The Lighting

When setting up the lighting, you want to separate the lighting of the foreground object(s) from the lighting of the backdrop. This shouldn't be too different from usual set-ups, as it's nearly impossible to light the foreground object(s) and the backdrop with a single light source anyway.

When lighting the backdrop, you want to make it as uniform as possible, but don't overly complicate the situation with multiple light sources. A single light source is sufficient and even preferred. Maskerade compensates for any lighting gradient that occurs across the backdrop by using the user's background point selections in the source image tabs. If you illuminate the backdrop with multiple light sources, it becomes a very difficult process to remove their effects analytically or subjectively, so by requiring only a single light source, we make the photographer's job easier, the user's job easier and the software's job easier.

Try not to allow the backdrop light to spill over onto the front of the object(s) being photographed. Any change in the lighting on the object(s) will be considered transparency by the software since it is impossible to distinguish the change in lightness as reflection from transparency.

You should use a fixed exposure for the two shots - do not allow automatic exposure to expose the two shots differently. Maskerade does automatic exposure compensation, but extreme differences will cause problems. Small differences that occur due to blooming of film characteristics are easily compensated for.

Tech Tip:
When shooting these two shots, you should not consider them 'throw away' shots as you would consider a blue/green screen shot. A blue/green screen shot is not likely to be usable for any purpose without first using the blue/green screen process on it, but one of the two Maskerade shots could be used in the event that something evil or foul happened. If you could use a nice white shot as your final image, then set up the white backdrop shot as you normally would and simply darken the background for the second shot. If you need a shot on black, then do the reverse and consider the black backdrop shot the keeper. You can also shoot on any other solid color, as long as you provide good contrast between the light and dark shot. It's even possible to use totally different colors for the two shots. Maskerade simply needs a 'noticeable' change between shots.