Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Tim via users]

On Mon, 2021-02-15 at 09:18 +1100, Stephen Morris wrote:
> Why do you need to display something behind you to get it to 
> display  a background image?

You can look at my prior responses for an explanation about it.

The application needs some way to determine what's background or
foreground, to decide which imagery to transmit, and which to replace
with something else.  Using a solid colour background is a simple
method.
 
-- 
 
uname -rsvp
Linux 3.10.0-1160.15.2.el7.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Feb 3 15:06:38 UTC 2021 x86_64
 
Boilerplate:  All unexpected mail to my mailbox is automatically deleted.
I will only get to see the messages that are posted to the mailing list.
 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org
Do not reply to spam on the list, report it: 
https://pagure.io/fedora-infrastructure

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Stephen Morris]

On 9/2/21 23:16, Paul Smith wrote:

On Tue, Feb 9, 2021 at 11:44 AM Stephen Morris  wrote:

I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
possible on Fedora?

You can use the v4l2loopback kernel module to create a virtual camera,
and use one of the many tools to send video to the virtual video
device.  However, that will just send a video or image to the video
device, it won't get your webcam's picture and overlay it on top of
it.  If you want that, you'll need to do what zoom is already trying
to do, which requires a static background (a green screen).

Thanks, Jonathan, for your clarification. I am now thinking about an
alternative: blurring the background. Skype can do that, but not Zoom
-- unfortunately.

Just one question, what do you mean by green screen? I use zoom on my
work laptop in Windows 10 showing static and animated backgrounds behind
the camera image so that people can't see anything in the room behind
me, and I didn't think there was anything special in my zoom configuration.

A picture is worth a thousand words, Steve:

https://gadgetstouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Green-Screen.jpg
Thanks Paul, now I understand. But what I don't understand is why you 
are going to those lengths. As I said we use zoom for work video 
conferencing and we all use static or animated images as backgrounds by 
selecting the background we want in zooms configuration, which then 
works fine. Why do you need to display something behind you to get it to 
display  a background  image?


regards,
Steve



Paul
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org
Do not reply to spam on the list, report it: 
https://pagure.io/fedora-infrastructure

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Greg Woods]

On Wed, Feb 10, 2021 at 1:59 PM Cameron Simpson  wrote:

> On 10Feb2021 14:17, Tim  wrote:
> >The same kind of thing could be done by storing a still image from the
> >camera before you step in front of it, and always comparing it with the
> >current live camera.
>
> Zoom on my Mac seems to do this, but neater: no background required,
> seems to detect that I move and that my background is static. I'm
> surprised by how effective it is. - Cameron Simpson 
>

In my experience, there are some artifacts (someone earlier referred to it
as "trippy effects") around the edge of the person's head. And in any case,
this feature is not available in the Linux version of Zoom. I don't know
whether any of the other suggestions made in this thread might work or not,
but the only way I successfully got background image to work in Linux Zoom
was to use a green screen behind me. And no trippy effects.

--Greg
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org
Do not reply to spam on the list, report it: 
https://pagure.io/fedora-infrastructure

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Cameron Simpson]

On 10Feb2021 14:17, Tim  wrote:
>The same kind of thing could be done by storing a still image from the
>camera before you step in front of it, and always comparing it with the
>current live camera.

Zoom on my Mac seems to do this, but neater: no background required, 
seems to detect that I move and that my background is static. I'm 
surprised by how effective it is. - Cameron Simpson 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Tim via users]

On Tue, 2021-02-09 at 22:44 +1100, Stephen Morris wrote:
> Just one question, what do you mean by green screen? I use zoom on
> my work laptop in Windows 10 showing static and animated backgrounds
> behind the camera image so that people can't see anything in the room
> behind me, and I didn't think there was anything special in my zoom
> configuration.

There's a few ways a device could detect the foreground (you) from the
background (everything else) and use an alternative background image:

Detect a particular colour (like a green or blue background).

Detect a particular level (like a bright white or black background).

Something like MPEG compression.  Where any pixels that change due to
movement are foreground, anything that stays static would be the
background.  That has the potential for some very trippy effects when
it gets it wrong.

