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Video Editing · Session 7

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Ultra Key

Green screen keying — pulling a clean key with the Ultra Key effect and compositing subjects into new backgrounds.

Ultra Key Compositing — Real Estate Story with Green Screen Characters

Your story: You are editing a short real estate news story. Using Ultra Key, you will composite green screen characters into different scenes to create a fun and creative sequence. All scenes must be in one single timeline sequence. Use text to explain what is happening in each scene.

The scenes

Scene 1 — The Document Signing — Composite: Kettle and Tea

  • Use a real estate video clip showing a broker and buyer reviewing/signing documents
  • Composite Kettle and Tea into the scene using Ultra Key
  • Add a text lower-third explaining the scene — example: "Broker and Buyer Review the Deal"

Scene 2 — The News Report — Composite: Orange Cat

  • Use a newsroom-style video as the background
  • Composite the Orange Cat into the newsroom using Ultra Key
  • Add text explaining what the cat is reporting on — example: "Breaking News: Property Sold in Bangkok"

Scene 3 — The Key Handover — Composite: Singer Cat

  • Use a video clip showing keys being handed over
  • Composite the Singer Cat into the key handover moment using Ultra Key
  • Add text to celebrate the moment — example: "New Owner Receives the Keys!"

Scene 4 — The Celebration — Composite: Robot Dancing OR Minecraft

  • Use one of your Japan vlog clips as the background
  • Composite the Robot or Minecraft character dancing among the people using Ultra Key
  • Add text to describe the celebration — example: "Time to Celebrate in Tokyo!"

Step 1 — Set up your project

  1. Create a new project: YourName_Session7
  2. Create two bins: Foreground (for green screen clips) and Background (for scene videos)
  3. Import all provided clips into the correct bins

Step 2 — Build Scene 1 (Document Signing)

  1. Place the real estate clip on V1 (background)
  2. Place Kettle and Tea.mp4 on V2 (foreground) — both clips must cover the same time range
  3. Apply Ultra Key: Effects > Video Effects > Keying > Ultra Key
  4. Click the eyedropper > click the green area in the Program Monitor
  5. Refine the matte: adjust Tolerance, Highlight, Shadow until the green is fully removed
  6. Scale and position Kettle and Tea so they sit naturally within the scene
  7. Add a text lower-third on V3 explaining the scene

Step 3 — Build Scene 2 (Newsroom)

  1. After Scene 1, place the newsroom clip on V1
  2. Place Orange Cat.mp4 on V2 above it
  3. Apply Ultra Key, pick the key colour, refine the matte
  4. Position the cat so it appears to sit at or behind the news desk
  5. Add text on V3 explaining what the cat is reporting

Step 4 — Build Scene 3 (Key Handover)

  1. After Scene 2, place the key handover clip on V1
  2. Place Singer Cat.mp4 on V2
  3. Apply Ultra Key, pick the key colour, refine the matte
  4. Position the cat near the key handover moment
  5. Add text on V3 to celebrate the moment

Step 5 — Build Scene 4 (Celebration)

  1. After Scene 3, place your Japan vlog clip on V1
  2. Place Robot Dancing.mp4 or Minecraft.mp4 on V2
  3. Apply Ultra Key, pick the key colour, refine the matte
  4. Scale and position the character so it appears between people in the street
  5. Add text on V3 to describe the celebration

Step 6 — Refine all composites

For each scene, check the following:

  • Output > Alpha Channel — make sure background is solid black, subject is solid white
  • Apply Spill Suppression in Ultra Key settings
  • Apply Lumetri Color to the foreground clip to colour-match it to the background
  • Scale and reposition each character so they sit naturally in the scene

Step 7 — Add transitions between scenes

Apply a transition between each scene (use Blur/Zoom or any transition from Session 6). Keep transitions short — 1 second or less.

Step 8 — Final check and export

  1. Play the full sequence from start to end
  2. Confirm all 4 scenes are present and all text is readable
  3. Save: Ctrl+S / Cmd+S
  4. Export: File > Export > Media > Format: H.264 > Export

File names

FileName
Project fileYourName_Session7_UltraKey
Exported MP4YourName_Session7_Export

Example: Somchai_Session7_UltraKey

Submit both files to the class shared folder before the start of Session 8.

Footage used in this session

Green screen practice clips — used as the foreground characters keyed into each scene.

Download All Footage

Keyboard shortcuts

Ultra Key itself has no default shortcut — it's applied by dragging it from the Effects panel.

← / →
Step through frames to check the key at different moments
Space
Play/pause to check the key in motion
Ctrl+Z
Undo a matte adjustment that overshoots

Mac users: swap Ctrl for Cmd.