The BaseXStudio™ kit with GreenScreen has been prepared for users who want to achieve TV effects (virtual television studio) or professional film sets in home conditions. Surprisingly, this kit combined with computer programs available online (e.g., the free version of DaVinci Resolve) allows achieving such effects. Additionally, YouTube offers practical and objective tips on how to achieve specific effects.

The kit includes essential elements for building a photographic studio at home - a background hanging set, basic background, and lighting. The green background meets the requirements necessary for color keying. Lighting power enables photography in the range of frames from close-up (portrait, detail) to half-close-up (bust). In the case of non-living nature, the frame is limited only by the width of the background. The kit can also be used for filming (live, stream, remote learning). Higher sensitivities are then required.

Blue box (also known as bluescreen, GreenScreen, chroma key) is an image processing technique that involves replacing the background of a relatively uniform color (originally blue, hence the name) with any other image. It is widely used in television (most often during weather forecasts and news programs) and film (to place actors in computer-generated environments). The background color is usually blue or green because these colors are considered least similar to skin tone and rarely appear in costumes and props.

In digital video recording, color is represented by three numbers indicating the brightness of the color components (RGB). The blue box effect is achieved through a simple comparison of the values of these numbers at individual points in the recording with the background color. If the colors match (exactly or within a certain range), the recording at that point is replaced by an alternative background.

A person participating in a blue box recording should not wear clothing in a similar color to the background, as it will be replaced by an alternative image. They also cannot hold objects of such color. This can be used to create an effect of an invisible character wearing an invisibility hat, for example.

In some Polish TV channels (e.g., TVP, TVN Meteo Active), blue box is used to present weather forecasts. Public television used blue box in the 1990s-1992 in "Wiadomości" to generate a uniform blue background and display animations next to the presenter. From 1997 to 2002, it was also used in this program to generate a newsroom image behind the presenter's back. Source: Wikipedia.

The lighting used in the kit is classic studio continuous lighting - single-bulb softbox lamps on lighting stands. Softboxes are equipped with PureLight™ photographic bulbs with standardized parameters (color temperature 5500K and color rendering index CRI >90). Softboxes are a basic element of a photographic studio, used to change the properties of light: size of the glowing surface, intensity, and direction of light. This type of lamp is becoming increasingly popular in video productions. It also serves as an excellent alternative to kinoflo lamps.

Softbox softens tonal transitions between light and shadow. Light is evenly distributed inside the softbox and maintains equal power across the entire diffuser surface. The outside of the softbox is matte black, preventing reflection of other lights' rays. Folding and unfolding are exceptionally simple, and a folded softbox takes up little space. High-quality materials ensure trouble-free operation for years. Designed and manufactured to guarantee safe use with fluorescent bulbs.

The BaseXStudio™ kit uses at least two lamps due to mutual shadow compensation - one lamp serves as the main light source, while the other is a fill light. The power of the used bulbs is given in the technical specification (below).

The BaseXStudio™ kit includes classic studio continuous lighting, i.e., single-bulb softbox lamps on lighting stands. Softboxes are basic photographic studio elements that aim to change light properties: size of the glowing surface, intensity, and direction of light. This type of lamp is becoming increasingly popular in video productions. It also serves as an excellent alternative to kinoflo lamps. The BaseXStudio™ kit uses two lamps due to mutual shadow compensation - one lamp serves as the main light source, while the other is a fill light. The inside of the fixture's dome is finished with silver material. Light is evenly distributed within the softbox and maintains equal power across the entire diffuser surface. The outside of the softbox is matte black, preventing reflection of other lights' rays.

The lamps are equipped with PureLight™ photographic bulbs with an E27 base and standardized parameters (neutral color temperature 5500K and color rendering index CRI >90). Thanks to the natural color reproduction, the bulb does not introduce any color distortions. The generated light stream, obtained after about 90 seconds of operation, is 3900 lumens and corresponds (approximately) to a 325W halogen bulb.
Folding and unfolding softboxes are exceptionally simple, and a folded one takes up little space. High-quality materials ensure trouble-free operation for years.

The maximum height of a single stand is 230cm. The recommended working height is 220 cm. The stand has convenient section clamps and a 16mm studio head with a universal 1/4" thread.
The telescopic mechanism provides a wide range of stand operation (78-230 cm, adjustable to any height) and various applications. The leg spread (from foot to foot) is 75cm.
The stands work perfectly not only with softboxes but also with flashlights and continuous lights, halogen lamps.

The background hanging kit consists of two CGLS-816B studio stands and a foldable two-section bar attached to them. The frame allows for the suspension of various photographic backgrounds (cardboard, vinyl, or fabric) up to 5 kg in weight and with a maximum width of 165 cm. Backgrounds can be hung at heights ranging from 83 cm to 205 cm.
The bar is attached to the stands using butterfly nuts, preventing it from lifting during background raising. Unrolling the background from the roll is blocked by plugging in two handles (frogs) included with the kit.

The width and length of the fabric on the roll are sufficient to create a continuous background without folds (cyclorama) for photographing a silhouette. The cardboard roll protects against creases during transport or storage. Potential creases can be easily removed by steaming or wetting the background. The perforated texture of the background minimizes reflections from strong light sources. The cardboard roll, on which the background is wound, serves as a base for easy storage and transportation of the background, allowing it to be hung on a studio bar or with T-type hangers. We strongly recommend purchasing a background suspension simultaneously, significantly improving work quality in the studio and the achieved effects.

Creative use of the background requires the photographer or camera operator to plan the frame and the desired effect after applying keying. Of course, a computer with appropriate software will be necessary. The good news is that there are free versions of software available on the market that allow image keying in both photography and film. We strongly recommend YouTube materials for those starting work with green background as greenscreen.

Note regarding material texture - people who encounter photographic polypropylene backgrounds for the first time may worry that the background's texture will be visible in photos. In real conditions, the object remains about 50 cm away from the background, which, combined with shallow depth of field, causes the background texture to blur.

Choosing lighting power

When selecting lighting for a photographic studio, it is essential to ensure the proper amount of light needed for the intended purpose. The Home Photographic Studio kits may contain (depending on the version) from 2 to 16 bulbs.

• Non-living nature does not require strong light.
  If you are photographing an inanimate object, you can freely use single-bulb lamps. In product photography, exposure time is arbitrary and can always be adjusted for proper exposure. A tripod will come in handy.
• Beware of people (and animals).
  During the photography of people and animals, exposure time is limited. Especially when photographing children or active animals, significantly more light is required. Single-bulb lamps will pass the test at short distances (approx. 0.5 m).
• The wider the frame - the more bulbs.
  It can be assumed that two single-bulb lamps are sufficient for a portrait. During close-up photography, the distance of the softbox from the face is small and provides proper exposure. Increasing the frame very quickly requires increasing the amount of light.
• Fashion with live models.
  If you plan to photograph fashion with a model (male or female), choose kits with two or more four-bulb softboxes.