, photos as well as artwork or use the live video camera.

To use the green screen feature in Do Ink:

Step1. Go to your iTunes store and search for the Green Screen by Do InkDownload,installand open the app.

Step2. Once the app is open, go to the upper right corner and click on the Plus icon which would allow you to Create a New Project

Step3. Import your backgroundimage or videoby tapping on theplus icon located on the lower right corner.

Step4. Add the green screen footage to the lowest track by tapping on the plus icon located next to the track. Preview your video for shadows before you save it. If there are shadows, you can erase them using the Mask tool .

Step5. Click the Save button when you are satisfied with the result. Perfect! Your video is complete.

4. Best Green Screen Apps for Android: Kinemaster

Android, iOS Free/ $4.99/month

KineMaster can be used on both Android and iOS devices but while it is one of the most powerful video apps available, it comes with a cost of $4.99 a month if you have used up the free trial version mode.

Like most video editing software, KineMaster can perform the basics but as a powerful video editor, it includes additional features and tools. It has chroma key, video effects, transitions, multiple video, image and effect layers, audio filter and a lot more. However, it is not as powerful as the desktop versions, but it does come quite close.

Downie mac app. Descriptions for Downie 4.0.10 (4101)Downie – Ever wished you could save a video from the Internet?

If you make a lot of videos, then this app is perfect for you. Try out the free trial mode but I can guarantee you would want to pay the monthly instalment to keep it forever.

To use the green screen feature in Kinemaster:

Step1. Download and install the Install “KineMaster” app from Google Play Store or iTunes. Open the app and proceed to the next step if you are using an image for your background. If not, skip this step and start with step 3.

Step2. You would need to set the cropping tool so go to Project Settings>Editing and then select Fill Screen. This setting prevents the background image from panning and zooming, thus avoiding an unnatural look.

Step3. Import your preferred background image or video to the primary media track by tapping on Media. Then import the green screen footage by tapping Layer>Media

Step4. Once your media has been layered, go to the options panel and tap on Chroma Key and then tap on the switch to Enablethe chroma key tool. Wala! The green color is removed immediately.

Step5. Use the Show Mask tool to further fine tune the video is you are not happe with the result. Once completed, export the final video.

5. Best Green Screen Apps for Chromebook:WeVideo

Web-based Free with Price Tier

WeVideo is a web-based green screen technology tool which is perfect for Chromebook since there are not many software apps available for video editing and content creation. WeVideo also saves space by not having to download bulky software.

The intuitive user interface of WeVideo, makes it easy for beginners to navigate. It is a full-featured video editor so the best part about WeVideo is the template media library offering royalty-free music and sound effects complete with a pre-packaged set of effects and transitions.

Of course, more advanced features are offered in the paid package such as better text templates for titles and credits, but free users still have a great selection to choose from.

This software can practically do the entire process for you but if you do it yourself manually, you would have a lot to discover in this great web-based application.

To use the green screen feature in Wevideo:

Step1. Navigate to the WeVideo website and import both the green screen clip and a background video to its media library. On Video 2 track, which is the top layer, you want to drag the green screen footage to it. Then drag the background video to Video 1 track located underneath the green screen footage track.

Step2. On Video 2 track (top), select the green screen footage video and then click on the Penciltool at the top.

Step3. Then, click in the eye dropper tool located on the color keying In the preview window, click on any green area part.

Step4. You would notice that the green color has been completely remove. Preview the final videoand then save it once you are satisfied.

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Hey, My name is Paul – nice to e-meet you 🙂 I’m a freelance video editor who has over 4 years experiences of making all types of videos. I founded this website to provide step-by-step and easy-to-follow instructions to first-time editors or beginners like you who want to start their journey in video editing.


What do you need to getstarted with green screen photography?


