Commonly applied in video compositing, a chroma key is a technique for creating a mask around an object automatically using a range of colors. By creating the mask based on a color range, effects can be applied to specific portions of the image based on their proximity to the defined hue. The hue is often selected using an eyedropper to get the most accurate sample, and used in both photo and video editing to speed up the background removal and subject isolation process.

The most common and widely known example of a chroma key is a green screen. Using a solid green background allows for a compositor to easily isolate the subject of the footage by removing the background with a chroma key effect. Once the background is removed, it’s replaced by other footage to create a composite image.

Chroma keying tools are found in many popular desktop video editing and compositing programs, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro, and Hitfilm.

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