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How to setup Zoom to use a Virtual Background as timing lights

The idea is that you are going to use the ‘virtual background’ in Zoom and by adding coloured

images (jpegs accompanying this doc) which you can switch between to indicate the different

coloured lights a timer needs during speeches.

You will then display a clean background of the colour, without you being visible in shot. This

requires you covering up your camera, making it blank.

Additionally, you will change your display name to ‘TIMER (your name)’ so the other toastmasters

can identify you as the timer.

What you will need:

- A timing device.

- A method of covering up your camera to make it go black (completely black ideally) e.g.

a piece of blue tac or something to easily take on and off your laptop camera or a cloth if

you are using an external web cam.

- The coloured images that came with this document - 1.white.jpg, 2.green.jpg,

3.amber.jpg, 4.red.jpg.

How to setup (note this is on a Mac, on Windows should be similar):

1. Change your visible name for the other toastmasters to identify you as the timer. Hover over

your image and click the 3 dots. Select ‘Rename’ then change your name to ‘TIMER (your

name).

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2. To change your virtual background for the colours in Zoom, go-to Preferences.

3. Select the ‘Virtual Background’ preference on the left. Then click the ‘Plus’ button to add the

coloured images that accompanied this document. TIP - add them in order.

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4. With your blue tac or other covering device, cover the camera. It will go black.

5. Select one of your background colours. Then click the small oval to select ‘the colour of the

background’. A cross hair will appear, click anywhere in the ‘black’ and then the background

will turn the colour of the background colour you selected first (in this case white).

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6. Now you can switch between the colours and the background will change to that colour. If

you have covered the camera cleanly, there should not be much noise (pixels of different

colour).

7. When you are timing for speeches, you can switch between colours as you would the

physical timing lights. NOTE, you will need to keep the preferences window open to switch

between the colours, so move and resize the main zoom window so you can see what’s

going on.

The other toastmasters will see your background as the colours.

Start a speech with the white background.

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8. To reset and return to normal operation and be seen by the other toastmasters. Uncover

your camera and click on ‘None’.