And How to get best results during chroma photography -

  • Agreen background or a blue background.
    • Greencolor is not essential for getting the digital effect you want. Youcouldeasily usea blue screeen background and get the same digital effect as the greenbackground. It wont make a difference. Just try to get whatever colorout of blue or green is easilyavailable and is economical.
    • Thiscould be a canvas backdrop or painton a wall. If this is a canvas, muslin cloth is preferable as abackdrop. While it preferred by most software that the backdrop beneatly ironed, we understand it is not always practicle to iron thebackdrop. So we designed our green screen program to work well with areasonable level of wrinkles in the backdrop. You can hang the backdropagainst a wall and spread it out nicely. If the background is paint,please make sure that the paint is of decent quality but not atall glossy. The glossy paint is going to reflect light and leave hotspot reflections at several points where light reflection is maximumand it will spoil the overall compositing of the digital photo. In theend this will lead to poor results despite the best quality of thesoftware. It not magic afterall!
  • Properlighting
    • Thelighting should be from at least two sides to evenly light up thebackground. The lighting should be such that the subject will leave noshadows. The better lit your backdrop is during the photo shoot, thebetter off you the results of the software! The color keying operationis better if lighting is even. But better lighting doesn't mean extra bright lights! Please be reasonable.
  • Properclothing for the talent or the subject of the photography
    • Whilethe sense of fashion is upto the model and to you, please do not wearshiny material. Please avoid wearing metallic accessories like metallic band, jewellery etc. The reason for this is that these shinysurface will reflect the green background and over spill. Parts of thesubject might get erased when thephoto is composited using the software program.
  • Positionof the talent
    • Keepher at least 6 feet from the green backdrop. Many people recommend adistanceof about 8 feet from the green or blue backdrop but we understand thatnot everyone has the luxury of a large space in their studio.
  • Yourphoto camera and our green screen photography software. Remember, manyprofessional photographers have used this technology before you.
  • Creativity!
    • Wehave worked hard and given our best to design our editing software toboost your creativity. You can just focus on selecting the bestsuitable backdrops for your subjects.

About Post Production forphotographers


Postproduction is the context of digital photography is the process ofworking on the photograph after it has been clicked by thedigital camera. Typical postproduction is performed by the use ofappropriate digital software to improve the photograph by adjustingexposure, contrast, brightness, colors, hues etc. Otherscould also be cropping, watermarking etc. Replacing background ofdigital photos brings a whole new interesting dimension to how thefinal finished picture presents itself. A subject could have beenphotographed inside a studio or a booth but could be shown in front ofthe statue of liberty!
Chromashop'ssoftware is about color keying only. This is also known as colorcompositing or green screen software. We have made a great deal ofeffort to take the expertise out of creating amazing color key effectsusing just a few clicks. Even children can do it, not to mentionprofessionals.
The green screensoftware mac version can be installed with just double clicking on thedmg after downloading and the green screen software windows version hasa windows installer as .exe file (executable file ). Both are less than30 MB in size, download fast and come bundled with the same set ofdigital backdrops. Would like to point out these are green screen photosoftware only. There is no video version for either mac or windows asof now and we are only focussed on creating the best green screenprogram for now. Chromashop is also used nicely as a photo boothsoftware in events on mac and pc. It gives good entertainment tovisitors in fairs and events.

How Easy green screen photo editor is!

Thisphoto editor for green screen editing is surprisingly easy to use compared toother such green screen photo software in the market. The software hasbeen designed to be used for lay people and professionals alike. Oneclick is all it takes to replace the background nicely. Of course, youphotography skills matter too. A nice photography by a technicalphotographer will yield better results than those of an amateur, butthe software helps in reducing the gap and the skills required for suchchroma key compositing / color keying / color masking effects and aneconomical price.
Previously people needed to learn photoshop skills before they couldattempt anything like this, but not anymore. Chromashop editing toolallows you to focus on just your creative work and not spend dayslearning photo tools. All these design decisions have enabled this tostrive to be the best chroma key photo software in its category.
It works both on Mac and Windows operating systems. Many people ownboth operating systems and they don't have to look for different toolsfor each.

Why use green background in photograph

Short answer to why green background for photos: It is most different from the human skin tones.
Long answer to why green: There are scientific and practical reasonsbehind using green backgrounds or blue backgrounds in photography.Suppose you use a black background behind the person beingphotographed. What would happen? The the black color is keyed out, theblack color in the person's and eyes would also be masked out. That is,his hair would vanish and so would the color of his eyes (ifblack). Similarly a pink background would make the pink in theskin of a person vanish.
Green and blue are the two color which have been known to effective inphoto compositing because they are the farthest removed from the skintones of most humans. However if a person has green hair, a greenbackground would indeed make her hair disappear in the resultingprocessed photo. In such a case a blue background would be more suited.
In practical applications such as weather forecasting studios,professional advertising setups, green has become more popular becauseblue is also a color that is poplularly used in clothes, especiallymen's clothing be it shirts, coats, trousers, ties. Many times, thereare blue shades that people wear and they tend to interfere with theblue background. Because of these reasons green has indeed become verypopular with photographers and video studios alike.

More resources on green screen coming soon..



Commandline chroma key version also available.