Working With Campuppet™ Digital Stages

 

The way a Campuppet Digital Stage works is by taking a background snapshot. Because the program knows what's in the background, it can replace parts of it with an stage image. Now, because you were not in the background when the background snapshot was taken, you or your puppets will be able to move in front" of the background.

 

Tips on getting the best results with the Campuppet Digital Stages:

 

1) You do not need a 'Green Screen' background for the Digital Stages to work. What works best is to have as plain a background behind you as you can get. The more things (chairs, posters, windows, etc) that are in the background the harder it is for the program to tell you or your puppet from the background. A blank wall or even a hanging blanket improves the quality of the images or videos. Just keep it simple.

 

2) Try to make your foreground colors (the color of you clothes and puppets) different from you background colors (the color of the wall or blanket). For example a white tee-shirt with a white wall behind you does not work as well as a red tee-shirt and a white wall.

 

3) Avoid having reflective surfaces in the background (mirrors, reflective glass, shiny metal, bling, etc.).

 

4) If any part of the background moves after the program takes the background snapshot, the moving objects will not be part of the background anymore. Pay attention to shadows that are part of the background but move when you move back in front of the camera. Also be aware of any movement in the background caused by a televisions, fish tanks, windows, pets, annoying brothers or sisters, etc.

 

NOTE: To have Photo Booth reset the background, press the spacebar.

 

5) If you moved the camera or computer after the  background snapshot was taken, you will need to re-take the background snapshot. Press the spacebar to re-take the background snapshot.

 

6) A dark room makes it harder for Digital Stages to work. Make your area as well-lit as possible.

 

7) Lighting is very important for getting the best results from the Digital Stages. You want to illuminate as evenly as possible. The ideal lighting setup is to have 3 lights, two key lights for the background (one on each side) and another fill light that is a little softer, just to give the shape of light to the person or puppet in front of the background. The trick is not to have the person or puppet create shadows on the background. The diagram below shows the basic lighting setup that works best.