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chroma key

How to Record Your Screen With a Green Screen in OBS

Record your screen and webcam together in OBS by adding the right screen source, layering the camera above it, applying Chroma Key, and checking a short test recording.

By VGSources Team 6 min read
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To record your screen with a green screen, create an OBS scene with a screen-capture source and a webcam source, then apply the Chroma Key filter to the webcam. Put the webcam above the screen source in the Sources list, position it in the preview, check your audio and output settings, and make a short test recording before you begin.

What you need

  • OBS Studio: It can record your desktop or an app alongside your camera; you do not need separate keying software for this workflow.
  • A webcam or other video input: In OBS, add it as a Video Capture Device source.
  • A green background in the camera’s view: A physical green screen can help, but you do not have to buy a particular branded product. Chroma Key is an OBS filter.
  • A microphone, if you want narration: Confirm that OBS is receiving audio from the device you intend to use.

OBS interface labels can vary by operating system and release. The source names and settings below follow OBS’s official guides; check the current interface if a label differs.

Choose what to capture

Full desktop

Use a display-capture source when you need to show the whole desktop, including movement between apps. OBS’s Quick Start Guide lists Display Capture for Windows and Linux, and macOS Screen Capture for macOS. Capturing the desktop can also show notifications or unrelated windows, so close or silence anything you do not want in the recording.

One app or game window

Use Window Capture to record one application on Windows or Linux. This keeps unrelated desktop activity out of the capture, but make sure the intended window is selected and visible before recording. OBS lists macOS Screen Capture for macOS; the exact options available depend on the current OS and OBS version.

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Presenter layout

Add the webcam as a smaller overlay if you want viewers to focus on the game or app, or enlarge it when your on-camera explanation is central. In either case, keep the webcam source above the screen source so it is visible. OBS source order controls which source appears in front.

Set up the OBS scene

  1. Open OBS Studio. If you are setting it up for the first time, run the Auto-Configuration Wizard when appropriate. OBS says the wizard considers your intended use and computer resources.
  2. Create a scene. In the Scenes panel, add a scene for this recording. Keeping the screen, camera, and audio setup together makes the composition easier to manage.
  3. Add the screen source. In the Sources panel, select the plus button and choose the source for your operating system and capture goal: Display Capture for the full desktop or Window Capture for one app on Windows/Linux; macOS Screen Capture on macOS. Select the display or window you want to record.
  4. Add the camera. In Sources, select the plus button, add a Video Capture Device, and choose your webcam or video input. OBS’s webcam guide notes that this source can be positioned, resized, and filtered.
  5. Layer and place the camera. Move the camera source above the screen source in the Sources list. Select it in the preview and drag it into position; use its handles to resize it. Check that it does not cover important game or app controls.
  6. Apply Chroma Key to the camera. Right-click the Video Capture Device source, choose Filters, and add the Chroma Key effect. The filter should be on the source showing the colored background, not on the screen capture. Adjust the filter controls while watching the preview so the background disappears without removing parts of you. Exact values depend on the camera image and backdrop; no single setting is established for every setup.
  7. Check the image edges and framing. Look for leftover background color around your outline and for parts of your face, hair, or clothing being keyed out. Reposition or resize the camera if the overlay blocks relevant screen content. Make adjustments in the preview rather than assuming one filter value suits every room and camera.

Check audio and recording quality

Verify the microphone and desktop audio

Watch the Audio Mixer while speaking and while playing or using the app. OBS’s Quick Start Guide says desktop audio and microphone capture are enabled by default, but recommends checking the meters and choosing devices manually in Settings → Audio if the defaults are wrong. A visible meter confirms input activity; listen to a test recording as well to check that the result is understandable and that the intended sources were recorded.

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Choose output settings for your use and computer

Review Settings → Output and set the recording options for your intended use. Match resolution and frame rate to the delivery you need and what the computer can handle. OBS notes that 60 fps can be more demanding than 30 fps; there is no universal best setting for every machine or recording. If the picture stutters or performance suffers, try a less demanding frame rate or resolution and test again.

Make a test recording

Use Start Recording to capture a short sample, then stop and play it back. Check that the screen source is correct, the webcam is layered and keyed as intended, the microphone and desktop audio are present, and the computer kept up with the recording. OBS strongly encourages a short test before a first recording rather than starting the real session without checking.

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Common problems and fixes

  • The webcam is hidden behind the screen: Move the Video Capture Device higher in the Sources list so it sits in front.
  • The whole desktop appears when you only want the game or app: Replace Display Capture with Window Capture on Windows/Linux, then select the intended window. On macOS, use the available macOS Screen Capture options.
  • The green background remains visible: Confirm that Chroma Key is applied to the webcam source and adjust its settings while watching the preview. Check that the colored backdrop is within the camera frame.
  • Parts of the presenter disappear: The key settings are removing too much of the camera image. Adjust them while checking your outline and clothing in the preview.
  • The microphone or desktop audio is missing: Check the Audio Mixer meters, then select the intended devices in Settings → Audio. Record and listen to another short sample.
  • The recording looks choppy or the computer struggles: Test a lower output resolution or frame rate. Higher frame rates can require more resources; choose settings based on the actual recording and system.
  • Notifications or other windows show up: Use a window source when appropriate, or close unrelated windows and disable notifications before recording the desktop.

Copyright and what you record

OBS records what you capture; using a green screen does not grant rights to games, music, footage, images, or other material in the recording. Follow the relevant game publisher and platform rules, and use material you own or are permitted to include. If you later publish or stream the recording, a keying effect does not change the copyright status of its contents.

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