The same kind of thing could be done by storing a still image from the
camera before you step in front of it, and always comparing it with the
current live camera.
 
-- 
 
uname -rsvp
Linux 3.10.0-1160.15.2.el7.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Feb 3 15:06:38 UTC 2021 x86_64
 
Boilerplate:  All unexpected mail to my mailbox is automatically deleted.
I will only get to see the messages that are posted to the mailing list.
 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Paul Smith]

On Tue, Feb 9, 2021 at 11:44 AM Stephen Morris  wrote:
>
> >>> I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
> >>> with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
> >>> screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
> >>> with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
> >>> possible on Fedora?
> >> You can use the v4l2loopback kernel module to create a virtual camera,
> >> and use one of the many tools to send video to the virtual video
> >> device.  However, that will just send a video or image to the video
> >> device, it won't get your webcam's picture and overlay it on top of
> >> it.  If you want that, you'll need to do what zoom is already trying
> >> to do, which requires a static background (a green screen).
> > Thanks, Jonathan, for your clarification. I am now thinking about an
> > alternative: blurring the background. Skype can do that, but not Zoom
> > -- unfortunately.
> Just one question, what do you mean by green screen? I use zoom on my
> work laptop in Windows 10 showing static and animated backgrounds behind
> the camera image so that people can't see anything in the room behind
> me, and I didn't think there was anything special in my zoom configuration.

A picture is worth a thousand words, Steve:

https://gadgetstouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Green-Screen.jpg

Paul
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Stephen Morris]

On 5/2/21 06:37, Paul Smith wrote:

On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 7:16 PM Jonathan Billings  wrote:

I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
possible on Fedora?

You can use the v4l2loopback kernel module to create a virtual camera,
and use one of the many tools to send video to the virtual video
device.  However, that will just send a video or image to the video
device, it won't get your webcam's picture and overlay it on top of
it.  If you want that, you'll need to do what zoom is already trying
to do, which requires a static background (a green screen).

Thanks, Jonathan, for your clarification. I am now thinking about an
alternative: blurring the background. Skype can do that, but not Zoom
-- unfortunately.
Just one question, what do you mean by green screen? I use zoom on my 
work laptop in Windows 10 showing static and animated backgrounds behind 
the camera image so that people can't see anything in the room behind 
me, and I didn't think there was anything special in my zoom configuration.


regards,
Steve



Paul
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Tim via users]

On Sat, 2021-02-06 at 15:07 +, Paul Smith wrote:
> Thank you all again for your answers. I have meanwhile found
> something that gives me some hope: Using OBS Studio as a virtual
> camera on Zoom with obs-StreamFX plugin on:
> 
> https://github.com/Xaymar/obs-StreamFX

You're welcome.  I had a quick look at OBS, since I already have it
installed, and couldn't see an obvious way to use it as a middle man. 
I didn't go looking for plugins, I forgot about that.

One thing about OBS, be careful when defining hot keys.  It likes to
always snaffle your keypresses, and can make it impossible to type in
other things at the same time.
 
-- 
 
uname -rsvp
Linux 3.10.0-1160.15.2.el7.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Feb 3 15:06:38 UTC 2021 x86_64
 
Boilerplate:  All unexpected mail to my mailbox is automatically deleted.
I will only get to see the messages that are posted to the mailing list.
 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Paul Smith]

On Sat, Feb 6, 2021 at 3:07 PM Paul Smith  wrote:
>
> Thank you all again for your answers. I have meanwhile found something
> that gives me some hope: Using OBS Studio as a virtual camera on Zoom
> with obs-StreamFX plugin on:
>
> https://github.com/Xaymar/obs-StreamFX
>
> Now, my difficulty is how to install obs-StreamFX.

Actually, obs-StreamFX works through a OBS Studio virtual camera after
applying the obs-SteamFX blur effect.

To install obs-StreamFX on Fedora, just follow the instructions in the
Installation Guide and choose the ubuntu zip file.

