Forum Discussion

Di4Resume's avatar
Di4Resume
New Contributor
7 years ago

Virtual Background for Webcams

I am a Mac user & was wondering if "Go-To-Meeting" have an option for adding a different background during Webinars?  ZOOM offers a free Virtual Background feature that allows you to display an image as your background during a Zoom Meeting. You can either upload your own images or use their selection as your virtual background.

 

I recently signed up for "Go-To-Meeting" but can't locate a similar feature anywhere. I would LOVE to have a more professional background for my upcoming webinars.  

 

Any suggestions?

  • KateG's avatar
    KateG
    3 years ago

    We listened to you and Virtual Backgrounds are now available in GoTo Meeting through the GoTo App with default and custom backgrounds!

     

    • Along with the Default backgrounds provided by GoTo, Users can add up to 10 custom backgrounds of their choice.
    • Custom background in GoTo helps show off your own personal style and make meetings more fun and inclusive! It provides a great way to minimize those distractions and bring in new ways to meet face to face.
    • We recommend uploading images with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a resolution of at least 1280x720 pixels (720p) if possible. The higher the resolution, the better your images will appear.
    • You can point to a custom background stored in your local machine from Hallway as well as from In-Session – Camera Setting tab by click on “+” symbol

     

    Check out this article for more information.

     

  • BSFSA's avatar
    BSFSA
    New Member
    5 years ago

    Agree with this feature being a must.

    As companies have moved to remote work at home, this would be a tremendous bonus.

    When will this feature be available? 

    • Marie3's avatar
      Marie3
      New Member
      5 years ago

      I completely agree! This is a big downside of this platform. Most other platforms our clients use have some sort of way to manipulate the background. Its very distracting working from home when we can see other people in the household walking by. Will this capability be available sooner than later?

      • AshC's avatar
        AshC
        Retired GoTo Contributor
        5 years ago

        Hi all,

        While we are still considering development of this feature, some users have had success using SnapCam app to integrate with their web camera during GoTo broadcasts.

  • AV141's avatar
    AV141
    New Member
    5 years ago

    Many of my buddies and I agree.  GTM is not being competitive and not listening.  Even their name is BORING!  Everyone who wants another meeting please raise your hand!  Really?  I dropped Zoom like a bad habit and will never use their service again.  WebEx has a user interface from hell and GTM has an opportunity to move forward in this stay-at-home environment.  Blurred and Virtual Background, Photos (without LABS) would be a start.  I doubt that they really care about the user community as this is how most companies avoid dealing directly with their paying customers.

    • oriator's avatar
      oriator
      New Member
      3 years ago
      Hello, do you plan to offer Virual Backgrounds such as those on ZOOM? Thank you.

      • KateG's avatar
        KateG
        GoTo Manager
        3 years ago

        Hi oriator welcome to the Community. Default and custom made backgrounds are currently available for GoTo meeting. Check out this article on how to use virtual backgrounds.

    • suzyytom's avatar
      suzyytom
      New Contributor
      2 years ago
      I am using MacBook, and I would like to use my webcam during the meeting session, how can I do it, but blurrying the background or using virtual background software, or any other way.

      • GlennD's avatar
        GlennD
        GoTo Manager
        2 years ago

        Hi suzyytom, welcome to the community.

         

        When you first start or join a GoToMeeting in the GoTo App you can preview your webcam and audio settings, and select a virtual background or blurred background on the preview screen. Once you are in the meeting you can open you camera settings to change the background settings if needed.

         

  • smitschke's avatar
    smitschke
    Active Contributor
    5 years ago

    Agree, we are paying premium for GotoMeeting over other services, including Team Meetings.  Those already support the background bluring and now they are even announcing AI to reduce external noises.  

     

    And, can we get mute syncing?    How hard can that be?  Webex, Zoom, Teams, etc. all support this. 

     

    The new ui is nice, but that's not innovation.  

  • lolchiron's avatar
    lolchiron
    New Member
    5 years ago

    Hello, do you plan to offer Virual Backgrounds such as those on ZOOM? Thank you.

  • hortonpz's avatar
    hortonpz
    Active Contributor
    4 years ago

    I like the virtual background in Zoom and was happy top see LogMeIn add that capability.  However, I found that the solution, ChromaCam, was not really usable.  I use a laptop with 16GB RAM, Intel i7 processor and a 1TB Solid State drive. If I was sharing my screen, I found I was getting warning messages that the system was overloaded.  As soon as I turned off the ChromaCam, my presentations were fine.  I subsequently removed ChromaCam from my system. I hope LogMeIn can find a less intensive solution.

    • AshC's avatar
      AshC
      Retired GoTo Contributor
      4 years ago

      hortonpz  Thanks for your feedback.  We may update this functionality in the future, and will let the Community know of any new developments.

      • Cavehomme's avatar
        Cavehomme
        Active Contributor
        4 years ago

        We've been waiting a long time for this native functionality to be provided. I realise that such development costs money wich Logmein may not wish to spend, but I can say with 100% certainty that you've lost some significant business as a consequence of not providing this functionality. Your choice.

