Replacing a filmed product background with AI: what to capture on set

Before filming, agree which parts of the image remain live action and which will be replaced. The product, tabletop, hands and distant background may each need different treatment.

Published: 2026-10-31

Before filming, agree which parts of the image remain live action and which will be replaced. The product, tabletop, hands and distant background may each need different treatment.

Keep references tied to individual shots

Record the shot number, selected take, camera position, lens and relevant settings. Document the product's position, contact with surfaces and the relationship between key lights. Ask the compositing team whether a clean plate is needed and what it will be used for.

A successful locked-off test does not establish that a moving shot will work. Test the difficult movement, reflection or occlusion, not just the opening frame.

Check the handover before striking the set

For a speaker filmed on a wooden table, a new room must make sense alongside the existing light, shadow and reflections. Replacing the distant background will not automatically remove the old room from a glossy surface.

Have post-production check that the footage and references answer their questions while additional material can still be captured. Finally, review the complete moving shot for edge, contact and spatial errors.

Planning a film? Contact Kanon Film in Shanghai to discuss your brief.

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