Backdrops for the digital future.

Now that much of the photography process is digital, Backdrop Designer opens the way for tools that fit into your new workflow. Combine the plugin with Primatte Chromakey, our powerful masking software. Together, these tools eliminate the need for expensive physical drapery and props. Open up your creative possibilities and the flexibility to create the perfect photograph for your client.

What is Primatte Chromakey?

'Chromakeying' is a digital method of replacing one color (or color range) with a different image. This technique has been used for many years in film and television to create a variety of special effects. More recently, chromakey has become very popular in photography to achieve a particular look after the photography session.

Our masking software, Primatte Chromakey 3.0, works directly with single color removal. An AutoMask button, for instance, looks automatically for one color in your Photoshop file and deletes that color. Primatte has a variety of tools for removing 'color spill', the color that bounces from a back screen onto your model.

Image by Diane McCormick, McCardinal Photo. See more in our Backdrop Gallery.

Use Primatte and Backdrop together.

Here are the simple steps to merge Backdrop Designer and Primatte Chromakey. All of the work is done in Primatte and Backdrop Designer's own interfaces, using Photoshop as an intermediary area. It's simple, fast and fun.

Photograph on green.

Photograph your client against a single color screen. This is typically chroma-blue or chroma-green, which are colors not found in human fleshtones.

Create Primatte mask.

Use Primatte to extract that single color background, and get rid of any colorspill along the edges of your subject. This leaves your client against a transparent layer in Photoshop.

Set against transparency.

Create another layer in your Photoshop file. Then use Backdrop Designer to quickly create beautiful digital backdrops.

Find the perfect background.

Using Backdrop Designer, you can offer your clients a variety of background choices after the photoshoot. Just place the masked subject against one backdrop.

If you don't like that first choice, try another, then another, until you find the right combination. Most photographers will give their client a choice of 3 to 5 backdrop combinations upfront.