Virtual Backgrounds
Virtual backgrounds are an optional tool to bring life to your class and make a boring background interesting. You can use them to help teach in creative ways. Also, many teachers use Virtual Backgrounds when producing learning materials and content for the students.
To use a virtual background, you need a wall or curtain behind you of a single plain colour -- green works best. Some people hang green fabric behind them, others paint a board, or use a blank wall.
Then you need to make sure the surface you're using is well lit, one good light usually does the job, but some people use 2.
Once set up, find the virtual background section within Zoom.
A panel will show up, showing your video and potential backgrounds
To get started, select a virtual background.
Click on the colour box:
Hover over the background and click on your background.
The colour will change to match the colour of your background. If your background is set up correctly, the image should appear behind you.
If you have problems with lighting, some areas might not show properly
If the colour is the same as any part of your clothing, body or hair, it might cause the image to cover that area too. To stop this, make sure the background colour is different from your clothes and adjust the lighting.
If you have a green background, select the "I have a green screen" option.
To load your own background, click the "+" button.
Choose image or video. Then open the image from a file on your computer.
Have fun with the images, be creative. But, no explicit, violent or otherwise inappropriate images.
To access free, royalty-free images, we recommend Pixabay or Pexels.