Paul
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Paul Smith]

On Sat, Feb 6, 2021 at 1:51 AM Tim via users
 wrote:
>
> > I just used Zoom for the first time, this morning.  I had a ferret
> > around, but although I can see an option in meeting (advanced)
> > settings to enable it, I saw nothing else anywhere to actually make
> > use of it.  This is using their system through a web browser
> > (Firefox).
>
> Supplemental:  I just downloaded their desktop application (RPM file on
> CentOS, so Fedora's probably more advanced).  In there there's a
> virtual background configuration option, and the background colour is
> selectable (you click on the background in the preview from your webcam
> video).
>
> Currently, I'm in a room with pale yellow/cream walls and it's sort of
> working, mistaking some skin tone.  If I was in a room with different
> coloured walls it'd work better.  I do have green walls in a room with
> a Fedora installation, so I'll try that out shortly.
>
> So, a green "screen" isn't required.  But you really want a flat
> coloured wall behind you.  I work in video production, and for those
> unfamiliar with chromakeying, or colour separation overlay (CSO), bold
> primary or secondary colours are best (red, green, blue, yellow, cyan,
> magenta), and you're better using colours opposite to skin tone (green,
> blue, cyan being the most opposite).

Thank you all again for your answers. I have meanwhile found something
that gives me some hope: Using OBS Studio as a virtual camera on Zoom
with obs-StreamFX plugin on:

https://github.com/Xaymar/obs-StreamFX

Now, my difficulty is how to install obs-StreamFX.

Paul
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Tim via users]

On Sat, 2021-02-06 at 11:49 +1030, Tim via users wrote:
> I just used Zoom for the first time, this morning.  I had a ferret
> around, but although I can see an option in meeting (advanced)
> settings to enable it, I saw nothing else anywhere to actually make
> use of it.  This is using their system through a web browser
> (Firefox).

Supplemental:  I just downloaded their desktop application (RPM file on
CentOS, so Fedora's probably more advanced).  In there there's a
virtual background configuration option, and the background colour is
selectable (you click on the background in the preview from your webcam
video).

Currently, I'm in a room with pale yellow/cream walls and it's sort of
working, mistaking some skin tone.  If I was in a room with different
coloured walls it'd work better.  I do have green walls in a room with
a Fedora installation, so I'll try that out shortly.

So, a green "screen" isn't required.  But you really want a flat
coloured wall behind you.  I work in video production, and for those
unfamiliar with chromakeying, or colour separation overlay (CSO), bold
primary or secondary colours are best (red, green, blue, yellow, cyan,
magenta), and you're better using colours opposite to skin tone (green,
blue, cyan being the most opposite).
 
-- 
 
uname -rsvp
Linux 3.10.0-1160.15.2.el7.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Feb 3 15:06:38 UTC 2021 x86_64
 
Boilerplate:  All unexpected mail to my mailbox is automatically deleted.
I will only get to see the messages that are posted to the mailing list.
 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Tim via users]

On Fri, 2021-02-05 at 08:50 -0700, Greg Woods wrote:
> I looked into this with Zoom, because I wanted to have a nice
> background like my online bridge partner does. It turns out that Zoom
> does have a way to separate foreground from background that does not
> rely on a green screen. It mostly works although there are a few
> artifacts. However, this feature is only available on Windows. If you
> are running it on Linux, you need a green screen in order to use a
> virtual background.

I just used Zoom for the first time, this morning.  I had a ferret
around, but although I can see an option in meeting (advanced) settings
to enable it, I saw nothing else anywhere to actually make use of it. 
This is using their system through a web browser (Firefox).

> I use an old slide projector screen with a green cloth draped over
> it. It works well but is a pain to set up for every Zoom call.

The practical aspects of it are a big problem.

For many people, they've re-purposed a small bedroom as an office, and
there isn't room to set up extra equipment.  Your best bet is hanging
something from a picture hook, or leaning something up against a wall. 
You can get green & blue screens that have a springy outer border that
folds over itself like a car windscreen sun blocker, when you want to
pack it away.  They can stand up by themselves against a wall without
using any framework.  They even make ones that hang off the back of
your office chair, turning it into a big throne.  Though being that
close to it will probably have shadow problems.

