Are you wanting to add a virtual background to your Zoom meeting? Do you want something a little flashy or perhaps some branding, like your logo in the upper left-hand corner? Well, in today's video, I want to show you everything you need to know about virtual backgrounds in Zoom. I’ll also show you how to create your own custom background using a tool you probably already have on your computer.
Hello, everyone. Scott Friesen here at Simpletivity, helping you to get more done and enjoy less stress. The number one reason for using virtual backgrounds in Zoom is to hide whatever else is going on behind you. But let’s get started with some prerequisites. Some of you have asked why you don’t see the virtual background option. I’ll include a link in the description below for all the prerequisites so you can check them yourself. The main reason often comes down to your processing speed. If your machine isn’t fast enough, you might not have virtual background capability.
To make sure you have virtual backgrounds enabled, log into your Zoom account on your desktop browser. Go to Account Settings under the Admin section, then Account Management, Account Settings. Scroll down to In Meeting (Advanced). Make sure Virtual Background is turned on.
Once that’s set up, go back to your Zoom desktop client. Open Zoom and click the gear icon for settings. You might think it’s under Video, but to upload or adjust your virtual background settings, you need to go to Virtual Background. Here you can play around with a few presets or choose a video background. Be aware that video backgrounds require more bandwidth and processing speed, so a static image might be safer.
To add a background, click the plus button to upload an image or video. Select the image you want and upload it. If you want something more custom, you can use PowerPoint to create your own background.
Here’s how:
- Open PowerPoint and set up a 16:9 canvas.
- Find an image you like from a site like Pexels.com and copy it.
- Paste the image onto your PowerPoint canvas. Resize and position it as needed.
- Add any custom elements, like a logo. Insert the logo by going to Insert > Pictures > This Device. Resize and position it in the top left corner to avoid it being covered by Zoom controls.
- Go to Full Screen mode in PowerPoint and press Print Screen to capture the image.
- Open Microsoft Paint, paste the screenshot, and save it as a PNG or JPEG.
Back in Zoom, go to Virtual Background and add the image you just created. Ensure "Mirror my video" is unchecked if your logo appears reversed. Don’t check the box for a green screen unless you have one.
With proper lighting and a darker background, you’ll get the best results with Zoom virtual backgrounds. I hope you found this video helpful. If you have any questions about Zoom virtual backgrounds or anything else related to Zoom meetings, let me know in the comments below. Thanks for watching, and remember, being productive does not need to be difficult. In fact, it’s very simple.
