Video Production Tips

How to Use Video Backgrounds in Zoom

Posted April 8, 2020
Written by Lana Sciasci

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How to Use Video Backgrounds in Zoom

Up until March 2020 Zoom was a pretty obscure video conferencing app, mostly used by corporate workers for online meetings. Fast forward to our current state of COVID-19 isolation, and it’s become a part of almost everyone’s daily lives. Got a work meeting? Zoom. Teaching a remote class? Zoom. Missing your nearest and dearest? You guessed it! Zoom.

This app Zoom and Zoom alternatives are changing the way we communicate with each other and thankfully, it includes some fun new additions! The most popular of these is Zoom’s virtual backgrounds – in a few quick clicks you can swap your home office backdrop for something more exciting like the beach or outer space. Zoom virtual backgrounds are a great way to get creative (and hide your lack of housework) during this trying time. 

While Zoom offers a couple of virtual background options to get you started, we’ve gone a step further. In this blog, we’ll be showing you how to customise our new Zoom video background templates and how to change your background to a video in Zoom.

Zoom video background example

How to change your Zoom background with Clipchamp video templates

Step 1. Create an account

If you haven't already, sign up to Clipchamp for free, or log in.

Step 1. Create an account

Step 2. Browse our Zoom Backgrounds template collection 

Click Template Library in the left sidebar. When the page loads, scroll through the collections to find the one titled Zoom Backgrounds.

Step 2. Browse our Zoom Backgrounds template collection 

Step 3. Select a template to edit

Click your chosen template. Then click Use this template. The Clipchamp Create editor will open automatically once you have clicked on the template.

Step 3. Select a template to edit
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Step 4. Rename the video template

Firstly, select Click to rename! in the top left corner. Add a title to your Zoom video background.

Step 4. Rename the video template

Step 5. Customise your template

Explore what our free online video editor has to offer. You can apply filters, adjust colours, add motion text and more!

Step 5. Customise your template

Step 6. Export the finished Zoom video background

Once you're happy with your Zoom video background, click Export in the top right corner then choose your export video quality. We recommend using 1080p for the best quality. Click Continue when you have selected the export settings. Click Save to save your Zoom video background to your computer.

Step 6. Export the finished Zoom video background

Step 7. Log in to your Zoom account

Open the Zoom app on your computer and enter your details to log in.

Step 7. Log in to your Zoom account

Step 8. Customise your video preferences

Once logged in, click the wheel icon in the top right corner of your home screen to open settings. Once the tab opens, click Virtual Background in the left toolbar.

Step 8. Customise your video preferences

Step 9. Add your Zoom video background

Click the + symbol above Zoom’s virtual background options, then select Add Video. Search your computer for the Zoom video background you saved earlier and once you’ve selected it, click Open. Your background will automatically change to your Zoom video background.

Step 9. Add your Zoom video background

Step 10. Change or remove your Zoom video background

Finally, if you would like to change your background to another option, simply repeat the prior steps. If you wish to remove your background entirely, repeat steps 1 to 8 and instead of adding another background, select the None option that sits alongside Zoom’s virtual background options. It's as easy as that! And it’s now simpler than ever to import and edit Zoom recordings with Clipchamp.

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