The alternative is how we used to show slides and home movies without a
real screen.  Hang a cloth over the curtains.  Turn the end around a
broomstick, or spare curtain rod, a few times.  Bulldog clip or clothes
peg it to the rod.  Pop the rod over the top of your hanging curtains
to hold it in place.
 
-- 
 
uname -rsvp
Linux 3.10.0-1160.15.2.el7.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Feb 3 15:06:38 UTC 2021 x86_64
 
Boilerplate:  All unexpected mail to my mailbox is automatically deleted.
I will only get to see the messages that are posted to the mailing list.
 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Doug McGarrett]

On 2/5/21 7:49 AM, Phil Edwards wrote:
Apparently, the Windows version of the Zoom client will happily do 
virtual backgrounds without the need for a green screen (providing 
your hardware meets the minimum requirements). But then if we were 
Windows users, we wouldn't be here would we?


Unfortunately, that facility is not available to Linux users and, last 
time I checked, I don't think it is planned - probably down to lack of 
demand / pressure.


Phil

SOMETHING does virtual background in Linux. Maybe it's skype. I 
haven't actually used either facility, but when I was
playing around with the installations, I ran into the virtual background 
by accident.

--doug


On Fri, 5 Feb 2021 at 11:39, Patrick O'Callaghan 
mailto:pocallag...@gmail.com>> wrote:


On Fri, 2021-02-05 at 14:21 +1030, Tim via users wrote:
> On Thu, 2021-02-04 at 19:09 +, Paul Smith wrote:
> > I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam
video feed
> > with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a
“green
> > screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual
camera
> > with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom.
Is that
> > possible on Fedora?
>
> If I google around, apparently there are things that can do the
green
> screen effect with zoom without a *green* screen, though they may be
> Windows/Mac.
>
> The point of using green screens is to have a uniform colour
behind you
> that's very opposite of skin tone (blue or green being the most
common,
> though the BBC had used yellow too) and from anything that you're
> wearing, that the keying device can detect as being background
instead
> of foreground.  You can research chromakey or CSO (colour separation
> overlay) for more info about it.
>
> It doesn't have to be a screen.  A suitably vivid colour bed sheet
> stretched tight will do the job.  We've used fabric from a
dressmakers,
> and blue cardboard pinned to the wall.  But that's not always
practical
> to do at home, and with people in lockdown they can't go out and buy
> things.
>
> If you want to avoid the insides your home being shown on a webcam
> meeting, your simplest option is to hold the meeting somewhere
else in
> your house that's less personal.  Such as sitting in a position
so that
>  your loungeroom curtains are the only things visible behind
you.  I've
> seen journos working from home park themselves in front of their big
> screen TV and use that as the background.

Just a few days ago the BBC had a story about second-hand booksellers
doing a nice trade in selling batches of serious-looking books that
people could place strategically behind them :-)

(Apologies for going OT)

poc
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org

To unsubscribe send an email to
users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org

Fedora Code of Conduct:
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/

List Guidelines:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines

List Archives:
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org




___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Greg Woods]

On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 8:51 PM Tim via users 
wrote:

>
> If I google around, apparently there are things that can do the green
> screen effect with zoom without a *green* screen, though they may be
> Windows/Mac.
>

I looked into this with Zoom, because I wanted to have a nice background
like my online bridge partner does. It turns out that Zoom does have a way
to separate foreground from background that does not rely on a green
screen. It mostly works although there are a few artifacts. However, this
feature is only available on Windows. If you are running it on Linux, you
need a green screen in order to use a virtual background.

I use an old slide projector screen with a green cloth draped over it. It
works well but is a pain to set up for every Zoom call.

--Greg

>
>
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Paul Smith]

On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 3:32 PM Tim via users
 wrote:
>
> > I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
> > with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
> > screen”, which I do not have.
>
> Are you sure it's required?  My quick look at the zoom help page just
> says that a solid colour background is required, green is preferred.
> You can choose another colour, if it can't work it out.
>
> By "solid colour" it just wants a uniform flat colour of some
> description behind you, not a complex image.  Coloured walls, curtains
> pulled straight, even a plain bedsheet can be used.

