OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Zoom Tutorial for Virtual Backgrounds

(green screen) and Recording Presentations
This Zoom tutorial was developed as a guide for Extension professionals to explore using a green screen for
virtual backgrounds and recording presentations. For additional training, visit CFAES https://osu-cfaes.zoom.us
and Zoom https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/sections/201740096-Training. A video walk-through of the technology
is available at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/210707503-Virtual-Background.

Virtual Backgrounds
Step 1: Log into the CFAES Zoom website (osu-cfaes.zoom.us) using your Ohio State Username (lastname.#)
and Password.

Step 2: Select “Meeting Settings.” Scroll down the right screen to “In Meeting (Advanced)” settings and select
“Virtual background.” In “Virtual background,” click on the button
to make it change from gray to blue (left to
right) to turn on the virtual background
capability.

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a

nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu.
For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.
 OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Step 3: The Zoom application/client should be installed on your computer. Log into your Zoom account through
the Zoom client using the screen captures below as your guideline.

Step 4: Once in the Zoom client, select “Settings” and then choose Video/Virtual Background.

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a

nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu.
For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.
 OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Step 5: Set up a green screen behind you. Select Video/Virtual Background from the Settings menu. Then,
choose a virtual background by picking one of the standard images that are preloaded or you can add your own
.jpg images. The image below on the left shows a standard green screen hanging in the background. The image
below on the right shows an OSU image that was uploaded into Zoom from OSU’s Photo Gallery,
https://ucom.osu.edu/photo-gallery. To add images, click on “Add Image” and upload a .jpg from your computer.

At the bottom of this “Settings” box you can manually pick the color of the background if Zoom did not properly
detect it for you. To do so, click on the solid color shown in the small box at the bottom and then use the target
symbol to click on the background color in the screen you are viewing.

When you have the virtual background set, click on the “X” on the top right to close the “Settings” menu.

Target symbol selects green

screen background

This is my
thinking face.

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a

nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu.
For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.
 OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Recording Presentations
Step 1: If you would like to record a presentation, begin by clicking on “Start with video” in the Zoom app. Once
this window opens, choose the green “Share Screen” button on the bottom bar. This pulls up applications and
screens available to share. Once you choose something, click on the blue “Share Screen” button to share the
screen. Make sure to use a PowerPoint or other images with correct branding standards.

You can enlarge your video image by selecting the large square (it will turn blue) – this is better than a small
“talking head.” Test your presentation to be certain your video does not cover up important information on your
slides or other documents you will be sharing.

Step 2: If you choose to record your Zoom presentation while sharing your screen, click on “More” in the upper
right corner of the control bar and then click on “Record.” If you are not sharing your screen at the time you want
to record, the record button will appear on the bottom control panel. When you’re done with your presentation,
choose “Stop Recording” and then “End Meeting.” The recording will be saved and you can rename it, edit it,
upload it, etc.

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a

nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu.
For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.
 OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Tip for saving recordings: In the Zoom client app, chose “Settings,” then choose “Recording.” Change the
location where the recordings are stored to your desktop or another location that is easy to find.

Note from the author:

I’ve used the green screen and virtual backgrounds to

• feature the location of people I meet with via Zoom,
• introduce a city and prompt dialogue when teaching about
urban Extension,
• reinforce the OSU brand, and
• have fun.
I’ve learned a lot and I’m happy to help and continue learning with you.

If you need help trouble-shooting, contact Ken Kulka,

https://cfaesits.osu.edu/people/ken-kulka.

The OSU CFAES team is setting up Zoom rooms on campus and

county Zoom rooms with green screens are an emerging option
explored by many counties.
Image of a challenge I worked through
This document was created in February 2018 and the technology will when I actually became the city of Indianapolis.
continue to evolve. fox.264@osu.edu

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a

nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu.
For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.