With the inundation of remote video calls that many teams are experiencing, brands are finding creative ways to join the conversation. One that no one was expecting? Making custom images for Zoom backgrounds.
If you haven’t seen this trend yet, brace yourself for video call backgrounds that range from classy to silly and everything in between. But first, let’s back up: Zoom, the video conferencing platform that’s exploding in use while many companies work from home, offers an option to give yourself a green-screen-style background that other users then see instead of your actual setting.
Some people use the backgrounds as a cop-out to avoid having to let coworkers see their actual living spaces, while others are using them as a way to inject some fun into what might be an otherwise monotonous meeting. There are even non-work-related applications, with popular dating app Hinge getting in on the action by providing romantic backdrops for users to apply on Zoom dates.
Teachers and professors across the globe are getting in on the trend too, inserting the backgrounds into their remote lectures—both live and pre-recorded. Some are using the backgrounds to give the look and feel of a real classroom, while others are going for comedic effect with out-of-the-box settings.
If your team’s Zoom calls could use spicing up, search “virtual Zoom backgrounds” on Google and see what catches your eye. Your options are virtually limitless, with choices like Kris Jenner’s entryway , a close-up of a pizza , Jeopardy! sets , and even a pile of stacked-up toilet paper rolls .
If nothing you find online speaks to you, any photo can actually become a Zoom background if it abides by Zoom’s recommended image specs: a 16:9 aspect ratio and a minimum of 1280×720 pixels. [Note that photos that don’t meet this criteria may also work, but you might end up with a distorted or blurry image.]
Not all devices can support the Zoom feature, but if yours does, here’s how to do it:
- Within the Zoom interface, go to your profile (in the top right corner) and click “Settings.”
- Click “Virtual Background” from the menu options on the left.
- Zoom has several default options that you can choose from, or you can upload your own by clicking the “+” button next to where it says “Choose Virtual Background.”
- Select your image and let Zoom take care of the rest!
We can’t wait to see what creative backgrounds you come up with. Happy Zoom-ing!