How to use Zoom filters to not “look like …

Video calls have become an essential means of communication during a pandemic. One of the most popular apps for remote contact is Zoom which, like other popular services, gives its users the ability to change the background through filters and even edit their face.

In recent days, video from a Zoom trial in Texas has gone viral, United States, shared by 394 District Court Judge Roy Ferguson. The video shows how attorney Rod Ponton entered the trial online with a chat filter activated by his son, which neither he nor his assistants could change . “I’m not a cat,” he assured the rest of the lawyers.

In the aftermath of this comedic incident, Zoom took the gauntlet of the need to educate its users on the use of filters.

How to use filters

Zoom has its own variety of free filters to make meetings fun. While in a meeting, simply click the up arrow next to the “Stop Video” icon and select “Choose Video Filter”. You can click different filters to test them, and also enable video filters when you are not in a meeting.

Filters without zoom

Some apps, like Snap Camera, offer more filter options compatible with Zoom.

The first step is to download and install the third-party “software”, and also to ensure that the user has the latest version of the Zoom desktop client. Then in the Zoom desktop client, click on the profile picture in the upper right corner of the screen and select “Settings” and click on “Video” in the left panel.

Then in ‘Camera’ you have to click on the drop down menu and select the third party app as the camera.

How to remove filters

There are several ways to remove third-party filters in a Zoom meeting. The user should click on the up arrow next to the “Stop Video” icon.

You need to select a different camera setting or try to select each camera in the list until it returns to normal. In the case of Zoom’s own filters, the process also requires clicking the up arrow next to the “Stop Video” icon and selecting “Choose Video Filter” to open the configuration window. Then choose “None” in the top corner.

Removing the filter before a meeting is surely the most recommended option, and it is possible to check the settings beforehand to ensure that the video does not have filters. To do this, in the Zoom desktop client, the user should click on the profile picture in the upper right corner of the screen, select “Settings” and choose “Background and filters” from the left panel.

In this way, the user can check the preview of their video to see if they have selected filters. This is also a great time to make sure the virtual background is correct.

If you want to disable a video filter, click on the “Video Filters” tab under the video preview window and check the “None” box in the upper left corner. You may need to scroll up to see this option.