Thanks to you all for your answers!

Probably, I will choose Skype instead of Zoom, as Skype on Linux can
blur the background on the webcam video. Surprisingly, Teams (of
Microsoft as well as Skype) cannot blur that on Linux!

Paul
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Tim via users]

On Thu, 2021-02-04 at 19:09 +, Paul Smith wrote:
> I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
> with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
> screen”, which I do not have.

Are you sure it's required?  My quick look at the zoom help page just
says that a solid colour background is required, green is preferred. 
You can choose another colour, if it can't work it out.

By "solid colour" it just wants a uniform flat colour of some
description behind you, not a complex image.  Coloured walls, curtains
pulled straight, even a plain bedsheet can be used.
 
-- 
 
uname -rsvp
Linux 3.10.0-1160.15.2.el7.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Feb 3 15:06:38 UTC 2021 x86_64
 
Boilerplate:  All unexpected mail to my mailbox is automatically deleted.
I will only get to see the messages that are posted to the mailing list.
 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Phil Edwards]

Apparently, the Windows version of the Zoom client will happily do virtual
backgrounds without the need for a green screen (providing your hardware
meets the minimum requirements). But then if we were Windows users, we
wouldn't be here would we?

Unfortunately, that facility is not available to Linux users and, last time
I checked, I don't think it is planned - probably down to lack of demand /
pressure.

Phil



On Fri, 5 Feb 2021 at 11:39, Patrick O'Callaghan 
wrote:

> On Fri, 2021-02-05 at 14:21 +1030, Tim via users wrote:
> > On Thu, 2021-02-04 at 19:09 +, Paul Smith wrote:
> > > I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
> > > with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
> > > screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
> > > with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
> > > possible on Fedora?
> >
> > If I google around, apparently there are things that can do the green
> > screen effect with zoom without a *green* screen, though they may be
> > Windows/Mac.
> >
> > The point of using green screens is to have a uniform colour behind you
> > that's very opposite of skin tone (blue or green being the most common,
> > though the BBC had used yellow too) and from anything that you're
> > wearing, that the keying device can detect as being background instead
> > of foreground.  You can research chromakey or CSO (colour separation
> > overlay) for more info about it.
> >
> > It doesn't have to be a screen.  A suitably vivid colour bed sheet
> > stretched tight will do the job.  We've used fabric from a dressmakers,
> > and blue cardboard pinned to the wall.  But that's not always practical
> > to do at home, and with people in lockdown they can't go out and buy
> > things.
> >
> > If you want to avoid the insides your home being shown on a webcam
> > meeting, your simplest option is to hold the meeting somewhere else in
> > your house that's less personal.  Such as sitting in a position so that
> >  your loungeroom curtains are the only things visible behind you.  I've
> > seen journos working from home park themselves in front of their big
> > screen TV and use that as the background.
>
> Just a few days ago the BBC had a story about second-hand booksellers
> doing a nice trade in selling batches of serious-looking books that
> people could place strategically behind them :-)
>
> (Apologies for going OT)
>
> poc
> ___
> users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
> Fedora Code of Conduct:
> https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
> List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
> List Archives:
> https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org
>
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Patrick O'Callaghan]

On Fri, 2021-02-05 at 14:21 +1030, Tim via users wrote:
> On Thu, 2021-02-04 at 19:09 +, Paul Smith wrote:
> > I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
> > with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
> > screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
> > with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
> > possible on Fedora?
> 
> If I google around, apparently there are things that can do the green
> screen effect with zoom without a *green* screen, though they may be
> Windows/Mac.
> 
> The point of using green screens is to have a uniform colour behind you
> that's very opposite of skin tone (blue or green being the most common,
> though the BBC had used yellow too) and from anything that you're
> wearing, that the keying device can detect as being background instead
> of foreground.  You can research chromakey or CSO (colour separation
> overlay) for more info about it.
> 
> It doesn't have to be a screen.  A suitably vivid colour bed sheet
> stretched tight will do the job.  We've used fabric from a dressmakers,
> and blue cardboard pinned to the wall.  But that's not always practical
> to do at home, and with people in lockdown they can't go out and buy
> things.
> 
> If you want to avoid the insides your home being shown on a webcam
> meeting, your simplest option is to hold the meeting somewhere else in
> your house that's less personal.  Such as sitting in a position so that
>  your loungeroom curtains are the only things visible behind you.  I've
> seen journos working from home park themselves in front of their big
> screen TV and use that as the background.

