Best Practices: Setting Up Your Walldrop For Success (Best Set Up, Beating The Ghosting Effect etc)

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At Walldrop, we know a polished backdrop can elevate any video call, but there's often a misconception about ghosting. The truth is, ghosting—where your body outline in the video call of your image blur or disappear, often referred to as "ghosting"—has nothing to do with the backdrop itself. It’s all about your setup: lighting, camera quality, and the video conferencing tool you’re using.

Your video conferencing tool will try it's best to achieve a clean background cut out around you, however it's all in your control on how well it does it, this'll come down to three things, your lighting, camera and tool of choice. 

Understanding how to optimize your setup means getting the most out of any backdrop, including ours! We've put together a simple guide explaining best practices.

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What Causes the Ghosting Effect?

There are three big factors at play here:
 

1. The video conferencing tool you use

2. Your camera quality

3. Your lighting setup

Let’s break it down so you can easily take control of the situation and get better results!

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1. The Video Conferencing Tool You Use
 

Not all tools are created equal when it comes to handling virtual backgrounds. Some do a better job of blending your background with you than others.
 

• Zoom is generally the best. It has a more advanced green screening technology, so it handles ghosting much better.

• Google Meet comes in second but can struggle a bit with older cameras.

• Other tools like Microsoft Teams or Skype can also work but might not give you as smooth results.

Solution: If ghosting is a concern, try using Zoom first. If you’re stuck with another tool, don’t worry—you can still improve things with the next two tips!

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2. Your Camera Quality

If you're using an old or low-quality webcam, ghosting is more likely. Many laptops have built-in cameras that aren’t great for virtual backgrounds. A higher-quality camera will do a much better job!
 

Solution:

• Upgrade your camera: A simple external webcam upgrade can make a huge difference in quality. Look for HD webcams with good reviews.

• Use your smartphone: If you have a newer iPhone or Galaxy, you can use it as a webcam! Smartphones often have much better cameras than your computer. Just connect it to your laptop and use it for calls.

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3. Lighting is Key

This is the easiest and most important trick. A well-lit room helps your camera and conferencing tool recognize you better, which means less ghosting.
 

Solution:

• Natural light is your friend: Sit near a window or use soft lighting that brightens up your face and body.

• Avoid backlighting: Make sure the light is in front of you, not behind, to keep your video crisp.

Bonus Tip: If you're still seeing ghosting, consider grabbing a cheap ring light to brighten things up even more. It's one of the best investments for video calls!

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Bonus for iPhone Users: Use Apple’s Built-In Solution

If you’re an iPhone user, you’re in luck! Apple has its own built-in video conferencing backdrop feature that can often perform better than any tool like Zoom or Meet.

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Solution:

• Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS.

• Use Apple's native video backdrop features to override any video tool you’re using. This gives you a better experience no matter what app you’re on!

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Quick Recap

Here’s how you can improve your digital backdrop experience and minimize ghosting:

1. Use a reliable video tool like Zoom for the best results.

2. Upgrade to a better camera or use your smartphone for sharper visuals.

3. Make sure you’re in a well-lit environment to help the tech do its job.

4. If you’ve got an iPhone, use Apple's backdrop feature for a smoother experience.
   
    

That’s it! By following these steps, you’ll be able to get rid of that annoying ghosting effect and have professional-looking video calls every time.

If you’d like more tips or need help with your custom digital video backdrops, feel free to reach out to us at getwalldrop.com—we’re happy to help!