Spark conversations, draw attention to the subject matter or simply make the webinar experience more enjoyable with Virtual Backgrounds
New Update as of 05/18/2022- Enterprise plan holders are able to add their own images for virtual backgrounds.
BigMarker has virtual backgrounds for presenters and attendees to use along with their cameras during sessions.
How do virtual backgrounds work?
Virtual backgrounds use the power of AI to "recognize" a participant's face within the video stream, so their face appears in front of the virtual background while they are on video.
What kind of virtual backgrounds can I use on BigMarker?
Participants can use images or videos as virtual backgrounds, and even use a sponsor's logo to create a premium sponsorship placement for their event. They can use one of our provided backgrounds or upload a custom image (png file) or video (mp4) background.
Virtual backgrounds can spark conversations, draw attention to the subject matter or simply make the webinar experience more enjoyable. Read on to learn more about activating this feature.
Note: To use virtual backgrounds, your camera must be turned on and hardware acceleration must be enabled on your browser. (Learn how to enable hardware acceleration in your browser here.)
How can I set my virtual background?
1. Log into your webinar.
2. Before entering the webinar room, you will be prompted to choose your audio source. Choose Computer Audio, so you can use your camera and thus, virtual background.
3. On the next screen, toggle your Webcam ON, using the dial on the right side of the page.
4. Once you've activated your webcam, you'll be able to see a preview of your video stream in the box just below Webcam.
Note: the video stream is obscured in the image below for privacy purposes, but you'll be able to see your face, as well as anything that other viewers will be able to see, in this preview box.
5. Select Virtual Background, located just below the video preview box, to set your virtual background.
Note: For Chrome users, you will need to enable on your hardware acceleration for virtual backgrounds to work. Visit chrome://settings/system and enable on Use hardware acceleration when available.
In the menu that opens, select your desired background.
Pick between several pre-set backgrounds using the colored rectangles in this menu. Or upload your own background by pressing the plus button, then uploading your desired mp4 or png file.
Once you've selected your virtual background and tested your audio, video and Internet connection, select Continue to Webinar to enter the webinar room.
6. In the webinar room, the virtual background will appear as follows.
To clear your virtual background, click on Cam and Mic Settings on the bottom control panel You will be redirected back to your Cam and Mic settings.
Under the Virtual Background section, click Remove Background to clear your virtual background. Click Apply New Settings at the top to save and go back into the webinar room. (Note: If you click the X button, your virtual background will not clear and still be present in the webinar room.)
You can apply the virtual background to your camera for future events by checking off the Apply to camera by default box.
Additionally, our Enterprise plan holders can now add custom images for virtual backgrounds. To add custom images, go to your Channel Settings and disable the default virtual backgrounds by disabling Show default virtual backgrounds?
Next, click Click here to upload a virtual background to select your image’s file and upload it. You can delete any images by clicking Delete.
When using a virtual background, you’ll be able to select from your custom images and apply them as default.
There is no limit to the amount of custom images you can add for virtual backgrounds. We recommend keeping your video quality resolution at 1280x720 for best background resolution.
New as of June 2023: You can now blur your background when your webcam is set to active.
When entering a webinar or meeting, you now have the option to blur your background. On the Test page, where you're choosing your webcam and microphone settings, simply toggle your webcam to ON, select Virtual Background below your webcam preview and you'll see the toggle option for Blur Background at the bottom. This feature is set to a default of OFF. If you'd like to utilize the Blur Background feature, toggle to ON. You'll see your background has blurred behind you, keeping the focus on you during your meeting or presentation.
