Using a green screen for Zoom meetings is the virtual meeting hack you’ve been waiting for. Here’s how to buy the best green screens for Zoom or any other virtual meeting software you use!
Virtual Backgrounds are wildly popular. With much of the workforce now working remotely, companies have come to rely on technology from firms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and even Skype to conduct daily business.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other affiliate programs as applicable. Click here to read our privacy & disclosure page.
While Zoom may have been the first to offer this clever feature, most virtual meeting platforms now provide a virtual meeting option allowing participants to change or hide their background by superimposing another image behind them.
But, if you want to get the most out of your virtual background experience (and minimize the herky-jerky or blurry appearance of participants) a green screen is the way to go.
Chromakey Collapsible Green Screen (see price)
If you want to buy the best green screen for Zoom meeting (or any virtual meeting technology) we’ve got you covered. We answer all of your questions about using green screens in virtual meetings and most importantly help you identify the best and most affordable green screens.
Have you tried using a Green Screen for your Zoom meetings yet?
Virtual backgrounds have become one of the hottest features used by a workforce that has been forced (almost overnight) to work from their kitchens, dining rooms, nursery, basement and any number of other places that were not intended to be a home office.
Employees may be embarrassed by their home office and wish to hide some of the mess while still maintaining a professional appearance with colleagues. Or, they simply may want to have a little fun during the endless parade of daily virtual meetings.
“Green screen is a visual effects (VFX) technique where two images or video streams are layered — i.e. composited — together. Green screens basically let you drop in whatever background images you want behind the actors and/or foreground. It’s used in film production (and also in news and weather reports) to relatively simply place the desired background behind the subject/actor/presenter. When a background isn’t available – like a fictional, alien, historic, futuristic or even just hard-to-access location – green screen comes to rescue! A vibrant, almost neon green is the standard choice because it’s strong and usually a distinctly different colour from anything on the subject (e.g. the actor’s clothes, eyes, hair, accessories).”
Focus film school
Employing a virtual background allows folks using Zoom or other similar technologies to superimpose a false background behind them during their call. Instead of showing the messy basement they can superimpose a modern loft office space or pretend they are in a conference room or heck, even pretend they are an amusement park or on top of a mountain.
This feature has become wildly popular, but you will get the best possible results when using a green screen during your Zoom or Teams or Webex meeting. Let’s examine why.
By the way, if you are looking for virtual backgrounds for your meetings check out our repository of free backgrounds:
- Free Microsoft Teams Backgrounds
- Free Zoom Backgrounds
- Webex Backgrounds
- Google Meet Backgrounds
- Skype Backgrounds
Can you use a green screen for Zoom?
Yes, using a green screen for Zoom will likely enhance your use of Zoom’s virtual background features and is, in fact, recommended.
You can use a green screen with any video conferencing technology including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, Skype, BlueJeans, and more.
Where to buy a Green Screen for Zoom
The good news for virtual team meeting users is that green screen technology is pretty inexpensive. If you have a can of neon green paint you could just paint the wall behind you, but if you are looking at something less permanent there are several options. Here are a few ideas:
- Good Value: Heysliy Green Screen Backdrop
- Most Creative: Removable Peel and Stick Green Screen Wallpaper
- Easy to use (best value!): Chromakey Collapsible Green & Blue Screen
- Best Price: Redshop 160x200cm Fabric Green Screen Backdrop
- Unnecessarily Expensive: Elgato – Green Screen Collapsible Chroma Key Panel
Other Options:
There you go! While it’s not necessary, a green screen will definitely enhance your virtual team meeting experience.
Do you need a Green Screen for Zoom?
No, but it will improve your experience if you use virtual backgrounds. Technically, a green screen is not required to use Zoom’s virtual background feature (or any other virtual meeting technology), but it will definitely improve your experience – especially if the wall behind your camera is not smooth.
