In short: Avoid green in any shade, and anything close to the screen colour. Choose matte, mid-tone fabrics, skip sequins and shiny jewellery, and keep patterns large. Check every costume on camera before the day, and bring a spare in a different colour. Record the costume on a continuity sheet so the look holds across setups.
Green screen costumes fail for two reasons. The camera removes the colour it has been told to remove, so anything close to that colour disappears. And the screen throws its own colour back onto light and shiny things close to it. Plan the costume against both, and the presenter stays solid in the frame.
Avoid the key colour
Green in any shade is the obvious problem. The less obvious ones are olive, sage, lime, and teal, which can key out in part. A green lanyard, a green pen or a badge with a green logo can cause a hole in the picture where it sits. Look at everything the presenter carries, not only the clothes.
Control the spill
Spill is screen colour reflected onto the subject. Pale and shiny fabrics take it most, so a white shirt often comes back with a green edge. A mid-tone, matte fabric in navy, charcoal, plum or burgundy picks it up far less. Pattern and colour choices for any studio shoot are covered in what strobes on camera.
Keep patterns and shine under control
Fine stripes and small checks can shimmer on camera. Sequins, metallic thread and glossy jewellery catch the screen and the lights, which creates bright edges that do not key cleanly. Choose large, matte patterns, or plain fabric.
Hair and edges
Fine, flyaway hair and fur produce soft edges that are hard to key. Tie it back, or keep it neat for the shot. Edges are where most keying problems show, so they are worth the extra minute.
Worked example
A presenter arrives in a pale grey-green shirt for a talking-head piece. On the monitor the shoulders soften, and the collar takes on a green cast. The shirt is swapped for a charcoal one, the edges come back, and the change goes on the continuity sheet so the next setup matches.
Common mistakes
- Green socks, ties or lanyards. These are easy to miss and show clearly on camera.
- Shiny watches and rings. They reflect the screen and the lights.
- Pale colours under a bright screen. Spill appears on white and cream first.
- Changing clothes between setups without a note. Use a costume continuity sheet so the look holds.
- Testing only on a phone. Test with the camera and the key you will use on the day.
The green screen clean key guide covers the lighting and distance side, and make-up for green screen covers skin tone and shine. Our Green Space is a small pre-lit cove, so a costume test there is quick to run before the day.
Related guides
- What strobes on camera: patterns, colours, white
- Costume continuity sheet: a template for every look
- All guides and tools
The picture at the top of this page is an illustration, not a photograph of a client or a real job.
Questions we get asked
What colours should I avoid on a green screen?
Avoid green in any shade, and anything close to the screen colour, such as teal or olive, because the key will remove it. Check the screen colour with the studio before you choose anything near it.
Why does a white shirt look green on a green screen?
Light from the screen bounces onto pale, shiny fabric and gives it a coloured cast called spill. Mid-tone, matte fabric picks up much less of it.
Can I wear a navy suit in front of a green screen?
Usually, yes. Navy is far from the screen colour and holds its shape at the edges. Test it on camera first, because the lighting and the distance from the screen change the result.
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