Not all individuals construct their home office around video conferencing. Furthermore, if your home office serves as an additional bedroom, kitchen, or a cluttered corner of your cellar, you will be pleased to learn that Zoom provides the capability to obscure your surroundings from your colleagues.
change your Zoom background
The software accomplishes this, in part, by enabling you to modify your Zoom background, thereby enabling other participants in the conversation to observe you while replacing your current setting with a more formal one.
Interested in utilizing the interesting feature? This article will demonstrate how to modify the background of your Zoom device using both pre-installed and user-uploaded images. We also cover how to apply filters for a more whimsical appearance and how to obscure your Zoom background if you prefer something more subdued.
Access your Zoom settings in Step 1
Before you can customize your virtual background in Zoom, you must navigate to the application’s settings. Launch the Zoom desktop application and select the gear-shaped Settings icon to accomplish this. This icon is situated in the upper-right corner of the primary menu screen of the application. Place it directly beneath the icon for your profile picture.
Select Background & Filters from the preferences menu in Step 2
Select the Background & Filters option from the menu located on the left side of the screen once in the Settings menu. A sub-section of the Settings menu will appear on the right side of the display. This is the location from which we shall select a backdrop. Video filters can also be added in this section; however, that will be covered in greater detail later in the guide.
Preview and select your virtual background in Step 3
Ensure that the Virtual Backgrounds pane is active prior to selecting a virtual backdrop. You can peruse Zoom’s restricted assortment of pre-established video and image backgrounds in this manner. To initiate the preview process for any of these backgrounds, simply hover over its corresponding thumbnail icon. It should manifest in the preview screen located at the top of your window. It is crucial to mention that in order to observe the visual representation of your virtual backdrop during a video conversation, you must activate your webcam during the preview phase of these backgrounds. By doing so, the simulcast of your face will be displayed on the preview screen, juxtaposed with the backdrop, rather than simply the background itself.
Additionally, the use of Zoom’s pre-set virtual backgrounds is not mandatory. To incorporate user-generated images and videos, locate the Plus Sign icon adjacent to Video Filters and select it. A drop-down menu containing the options Add Image or Add Video will appear. By selecting either option, the File Explorer on your computer will launch, allowing you to choose an image or video file from your device. After selecting a background, merely close the Settings menu. Your selection is automatically saved when you zoom in.
You can also obscure your actual background if you prefer not to use a virtual backdrop but rather to reduce its visibility or conceal it slightly. To accomplish this, select the Blur thumbnail option from the Virtual Backgrounds tab in the Background & Filters section of the Zoom settings menu.
Additionally, it is noteworthy to mention that Zoom’s Virtual Background function has been optimized to operate more efficiently when a green screen is utilized. While it is possible to utilize the feature even without a green screen, it is anticipated that the quality will be enhanced. To optimize your virtual background when using a green screen, ensure that the checkbox labeled “I Have a Green Screen” is checked in the Background & Filters preferences page.
It is also possible to modify your virtual background during a meeting. To accomplish this, click the arrow pointing upwards contained within the Start (or Stop) Video Camera icon. From the resulting menu, select Select Virtual Background. This will navigate you back to the previous Background & Filters menu.
How to apply a filter to your Zoom video for added enjoyment
Expanding beyond virtual backgrounds is yet another method of enhancing Zoom meetings. Additionally, you can embellish your backgrounds with an extensive collection of preset Zoom filters. The following describes how to use them:
As we did previously, navigate to the Background & Filters section of the Zoom Settings menu in Step 1.
Step 2: Navigate to the Video Filters tab to be presented with an extensive assortment of Zoom preset filters. To see how a filter would appear on your screen, select its thumbnail; a preview will then display in the preview screen located at the top of your window. Certain image filters require the software to detect and display your face accurately; therefore, they will remain inaccessible unless your webcam is active. As an illustration, the pizza hat filter remains inactive until it detects a cranium upon which it can position the hat.
Step 3: Close the Settings menu once a filter has been selected. The selected filter will be displayed on-screen in an automated manner during subsequent Zoom meetings.
Similar to virtual backgrounds, users possess the capability to modify or incorporate a filter during the course of a meeting through an analogous procedure. Tap the arrow pointing upwards located within the icon labeled “Start” or “Stop” Video Camera. A menu will become visible on-screen. By selecting Choose Video Filter, Zoom will navigate you back to the Settings menu’s Background & Filters section, where you can select your desired filter.