In case you don’t know what a green screen is, In Focus Film School notes:
“Green screen is a visual effects (VFX) technique where two images or video streams are layered — i.e. composited — together. Green screens basically let you drop in whatever background images you want behind the actors and/or foreground. It’s used in film production (and also in news and weather reports) to relatively simply place the desired background behind the subject/actor/presenter. When a background isn’t available – like a fictional, alien, historic, futuristic or even just hard-to-access location – green screen comes to rescue! A vibrant, almost neon green is the standard choice because it’s strong and usually a distinctly different colour from anything on the subject (e.g. the actor’s clothes, eyes, hair, accessories).“
Without a green screen, the camera may have trouble differentiating itself from you and the background and you might find yourself “headless” on screen or more likely very choppy with parts of your body coming in and out on camera or distorted. This “flicker” can be very frustrating. To be clear, Zoom or Microsoft Teams do NOT REQUIRE a green screen, but your results will significantly improve if you use one.
Using a green screen eliminates all of those issues mentioned in the last paragraph giving you a smooth, uncluttered background for your camera to work with as it presents that cool image of you sitting inside a virtual bar or at the beach.
How to use a green screen for Zoom meetings
Using a green screen during your zoom meeting is simple. Simply place the green screen behind your camera and the camera will do the rest! Ideally, your green screen should expand a little beyond the viewing capabilities of your camera to ensure the image isn’t interrupted in any way. For best results, the screen should be flat, but it doesn’t have to be. A few wrinkles are likely going to be ok.
Download Free Zoom Backgrounds (like the one below)!
FAQs about using green screens with virtual backgrounds
It’s not all about Zoom! While Zoom is certainly a popular virtual conferencing platform, it is by no means the only game in town. Here’s a few other FAQs about using green screens with virtual meetings.
Can I use a green screen with Microsoft Teams?
Yes, Microsoft Teams supports the use of green screen technology. While not needed, it will improve your virtual background experience.
Can I use a green screen with Skype?
Yes, Skype supports the use of green screens and while not required, using a green screen with Skype will improve your virtual background experience.
Can I use a green screen with Cisco Webex?
Yes! Cisco’s Webex platform supports the use of a green screen. Until recently, Cisco did not support the use of virtual backgrounds except on their mobile applications. However, with the release of Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop App WBS40.8, virtual backgrounds are supported. While a green screen is not required using one will enhance your virtual background experience while using Webex.
Can I use a green screen with Google Meet?
Yes, Google Meet supports the use of Green Screens. However, because Google Meet does not currently support virtual backgrounds there may not be much value in using one. Google Meet does, however, support blurring your background and the use of a green screen will enhance this.
Additionally, some Google Meet users are using 3rd party applications like Snap to take advantage of virtual backgrounds. In this scenario, a green screen will enhance your use of a virtual background. Google is rumored to be working on virtual background technology for Google Meet but it’s yet to be delivered. Undoubtedly, once this feature is available using a green screen with Meet will enhance the experience.
What happens if you don’t use a green screen for your Zoom meeting?
Green screens are not required for most virtual background features, however, your experience will vary depending on how consistent your actual background is. Users with uneven backgrounds (e.g. corners of walls, varying depths of items in the background, etc) are likely to see some choppiness in the overlay of their person on the virtual background. For example, as you move around you parts of your body may blur or briefly disappear.
A green screen will eliminate this by providing a clean, flat, and color-friendly surface by which you can display a virtual background over.
Where can I get backgrounds for green screens?
Many websites now offer free downloadable backgrounds for green screens, including us. Be sure to visit our massive virtual background repository here.
What is the best green background image for Zoom meetings?
The best green background image for Zoom meetings (or any other virtual meeting technology) is the Heysliy Green Screen Backdrop which provides the perfect green screen image to drop your virtual background on to.
Thanks and happy Zooming!
Like many of us, you are probably struggling to find your new normal. Perhaps you’ve done that and are simply bored. We’ve got your back. Here’s a ton of recent content that revolves around what’s facing us today, including working from home ideas, what to watch, things to read, and how to avoid boredom. Enjoy.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may also earn commissions from other affiliate programs as applicable.
2 comments
I have indeed: I bought one of the round ones that attaches to the back of your desk chair. It works as advertised, and it’s fun to have a crystal-clear background image while all of my colleagues’ backgrounds flicker in and out. The only downside is that even as large as it is, it only covers the camera’s entire field of view when I’m sitting uncomfortably close to the camera.
That flicker is so annoying, right? Good point on the camera’s field of view, too.