Forum Discussion

d3500ram's avatar
d3500ram
Explorer III
Dec 09, 2020

Can I have a virtual background for virtual meeting...?

I am not overly techy... but what I would like to do is to have an image of a place other than my home office for an upcoming Zoom session.

I am having my work "virtual Christmas party" this Friday afternoon and it would be a goof if I could have an image such as a Caribbean beach or maybe the bar at the Playboy mansion behind me while I sip cocktails and interact.

Is this possible to have a fake background superimposed behind me?
A moving image (gif?) would be even better.

Can it be done? Can a luddite like me pull it off?
  • Tal_IL's avatar
    Tal_IL
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2020
    Yes, if your computer's video card is supported in Zoom.
    In Zoom go to settings > background & filters. You will see a number of provided backgrounds. You will also see a plus sign. Click the plus sign "+" to upload a background pic to the background library where it can be selected.

    FYI - there is an animated beach background provided that you can select.
  • Ed_Gee's avatar
    Ed_Gee
    Explorer II
    Dec 09, 2020
    Yes....that feature is built into Zoom. You provide the background Zoom picture on your computer and then choose it as virtual background from the Zoom program.....very easy but I forget what menu item in Zoom starts it.....not at my Zoom computer at moment.
  • navigator2346's avatar
    navigator2346
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2020
    Down at the bottom you will see a camera. To the right is an arrow, I think, if you click on that you can select a background
  • d3500ram's avatar
    d3500ram
    Explorer III
    Dec 09, 2020
    Thanks for the feedback!

    I should clarify... I used "Zoom" as a generic term.
    Our office actually uses Go-To-Meeting. Do you think GTM has the same or similar feature?
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Dec 09, 2020
    backgrounds w/o a green screen may be more anoying than pleasing. parts of you may disapear and reapear as you move around against the loaded background when colors in your camera start to match background.

    pick and choose one that works reasonably well or put up a green screen
  • 1492's avatar
    1492
    Moderator
    Dec 09, 2020
    Zoom's background actually works fairly well without green screen. It tends to 'flutter' around the silhouette of the participant, as it tries to find the edges. Though as ktmrfs commented, you'll get the cleanest results by using a green screen background, which is what I opted for myself. Certainly, not necessary for most Zoom users.
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Dec 09, 2020
    1492 wrote:
    Zoom's background actually works fairly well without green screen. It tends to 'flutter' around the silhouette of the participant, as it tries to find the edges. Though as ktmrfs commented, you'll get the cleanest results by using a green screen background, which is what I opted for myself. Certainly, not necessary for most Zoom users.


    yes, Zoom does pretty well. Many background images seem to work reasonably well coupled with an actual background of solid color and the viewer having different colors from background or background image.

    Best thing is to load a background and see how it works. If it is distracting try another,

    or put a green backdrop, sheet, paper etc. behind you. Doesn't need to be anything real fancy
  • mr__ed's avatar
    mr__ed
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2020
    It's not hard to do. I set up my own Zoom account first and then was able to use photos from my Pictures folder to provide a background. Has worked perfectly thus far. I also change the background occasionally for variety.

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