Want to make it look like you're on a tropical island when you're actually sitting at your kitchen table? Or do you want to appear as though you're in a classy office when you're actually sitting in an internet cafe? No matter the vibe you're trying to create during your video call, setting a custom background can make it happen. Let's look at how you can set a custom background on video calls using some of the most popular virtual call platforms: Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, and Webex.
Want to make it look like you're on a tropical island when you're actually sitting at your kitchen table? Or do you want to appear as though you're in a classy office when you're actually sitting in an internet cafe?
No matter the vibe you're trying to create during your video call, setting a custom background can make it happen.
Depending on which platform you're using, though, the steps you take to change your background will vary. On top of that, different video conferencing software offers various options for backgrounds, while there can also be different features depending on the type of account you have or the settings made by your admins.
So without further ado, let's look at how you can set a custom background on video calls using some of the most popular virtual call platforms: Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, and Webex.
You might not realize just how many compelling reasons there are to set a custom background for your next video call.
Whether you want to add some fun to a meeting with your team or set a professional tone for a client meeting, there are a lot of benefits to taking the extra step of switching up your background.
One of the most practical reasons to use a video background is to cover up your personal space when it isn't at its best. Setting up your home office for virtual meetings might have been fun and exciting when the pandemic revolutionized work from home a few years ago, but after a while, it gets pretty tiring trying to create an image of domestic perfection.
It's worth understanding that a virtual background isn't a fool-proof way of covering up private or sensitive information, but it can be a lifesaver when you just don't have time to fold that load of laundry that's sprawled out behind your desk.
Not everyone has the space in their home to have a room that is entirely dedicated to their work. This means that your colleagues, bosses, and clients might get a bit more of a peak into your personal life than you want them to when you turn on your camera. On the other hand, maybe you don't want everyone to know that you're logging on from a tropical island, and you'd like to give off a more professional vibe.
To make your environment look more presentable and business-like, you can set your virtual background to an image of a clean office, a floor-to-ceiling library, or anything else you feel sets the right tone.
Maybe you aren't looking for a more professional look– maybe you want to add some excitement to your virtual happy hour or laid-back team meeting.
Adding backgrounds can make conference calls a lot more fun, and you and your team can even come up with themes for your meetings if leadership is up for it.
If you're using video conferencing software to produce tutorials, live streams, or webinars for customers and potential clients, you might want to add branded imagery to your background.
This can help boost brand recognition and create a uniform look across all of your information products.
If you're working from home with dogs, kids, spouses, or roommates, you know that the threat of somebody waltzing into your camera's view is all too real.
Though it's ideal to have a space where you can close the door and focus on the meeting, this isn't always possible. To help give you a bit more privacy, consider blurring or changing your background.
If your team is frequently meeting with clients, vendors, or prospective customers virtually, you can have everyone set up a branded background that creates both professionalism and uniformity.
Not only does this make you look great to everyone your team is meeting with, but it can help employees get into the zone and stay focused during the conversations.
There are so many fun ideas you can play around with when it comes to virtual backgrounds.
Of course, you'll always want to keep your audience in mind (i.e., maybe save that Star Wars background for a social event rather than that important call with the CEO,) but you'll find there is a tremendous amount of opportunity for creativity once you get in the swing of altering your background.
Now that you're convinced that changing your background will add the right flavor to your next meeting, webinar, or video call, let's look at how to set custom backgrounds depending on which video conference platform you're using.
Microsoft Teams allows you to use one of their virtual background templates, choose an image of your own, or simply blur the background.
In order to change your background before the beginning of a meeting, follow these steps:
1. Select Background Filters below the video image when you're setting up your video and audio, which will display your background options on the right side of the screen.
2. To replace your background with one of your own images, you'll select Add New and then pick the picture you want to use as your background. The file will need to be either .PNG, .JPG, or .BMP.
3. To blur your background, select Blur. You can also select one of the images provided by Teams.
4. The background you select will continue to be your background for all of your calls and meetings until you turn it off or change it. In order to turn off these effects, you can select the icon that looks like a circle with a diagonal line running through it.
If you want to switch up your look in the middle of a meeting, the steps are a little different:
1. Under your meeting controls, choose More Actions and then Apply Background Effects.
2. To pick your own image, choose Add New and select a .PNG, .JPG, or .BMP file. You can also choose one of the preset images or select Blur in order to blur your background.
3. You can take a look at how your background will appear before it is applied by selecting Preview before pressing Apply.
4. In order to turn these effects off, select the icon that appears as a circle with a diagonal line through it.
A few notes: people using Teams through VDI (optimized virtual desktop infrastructure) won't be able to use the background effects feature. Linux users also aren't able to access this feature.
