Picture Instruments Chroma Mask 2.0.10 fix

December 4, 2021

Chroma Mask is THE software for masking and cropping using Chroma Key. It can automatically mask and crop the subject already while shooting and display the cropped subject in front of a new background.

You can save color corrections along with a background as a “theme” so spontaneous motto-shoots are always possible. Besides using the popular green and blue background for masking Chroma Key also lets you key using the red channel. This is usually avoided in people photography since skin tones are rich in reds but it can be a great solution for shooting products that feature a lot of blue or green.

Overview:

Remove a green, blue or red background automatically while still shooting
Our special color spill correction removes colored reflections caused by the background and recovers the original color of the subject
Easy adjustment of the mask in edge mode
3D LUT support for color grading the subject (e.g. to match the background)
Save the background image along with the 3D LUT as a “theme”
Blur the background image
Automatically detect, load and mask new images for tethered shootings

Compared with our well-established masking software Mask Integrator, Chroma Mask has advantages as well as disadvantages. It is therefore advisable to carefully choose between those two applications.

Chroma Keys’ advantages over masking with backlight

The image containing the subject is also the image used for the cut out mask using the color channel. A fast moving subject or blowing hair presents no problem.
By using a colored infinity cove it is very easy to mask subjects from top to bottom.
Shadows cast by the subject can be transferred to the new background by using a lighter compression of the tone values.

Chroma Keys’ disadvantages compared to masking with backlight

Extremely fine details like fur or hair can be masked better using backlight photography.
A backlit image usually has a better contrast than a single color channel and therefore allows for softer transitions at the edges or when using semi-transparent materials.

Preferred applications for Chroma Mask: