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  • Here’s How to Get Started Using Zoom Video Filters

Here’s How to Get Started Using Zoom Video Filters

August 8, 2020 / Dave Taylor / Zoom, Skype & Video Chat Help / 18 Comments

Love the goofy video filters on Snapchat that let you grow a unicorn horn, turn into a groovy hippie or have stars twinkling around your head? Good news! Zoom has introduced its own Video Filters that offers a very similar set of features and it’s guaranteed to liven up any Zoom chat or meeting, whether it’s with the boss or your family. Here’s how to get started…

You’re having more video conferences than you did a year ago. We all are. We’re also learning about what experts call “zoom fatigue” where it turns out that sitting, staring at your webcam or computer screen for hours is surprisingly exhausting. It’s not quite like an in-person meeting after all, so we’re learning to make the best of it. The meetings I attend have people more unabashedly doing other things while being present, for example, listening to the speaker but not feeling like they have to stare at their screen and be 100% “present” the entire time.

For a business meeting, that’s okay, but when you’re having a fun Zoom chat with friends or family, that really doesn’t need to look just like the last product meeting, board brainstorming or class lecture you attended, does it? Which is why Zoom keeps pushing into new areas to add a bit more fun to the video conferencing process. The latest addition is going to drive teachers bonkers but is great fun: Zoom Video Filters.

You’ll need the very latest version of the Zoom app for this and it might not be available on all operating systems yet; we tried it out with the MacOS X client app. You can tell if you have it by clicking on the up arrow adjacent to the video button:

zoom video menu: choose video filter

As highlighted, the new option is “Choose Video Filter…“. If you don’t have it yet, keep updating your app until it shows up and keep reading anyway so you can see what’s coming for you!

You can also get to Zoom Video Filters from the Virtual Backgrounds screen too. [Check out my article How to Get Started with Virtual Backgrounds in Zoom if you haven’t tried them before]. I have a lot of virtual backgrounds, as you can see:

zoom virtual backgrounds - and virtual filters

Notice in approximately the middle of the screen “Video Filters”. You can also click on that to get to the new filter options.

The Zoom Virtual Filters are presented almost identically to the virtual backgrounds, as a palette of small rectangular buttons:

zoom virtual filters - main choices get started

Snapchat fans will recognize the styles of filters here, but, roughly, the first row are color shift filters, the second row are frames, and everything else are overlays that will track your face as you talk and move around. For example, if I click on the “sepia” filter on the top row, the bright, colorful space background changes, as does my face:

zoom virtual video filters - sepia

Not sure when I’d use that one, but here’s another option that’s a bit more fun:

zoom virtual video filter - photo frame

That’s what I call the “photo frame” or “scrapbook frame”, though they don’t seem to have actual names in the Zoom app at this point.

Another option that’s appropriately retro:

zoom virtual video filter - old tv frame

Finally I can say “Look ma! I’m on TV!” This is, of course, the image that everyone else on the Zoom call will see, as emphasized when I close this window and go back to the main Zoom chat:

zoom virtual video filter - main zoom window tv frame

It’s hard to tell, but Susan and her husband are also trying out the Zoom video filters with the bunny ears and nose. Yes, I know, it’s really small in this pic, but you can experiment in Zoom yourself to try all this out too.

Speaking of which, what about the overlay filters? Here’s an example:

zoom video filters - halo

It’s possible not everyone on the call would agree I should have a halo, but it’s pretty well done and as you move your head, it moves too, ensuring it’s always floating just above the crown of your head. Angelic, really!

Want to show you’re a maskie, not an antimaskie? You can do that with one of the video filters too. In fact, there are two styles of mask you can choose (or avoid, I suppose, if that’s your preference). Here’s the one I choose:

zoom video filters - covid mask

Or maybe it’s more appropriate to have those groovy hippie glasses, definitely making me look like someone from a lost 60’s band:

zoom video filters - groovy hippy hippie glasses

It’s a good look, actually! Well, at least virtually.

One more example, and this time I’ll change my virtual background too:

zoom video filters - pirate hat eye patch palm trees

Arrrr, so there ya have it, me hearties! Between Zoom Virtual Backgrounds and Zoom Video Filters, there ain’t much ya can’t do ta make yer friends and family get a good chuckle before they threaten to make ye walk the plank! Now go have some fun with this all!

Pro Tip: I have quite a few tutorials on how to use Zoom for serious and more entertaining meetings. Please check out my Zoom help area to find them and learn just how much this powerful tool offers.

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Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!
fun with zoom, zoom fatigue, zoom filters, zoom snapchat filters, zoom video filters, zoom virtual backgrounds

18 comments on “Here’s How to Get Started Using Zoom Video Filters”

  1. Meagan Bridges says:
    March 1, 2021 at 4:21 pm

    I did that but it say none so how do i get it?

    Reply
    • Dave Taylor says:
      March 2, 2021 at 7:34 am

      Not everyone seems to qualify for the Zoom filters and I haven’t been able to figure out why. Sorry, seems a bit random on their part, but… so it goes.

      Reply
  2. Helena f says:
    February 22, 2021 at 5:05 am

    I am on an iPad and it says there are no video filters.Please help?

    Reply
    • Dave Taylor says:
      February 22, 2021 at 8:28 am

      Sounds like the filters aren’t in the iOS version yet, Helena. Patience!

      Reply
  3. Daisy Duke says:
    October 13, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    I’m running an i9 MacBook Pro and still nada, so I DOUBT it’s about ayone’s system at all.
    It looks like this is done by downloading Snap Camera, and not Zoom alone:
    https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/

    Reply
    • Dave Taylor says:
      October 14, 2020 at 11:26 am

      Definitely did not download a third party app, so please be careful with this suggested download, y’all. Seems like Zoom just is rolling out this feature for some users, but not others. I’ve also gotten some additional beta features showing up in my latest version of Zoom too – v5.3.2 (53291.1011) – and I’m running on a 2019 MacBook Pro with MacOS X 10.15.7.

      Reply
  4. Peter Golleck says:
    October 3, 2020 at 8:27 am

    Thanks for the information. My video filter says none. Can you help me?

    Reply
    • Dave Taylor says:
      October 3, 2020 at 3:01 pm

      Hi Peter! I’ve heard from a number of people that they’ve set everything up correctly and have the correct version but aren’t seeing video filters. I suspect that it’s something to do with how powerful a Mac or PC you have as to whether the software can manage the processing required, but am not entirely sure. Sorry ’bout that!

      Reply
    • Helena says:
      February 22, 2021 at 5:02 am

      Same mine says none too?

      Reply
  5. Alwin says:
    September 27, 2020 at 7:09 pm

    Wish I could make add my own video filter that’s a fence, like Wilson from Home Improvement.

    Reply
  6. Lori says:
    September 12, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    When I go to video filters in Zoom is says none. I upgraded to the latest version. When I google the problems, all I get is what is shown above. I know where to find them, they are just not there. Please help.

    Reply
    • Dave Taylor says:
      September 13, 2020 at 11:09 am

      Mac or PC?

      Reply
      • Davy Steegen says:
        September 15, 2020 at 6:03 am

        I am having the same issue. I use version 5.2.3 for Mac but the video filters still show “none”.

        Reply
        • Dave Taylor says:
          September 15, 2020 at 6:40 am

          Most curious. Just checked and we have the same version. Hmm… I wonder if it’s dependent on processor power too? I’m running on a fully-decked out 2019 MacBook Pro. What Mac are you on, Davy?

          Reply
          • Lise Yde Christiansson says:
            October 10, 2020 at 2:30 pm

            Hi umm when I go to video filters it say none and there is no other filters it just says none.I have a HP laptop i thing it is the 8th version

          • Dave Taylor says:
            October 12, 2020 at 1:49 pm

            Not all hardware can support these video processing features. The way Zoom handles it is to hide them if your computer doesn’t have the horsepower.

    • lucy says:
      September 16, 2020 at 7:45 pm

      mine says none too! i’m bummed

      Reply
  7. Immiguy says:
    August 8, 2020 at 6:10 pm

    Great Idea, thanks for putting this information online!

    Reply

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