When meeting someone for the first time, you want to look as good as possible.

Even if you take care of your appearance and make up beautifully, it’s a waste if your face is shadowed or the screen is dark on Zoom.

We have summarized the effective backlight correction method when your video image appears dark on Zoom.

Backlight is the reason why your face looks dark

First of all, about the reason why the face becomes dark with Zoom.

If the subject is dark in the image or video taken with the camera, it is caused by the way the light hits it.

What is backlight

Think about what happens when your face appears dark in a photo.

Have you ever had the experience of your face being in the shadows when you shoot with the sun or a window behind you?

When I take pictures of people, I often avoid backlight.

“Backlighting” refers to the following conditions.

1. The camera lens points toward the light source
2. There is a light source behind the subject

The reason why the subject appears dark due to backlight is the camera’s automatic brightness adjustment function.

Because the light source is in front of the camera, the camera thinks it’s “too bright” and lowers the exposure to restore normal brightness.

Conversely, the condition in which the light source is behind the camera and illuminates the subject from the front is called “front lighting.” The light hits the whole and the colors are vivid.

Backlight compensation method

Then, what kind of method is there to correct the backlight when the face becomes dark in the photograph?

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to compensate for backlight: “compensate for backlight by changing the shooting environment such as the position and light source,” and “compensate for backlight with camera settings and retouching.”

How to compensate for backlight by changing the shooting position and light source

Backlight can be avoided by changing the direction of light when shooting.

Specifically, it is a method to change the position of the lighting and the direction of the person to make the front light, or to illuminate with a light or strobe. Changing the background color or using a reflector is also effective.

How to correct backlight with camera settings and retouching

Even if you don’t change the way the light hits the subject, you can brighten the entire image by increasing the exposure of the camera.

Also, even if you feel that the photo after shooting is dark, you can make it brighter later by processing the completed photo with the app.

With this method, when the face is brightened, other parts may become too bright, and the image quality may deteriorate slightly during processing, but the advantage is that it can be corrected easily without the need for special equipment. .

How to compensate for backlight with Zoom (basic version)

The basis of backlight compensation is to adjust the amount of light that hits the subject.

Here are some tips for shooting so that your face is not backlit with Zoom.

change the direction of the light source

Backlit when there is a light source behind. If the light hits the person from the front, it will be front-lit.

If you can change your sitting position, try sitting facing a window or a light.

If the window is on the back side, you can also close the curtains to make it darker.

use a small light

If you can’t change the position relative to the window or room lighting, you can also use small lighting fixtures to add light.

Smaller desk lights with tripods and clips are also available these days.

Aiming for a reflector effect using white objects

When shooting portraits, you may use a reflector to brighten the face.

Even if you don’t have a full-fledged reflector, just bringing white under your face, such as wearing a white top or laying a white cloth on the table, will have the effect of a reflector.

How to Backlight Correction with Zoom (Advanced Edition) Using App Functions

When you have a video conference with Zoom, you probably participate from your room at home or from your desk at work.

Even if you are backlit, it may be difficult to move around or change the direction of the camera or yourself.

Also, web cameras may not be able to set detailed shooting settings like digital cameras.

In such cases, it is recommended to use the video adjustment function installed in the Zoom app.

No tools or equipment are required, and settings can be made even after the Zoom meeting has started, so you can make adjustments immediately if you are concerned about the appearance.

Here are 5 ways to correct the backlight using the Zoom function.

Both functions are available only on the Zoom app and cannot be used when joining Zoom from a browser. If you want to perform backlight compensation, install the Zoom app in advance and update it to the latest version.

Use Zoom’s dimming function

prerequisite

• Desktop client 5.2.0 or later for Windows/macOS

The Zoom app for computers has a function to adjust the brightness like the exposure compensation of a camera.

1. Open Settings in the Zoom desktop client.
2. Click “Video”.
3. Check “Adjust for low light”.
4. Select “Automatic” or “Manual” from the pulldown.
5. For “Manual”, drag the slider to adjust the brightness to your liking.

Use Zoom’s appearance correction (beautifying function)

prerequisite

• Desktop client 5.2.0 or later for Windows/macOS
• Mobile App for iOS 5.2.0 or higher

It is a function that makes your skin look beautiful, which is installed in camera apps for selfies.

PC operation method

1. Open Settings in the Zoom desktop client.
2. Click “Video”.
3. Check the “Correct appearance” box.
4. Drag the slider to adjust the effect.

Smartphone operation method (iOS)

1. Open Settings in the Zoom mobile app.
2. Tap “Meetings”.
3. Tap Enhance Appearance to turn it on.
4. Adjust the effect with the slider.

Set a bright image in the virtual background

prerequisite

• Desktop client 5.2.0 or later for Windows/macOS
• Mobile App for iOS 5.2.0 or higher

It is also effective to use a bright-colored image as the background with the virtual background function. By placing bright colors around the face, it gives an overall bright impression.

1. Open Settings in the Zoom desktop client.
2. Click Backgrounds and Filters.
3. Click the Virtual Background tab and select an image.

Change color tone with video filters

prerequisite

• Desktop client for Windows

Zoom Desktop Client 5.2.0 (42619.0804) or higher OS64-bit operating system CPUIntel: 4th generation or higher i3, i5, i7, i9 processors AMD: Ryzen 3, 5, 7, 9 processors

• Desktop client for macOS

Zoom Desktop Client 5.2.0 (42634.0805) or later OSmacOS 10.13 or later CPU Intel: 4th generation or later i3, i5, i7, i9 processor AMD: Ryzen 3, 5, 7, 9 processor

• Mobile app for iOS

iOS version 11.0 or later iPadiPad 2017 (A9) or later iPhoneiPhone 8 (A9) or later

Video filters can add frames and items to create a pop atmosphere by overlaying filters on the video image.

If anything, it’s a function for private use such as drinking parties, but there is also a simple filter that just changes the color tone.

PC operation method

1. Open Settings in the Zoom desktop client.
2. Click Backgrounds and Filters.
3. Click the Video Filters tab to select filters.

Smartphone operation method (iOS)

1. Join the meeting with the Zoom mobile app.
2. Tap More on the meeting screen.
3. Tap Backgrounds & Filters.
4. Select a filter on the Filters tab and tap the X to return to the meeting.

make up with studio effects

prerequisite

• Desktop client 5.3.0 or later for Windows/macOS

Similar to video filters, it adds or recolors eyebrows, beards, and lip colors to your video footage. It can also be used as a first aid when makeup is not in time.

1. Open Settings in the Zoom desktop client.
2. Click Backgrounds and Filters.
3. Click Studio Effects and select an effect.

summary

• The reason why the face becomes dark with Zoom is the backlight
• Backlight compensation can be achieved by directing light from the front and adding light with lights
• Zoom’s dimming function, appearance correction, virtual background, and filters can be used to brighten the screen

In order to make your face look brighter with Zoom, you can not only devise how to hit the light, but also correct it with the function of the Zoom app.

Please try using Zoom’s video settings to improve the camera image.