Just a few days ago the BBC had a story about second-hand booksellers
doing a nice trade in selling batches of serious-looking books that
people could place strategically behind them :-)

(Apologies for going OT)

poc
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Tim via users]

On Thu, 2021-02-04 at 19:09 +, Paul Smith wrote:
> I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
> with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
> screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
> with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
> possible on Fedora?

If I google around, apparently there are things that can do the green
screen effect with zoom without a *green* screen, though they may be
Windows/Mac.

The point of using green screens is to have a uniform colour behind you
that's very opposite of skin tone (blue or green being the most common,
though the BBC had used yellow too) and from anything that you're
wearing, that the keying device can detect as being background instead
of foreground.  You can research chromakey or CSO (colour separation
overlay) for more info about it.

It doesn't have to be a screen.  A suitably vivid colour bed sheet
stretched tight will do the job.  We've used fabric from a dressmakers,
and blue cardboard pinned to the wall.  But that's not always practical
to do at home, and with people in lockdown they can't go out and buy
things.

If you want to avoid the insides your home being shown on a webcam
meeting, your simplest option is to hold the meeting somewhere else in
your house that's less personal.  Such as sitting in a position so that
 your loungeroom curtains are the only things visible behind you.  I've
seen journos working from home park themselves in front of their big
screen TV and use that as the background.

-- 
 
uname -rsvp
Linux 3.10.0-1160.15.2.el7.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Feb 3 15:06:38 UTC 2021 x86_64
 
Boilerplate:  All unexpected mail to my mailbox is automatically deleted.
I will only get to see the messages that are posted to the mailing list.
 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Samuel Sieb]

On 2/4/21 11:09 AM, Paul Smith wrote:

I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
possible on Fedora?


Doesn't zoom provide that option already?  You just need to have a 
reasonably clear background behind you.


There's an out-of-tree kernel module called v4l-loopback which you might 
be able to get to work.

___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Paul Smith]

On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 7:16 PM Jonathan Billings  wrote:
>
> > I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
> > with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
> > screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
> > with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
> > possible on Fedora?
>
> You can use the v4l2loopback kernel module to create a virtual camera,
> and use one of the many tools to send video to the virtual video
> device.  However, that will just send a video or image to the video
> device, it won't get your webcam's picture and overlay it on top of
> it.  If you want that, you'll need to do what zoom is already trying
> to do, which requires a static background (a green screen).

Thanks, Jonathan, for your clarification. I am now thinking about an
alternative: blurring the background. Skype can do that, but not Zoom
-- unfortunately.

Paul
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Re: Virtual background for Zoom video

[Jonathan Billings]

On Thu, Feb 04, 2021 at 07:09:03PM +, Paul Smith wrote:
> I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
> with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
> screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
> with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
> possible on Fedora?

You can use the v4l2loopback kernel module to create a virtual camera,
and use one of the many tools to send video to the virtual video
device.  However, that will just send a video or image to the video
device, it won't get your webcam's picture and overlay it on top of
it.  If you want that, you'll need to do what zoom is already trying
to do, which requires a static background (a green screen).

-- 
Jonathan Billings 
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org

Virtual background for Zoom video

[Paul Smith]

Dear All,

I would like to replace the background behind in my webcam video feed
with an image. However, that is not possible, as it requires a “green
screen”, which I do not have. So, my idea is to use a virtual camera
with a background image chosen by me and feed that into Zoom. Is that
possible on Fedora?

Thanks in advance,

Paul
___
users mailing list -- users@lists.fedoraproject.org
To unsubscribe send an email to users-le...@lists.fedoraproject.org
Fedora Code of Conduct: 
https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
List Archives: 
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/users@lists.fedoraproject.org