Green Screen Home Office

by Cats Science Club

3.9K309

Intro: Green Screen Home Office

With my wife and two of my kids working form home it was getting crazy to find space to do our work. My wife was always worried what people would see when any of us would be on a video call for work or school. She would say, Make sure there is nothing in the background that is embarrassing. Well it is kind of hard when space is limited and there is only one real home office space to work form home at.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a home office with a background that was amazing? It's possible and it won't cost you much.

I am going to show how to use a green screen for your work form home, home office. You will be able to make it look like you live on a beach or wherever you want. The best part is it's inexpensive.

I use Zoom for my meetings and explain how a green screen can be used for zoom but I am sure it is useful for all sorts of meeting programs.

STEP 1: Materials

For your simple and inexpensive home office green screen you will need very few things.

-A nice wide wall preferably flat as possible

-Painter's Tape, so you do not damage the paint that is already on the wall.

-Scissors to cut the paper

-Emerald Green Fadeless Paper, ours was 4 feet wide

Here is a link to a similar green paper to what we used

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IDY5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

STEP 2: Cut and Tape

Cut the paper to the size you want and / or need. We thought horizontal was greet for our zoom meetings but then wanted vertical for other projects or pictures.

Have a friend help you hold the paper to the wall as you tape it in place.

Remember to use painter's tape so you can remove the "screen".

A chair or ladder will be useful ;-)

STEP 3: Adjust

At first it will be hard (at least it was for me) to take pictures without some of the wall showing.

Adjust the angle of the camera, zoom in or out, etc.

STEP 4: Set Up Zoom

Setting up Zoom to have a background with a green screen is relatively easy once you have a green screen.

Once on Zoom go to the screen menu that has the Join Audio for muting, the Stop Video, etc.

Click on the up arrow next to the camera icon.

Click "Choose Virtual Background".

Click "I have a green screen".

Now pick the screen you want.

Click out of settings by clicking red circle in the top left.

You have successfully changed your background.

STEP 5: Find Backgrounds

Zoom has very limited backgrounds so you will need to find some that work well for you.

Many sites have free backgrounds that you can use.

We got ours from https://pixabay.com/

STEP 6: Add Your Own Background

Go to the screen menu that has the mic for muting, the camera for video, etc. Click on the up arrow next to the camera icon. Click choose virtual background.

To the right of "Choose Virtual Background" is a + symbol. Click this + symbol to add your background pictures.

Find your background files you saved and add them.

Click the new background you want.

Click out of settings by clicking red circle in the top left.

You have successfully added and changed your background.

STEP 7: Look Cool in Your New Home Office

At your next Zoom meeting look cool at your home office, spacious living room, private beach or wherever else you want your office to be ;-)

8 Comments

Cats Science Club 3 years ago

Some students may not appreciate having their home on display during a zoom meeting. If they can get a hold of some green paper this maybe a great solution to some zoom anxiety.

OzarkAnnie1980 3 years ago

Absolutely briliant!! Great idea. Most of us have had to do a zoom meeting and it can be quite stressful, especially with a family. Not knowing what or who is showing up behind you.

Cats Science Club 3 years ago

Thanks so much. I feel for some kids that may not want their peers to see their house. This is a great way so people are not judging.

Cats Science Club 3 years ago

Thanks. We have been having fun changing our background.

jon_chalk 4 years ago

I use Facebook group video chats (Messenger) for our meetings. How do I change the background like you did on zoom?

Cats Science Club 4 years ago

I am sorry but I do not know. I looked to see if I could figure it out but I could not. Hopefully someone on here will be more helpful.

Cats Science Club 4 years ago

If you are using Zoom this is great for adding to your already awesome lessons. Especially if you have green bulletin boards or green bulletin board paper. Super inexpensive.