        Personally, I wanted to stay with GTM but ended up taking a Zoom Pro account specifically because I require a virtual background for my circumstances / requirements.

  • AshC's avatar
    AshC
    Retired GoTo Contributor
    7 years ago

    Good idea !

     

    I have a Logitech webcam for example (which offers it's own desktop software for Windows), that allows for custom avatars and some background effects that can be shown in GoToMeeting broadcasts.

     

    It is possible that your own webcam manufacturer offers software that allows you to customize the video feed. 

    • Di4Resume's avatar
      Di4Resume
      New Contributor
      7 years ago

      Thanks, but I'm a Mac user looking for solutions... this is an already-established feature with competitors.

       

      Being new to all this, I can't even locate where I can make a request to "Go-To-Meeting" that they consider offering this service to consumers. I have called in for Live Support but those representatives don't seem interested in my suggestion or providing me with any options to make a request. 

       

      This is why I'm reaching out to the community for suggestions/assistance.  Thanks!

      • Richard15's avatar
        Richard15
        New Member
        5 years ago
        Great Idea, I too am looking for such a feature.. Its a shame they are not listening and being competitive.
  • John Smith1's avatar
    John Smith1
    New Member
    5 years ago

    Hi, 

    I am using MacBook, and I would like to use my webcam during the meeting session, how can I do it, but blurrying the background or using virtual background software, or any other way. 

    Thanks.

  • eei's avatar
    eei
    New Member
    5 years ago

    Hi, I'm wondering what GoToMeeting users have found to be the best Virtual Background solutions for their meetings.  Working from home with a less than ideal background makes GoToMeeting difficult to use when video is required.  I've looked into ManyCam, which is webcam software that replicates an actual webcam, but allows you to replace the background via the software.  That option seems like one of the best because it blurs the background or provides a virtual background without the need for a green screen.  I installed it to try it out, but quickly determined that the virtual background features are a premium-only feature and you have to dish out $29 minimum to determine if it will even work (that's assuming that the $29 actually has that feature, which is unclear.)  The other option I've seen on GoToMeeting's support site is SparkoCam.  But that software requires a green screen. While I do have a green screen, it's a pain to set it up and take it down for each meeting.  Zoom makes this all easy, but not all my employers/clients use the same meeting software so there's no consistency of the best options.  What have GoToMeeting user's found as the best options for no green screen virtual backgrounds for meetings?  How much do those options cost to get that functionality?  Is GoToMeeting itself working on (or purchasing) a solution for all of its users?  Thanks!


  • tomstepanski's avatar
    tomstepanski
    New Member
    29 days ago

    Unfortunately, none of the above works. I cannot add background photos, when i click nothing happens. I cannot type in the give feedback in the virtual background options.

    It would be nice to have some ocean water scenes if we cannot add our own

    • KateG's avatar
      KateG
      GoTo Manager
      29 days ago

      Hi @Tomstepankski, 

      Nice to see you. 

      Did you take a look at the video in this article? It's pretty helpful. 

      Can you tell me more about how you are trying to add a custom background? Are you on the new GoTo app? Are you using a computer or a mobile device? What are you clicking that doesn't do anything? 

      • tomstepanski's avatar
        tomstepanski
        New Member
        29 days ago

        Yes, I looked at that video and what i have looks nothing like the screen in that video.

        We have been using GoTo Meeting since 2020. I teach real estate classes virtually. Usually 7 to 9 hours a day.

        I have an MSI computer with a Intel core i7 14th Gen 3.40GHz 64 bit 20-Core processor and a GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB GDDR6X video card and I have 64GB DDR5 5600 XMP 3.0 RAM  and a 2tb SSD main drive

        This is what I bought from New Egg.

         MSI Gaming Desktop Aegis RS2 C14NUE7-824US Intel Core i7-14700KF 16GB DDR5 2 TB PCIe SSD GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Windows 11 Home 64-bit and i upgraded the RAM to 64GB of DDR5 5600 XMP 3.0.

        I am using Windows 11 home version 10.0.22631 Build 22631 operating system

        My GoTo versions is 4.11.0

        When I start my session and get online, i get logged into the system. I have the tool bar popped out and free floating. 

        When I click the down arrow next to the camera button I have an option for Camera Setting, Backgrounds, and  Actions.

        I click on the option for Select Virtual Backgrounds. My camera opens up and i see me and it states I am broadcasting.

        Under my image I see the option to select my Camera, Camera zoom, Mirror my video, Virtual background, Blur, Custom backgrounds with a black placeholder with a + sign in the center, and under that, Default backgrounds with 8 images, and below that is Report camera issues.

        And below that is Give feedback on virtual backgrounds.

        When I try to click the + sign in Custom backgrounds section to add an image, nothing happens.

        So, I give feedback on virtual backgrounds option, and I give it a 1 star and that when the feedback window opens. I cannot type in that box, so i have to type my message in Notepad and eventually i can get it pasted in that box using CTRL+V.

        So, whatever I have "is not functioning within normal operational parameters". (To quote Data on Star Trek) 

        I can change the background using the stock background photos in the Default background, however the program will not allow me to add Custom backgrounds