To get the best experience in your Zoom videos, take careful consideration of lighting and your surroundings. While Zoom does provide virtual backgrounds, a well lit video will provide better results for your picture in a Zoom meeting whether you use a background or not.

Lighting considerations

A poorly lit video

Having a light source behind you such as a large window or lamp can result in dark shadows or loss of detail in your video.

A well lit video

A light source to the side with result in much better picture clarity and details.

Virtual Backgrounds

Zoom provides a feature called Virtual Backgrounds that allow you to block out your background surroundings with a picture or video. Zoom has a few built-in backgrounds and you can supply your own.

Enabling a background

1. Open the Zoom application on your computer.
2. Select Settings
   
3. Select Virtual Background
   
4. Select your virtual background from the list presented in Choose Virtual Background, or click the + icon to choose a picture from your computer
   
5. Close the settings window. Your virtual background will be applied when you enter your meeting

For additional assistance, contact Academic Technology: (415) 405-5555, at@sfsu.edu, LIB 80