In order to set up the Virtual Backgrounds feature on Zoom, you'll need to make the change, sign out of the desktop client, and then sign back in. Once you do, the new background will take effect.
You can set a custom background at the account, group, or individual user level.
In order to set it up for your own use, you'll want to take the following steps:
1. Sign in through the Zoom web portal.
2. Click Settings in the navigation menu.
3. Find the Meeting tab and then navigate to the option called Virtual Background (which can be found in the section called In Meeting (Advanced)).
4. Make sure the Virtual Background setting is enabled.
5. If it isn't enabled, you can enable it using the status toggle. If a dialog box pops up, choose Turn on.
6. If the Virtual Background option is grayed out and you can't turn it on, it means that the feature has been locked either at the account or group level. In order to turn it on, you'll want to check in with your Zoom administrator.
In order to change your background on Zoom, the feature needs to be enabled for use on your account. On top of that, you'll want to make sure that your device or computer meets the Virtual Background system requirements.
Zoom also offers some advice for the best setups depending on whether you're using a green screen or not.
If you're planning on using a green screen, you'll want to:
If you aren't using a green screen, no problem. The difference is that there will be less definition and sharpness around your hair, ears, head, and face because the system probably won't be able to tell exactly where you end, and the background begins as well as it could if you were using a green screen.
There are also higher system requirements for using virtual backgrounds without a green screen because it uses more system resources.
All that being said, Zoom recommends that you:
Google Meets let you change your background to an immersive background, video, or image. They also let you blur your background or apply styles in the form of color filters, light filters, and stylized backgrounds.
To change your background before a meeting begins, follow these steps:
1. Go to Google Meet and select the meeting.
2. Click Apply Visual Effects, which is on the button right of your self-view.
3. To choose an image already on your computer, you'll want to click Upload a Background Image.
4. To select one of the pre-uploaded background options, simply select the background.
5. To slightly blur your background, choose the option Slightly Blur Your Background.
6. For a full blur of your background, select Blur Your Background.
7. To choose a filter, find the filter you want to use under Filters at the bottom.
8. In order to add a style, select one of the styles.
9. For interactive filters, you'll want to follow any directions that pop up on your screen in order to enable it.
10. Choose Join Now.
If you want to mix up your background while a meeting is already happening, here's what you'll need to do:
1. Find the More option on the bottom, where there are three vertical dots.
2. Select Apply Visual Effects, which looks like one large four-pointed star on the left and two smaller four-pointed stars stacked vertically on the right.
3. To choose an image already on your computer, you'll want to click Upload a Background Image.
4. To select one of the pre-uploaded background options, simply select the background.
5. To slightly blur your background, choose the option Slightly Blur Your Background.
6. For a full blur of your background, select Blur Your Background.
7. To choose a filter, find the filter you want to use under Filters at the bottom.
8. In order to add a style, select one of the styles.
The backgrounds and styles available to you can depend on the account type, client type, and the settings the admins have selected. If you're joining a meeting without being logged into a Google account, or you have to "knock" to be allowed in, you're only allowed to use visual effects or change your background once during the meeting.
It's very simple to change your background in Webex. If you're using the Apple iOS Webex App, you can switch your background by:
1. Tapping the Video Icon.
2. Selecting the Change Virtual Background option.
3. Choosing a standard Webex background, blur, or a previously uploaded image from the menu.
4. Clicking apply.
If you're using a desktop and want to change your background before a meeting begins, you'll want to:
1. Choose Change Background on the preview screen
2. Pick whichever background you want to use, whether it's a default background, an image of your own, or a simple blur.
3. If you're using your own image, they need to be in .PNG, .JPG, or .GIF format, while videos need to be in .MOV or .MP4 format. They recommend using files that are 480x360 pixels or larger.
4. Hit Apply.
If you're on a desktop and want to change your background while a meeting is in progress:
1. Choose the Video Options button.
2. Select Change Virtual Background.
3. Pick the background type you want.
4. Hit Apply.
The background you choose will stick with you through your following meetings, so you'll want to change it beforehand if you don't want it to be your default background for all of your calls.
Changing custom backgrounds can be a real hoot, but your employees, clients, or potential customers might not look terribly pleased if they are distracted by a rumbling sound in their tummies. If you're really trying to up the ante for your next video call, we have the perfect solution: pizza.
We know what you're thinking. How the heck are you supposed to coordinate different pizza places in different cities and time zones so that everyone receives piping hot, fresh food at the same time?
Don't worry– we've got you covered. If you want to take your next team meeting, workshop, tutorial, or employee happy hour to the next level, let us plan a pizza party for you.
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