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Creating a blurred virtual background
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        Creating a Blurred Virtual Background

What you’ll need:

Most webcams tend to flatten images resulting in a lack of depth between the subject (you) and the background. If you have a camera with an adjustable lens, you can easily create a sense of depth by adjusting your camera’s f-stop. The f-stop of a camera is the opening of a camera lens, which allows light to come in. It determines how much is in focus in front of and behind the subject. However, if you are using a built in webcam you will not be able to make that adjustment. There is a workaround. You can simply take a screenshot of your space, add a blur, and add it to Zoom as a virtual background. Here are the steps to create a blurred background.

  1. First, you’ll need to take a screenshot of your space without being present in the frame. In order to do that you’ll need to:
  1. Open Zoom
  2. Begin new meeting
  3.  If using Mac: take a screenshot of just your background using command+shift+5

*If using Windows: One option is to press Windows + Shift + S, which will bring up a Windows app called “Snip & Sketch.” (The app is also accessible from your Windows app menu.) Your cursor will turn into a plus sign, and you’ll get a small toolbar at the top of the screen that lets you select a rectangular clip, a freeform clip, or just take a shot of the entire screen. The clip (or “snip,” as Windows calls it) will be saved to the clipboard and a thumbnail will appear in the lower right corner of your screen. Click on that to edit the photo, save it (as a PNG, JPG, or GIF file), or share it.

  1. You are now ready to open Photoshop. When you first open Photoshop you will see two buttons on the left, Create New and Open. Choose Open and find your image. Once you select your screenshot image click Open.
  1.  To add a blur, navigate to filter<Blur>Gaussian Blur 

  1. After you choose Gaussian Blur, a small window will pop up. Move the slider to 2.8 or to desired blur

  1. Export<Save for Web<Save

  1. Choose JPEG and choose Save

  1. Now you’re ready to add your blurred background to Zoom
  2. Open Zoom, navigate to settings icon and choose Background & Filters

  1. Choose the “+” icon and add your blurred background to Virtual Backgrounds