A fresh video background can make your videos look more professional, polished, and visually engaging. It’s a straightforward switch that’ll instantly transform your content and keep people hooked for longer. The best bit is that making a change to your video background is simple – we’re going to show you how.
This guide will teach you how to swap out dull or cluttered backdrops, for dynamic, eye-catching visuals without the need for a green screen or professional editing skills. Learn the easiest ways to change your video background, whether you’re creating YouTube content, social media clips, or live streams.
- The three approaches to change your video background
- How to change your video background (step-by-step)
- 8 tips for seamlessly swapping your background
3 approaches creators use to change a video’s background
If you want to switch out your background, the good news is that you have options. You might go fully hands-on with the green screen method used by the professionals. Maybe you’d prefer to go the other way and let AI help you take a few editing shortcuts. Or you might land somewhere in-between, swapping in an animated background to your edit.
What’s going to work best for your content will depend on your editing setup and the look you’re going for. Check out the three options used by content creators and see which one works for you:
1. Easily upgrade your content with animated backgrounds
One of the simplest ways to enhance your content is by adding an animated background. These pre-made motion graphics can be placed behind your footage to create a dynamic backdrop.
If you go down this route and use an animated background, you won’t need to worry as much about your video setup either. Instead of expensive lighting and video equipment, a simple backdrop will do. It's when you start editing that you'll achieve that sleek, high-end look in just a few simple steps:
1. Record your video against a plain, solid-colored backdrop – a blank wall will work fine.
2. Import your footage and chosen animated background into your video editing software.
3. Use either a masking tool or chroma key effect to select and remove your original background.
4. Place the animated background behind your subject for a seamless effect.
Not sure where to get animated backgrounds? Uppbeat offers free, high-quality motion backgrounds designed for content creators.
2. Try the chroma key technique to mimic a green screen
The chroma key effect is an industry-standard technique for removing backgrounds. It works by isolating and removing a specific color (usually green or blue) from your footage, allowing you to replace it with another background.
You’ll need a green screen backdrop – this can be fabric or a painted wall – as well as even lighting to make sure there are no shadows. It’s also worth making sure your editing software has a chroma key option before you follow these steps:
1. Record yourself in front of a green screen.
2. Import the footage into your video editor.
3. Apply the chroma key effect to remove the green background.
4. Replace it with an animated background, solid color, or another scene.
3. Use AI-powered background removal in your editing software
A lot of editing software now uses AI to help you change your background. These AI background removal tools can automatically detect and erase your background, which is perfect for when you don’t have a green screen handy.
While this can be a quick, hassle-free way to improve your edits, it does have its limitations. There are certain details AI can struggle to crop out, like hair or any type of motion blur. But if you’re happy with AI’s imperfections, this is how you can change your background:
1. Upload your video to an editor with AI tools.
2. Let the software automatically detect and remove the background.
3. Download the processed video and place it over your animated background.
How to change your video background in any editing software (step-by-step)
Whichever route you choose to go down, the steps to change your background are largely the same. You’ll find that each editing software will have its own name for the tools you use – but ultimately you’ll be removing your existing background and replacing it with a new one.
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to change your video background, no matter which editing software you use:
1. Choose your background
Pick a background that complements your content, whether that’s a solid color or an animated backdrop. Remember, you want to select a background that’s going to complement your content without distracting your viewers.
If you’re opting for an animation or simply stuck for inspiration, check out Uppbeat’s dedicated library of animated backgrounds.
2. Import your video
Open up your editing software and drag your footage into the timeline. Don’t have a video editor yet? Check out our guide to the best video editing software for content creators.
3. Figure out how to remove your original background
To take out the original background from your footage, use either the chroma key tool, masking, or AI background removal to select the area you want to take out. Not sure which one’s right for you? It’ll depend on what tools your editing software has, but here’s a quick explainer on each:
- Use chroma key if you filmed in front of a solid green or blue screen.
- Use AI background removal for quick edits without a green screen (best for social media videos).
- Use masking if you want precise control over which parts of the background to remove manually.
4. Use your editing tools to remove your background
It’s time to take the background off your original footage. How you do this will differ depending on the editor you use, so jump to the software you have for step-by-step instructions:
- Premiere Pro – Use the Ultra Key effect under the Effects panel, apply it to your clip, then use the eyedropper tool to select and remove your background color.
- DaVinci Resolve – Head to the Fusion tab, add a Delta Keyer, and select the background color to key it out for a clean removal.
- CapCut – Use the Remove Background tool under the Cutout options, which automatically detects and removes backgrounds, no matter what you’ve filmed in front of.
- iMovie – Drag your background clip onto the timeline, place your original footage above it, then select Green/Blue Screen from the Video Overlay settings.
- Final Cut Pro – Apply the Green Screen Keyer effect from the Effects panel to select and remove your background. Then adjust settings like strength and spill to clean up the background you’re taking out.
5. Add the new background
Place your new animated background or image underneath your footage in the timeline. Your aim is to make your new background feel seamless, so adjust the brightness, contrast, and color grading to match the lighting conditions of your original footage. Most editing software offers color-matching tools that’ll help you achieve this.
6. Adjust and refine your video
This is where you can get creative with the tools you have. Tweak the color, lighting, and position to make your new background blend seamlessly with the rest of your footage. Before you’re done, export your video in the highest resolution possible. If you're posting on YouTube or social media, aim for 1080p or 4K to maintain the quality of your edit.
8 tips to achieve a seamless background swap
As you can see, adding a new background to your content is straightforward. But that doesn’t mean it’s a completely fail-safe process. We’ve rounded up five essential tips to make sure your edit looks as polished as possible.
1. Choose a high-resolution background 💎
Do your video justice! A blurry background can make your video look low quality and may cause viewers to click away. Make sure the background you choose isn’t going to distract them with its poor quality.
2. Use even lighting when filming your content 💡
This is important for making the background removal process as smooth as possible. You want to avoid shadows that can interfere with background removal, so test out your lighting to make sure it’s even before you start filming.
3. Use backgrounds to remove distractions from your content 🎣
Every creator knows how important it is to keep your viewers focused on you and your message. A cluttered backdrop can be distracting, so switch it out for something that’ll make sure your viewers are paying attention to what you’re saying.
4. Match the background to your content 🎨
This might sound obvious, but it’s easy to overlook. If your new background doesn’t fit your video’s theme and branding, it’s going to make for a jarring viewing experience. Try to match it with the tone of your content.
5. Build your own personal brand 👋
Your background is a key part of your signature look. When you use a consistent aesthetic and feel across your channel, people become more familiar with your unique style. When people recognise that they’re enjoying your videos time and time again, they’ll be more likely to hit the subscribe button.
6. Keep people watching with a professional makeover 💅
People are more likely to stick around if they feel like your content looks legit. A clean, polished background improves production quality and gives viewers confidence that you’ve put the time and effort into making a video worth watching.
7. Bring life to your edits with animated backgrounds 🔥
A little bit of motion can add depth and energy to your edits. You don’t need anything wild going on in the background, but a simple animated background can seriously elevate how your videos look.
8. Test your new look before locking it in 🧑🔬
Play back your edit to check for cutout issues or awkward transitions. You should be doing this anyway, but it’s an important step! The earlier you can iron out any issues with your background, the less likely you’ll have to do more major changes later.
Transform your videos in just a few simple steps
One of the easiest ways to elevate your content is by switching out your background. Whether you’re removing your background with AI, chroma keying with a green screen, or using stylish animated backgrounds, you have different options to choose from.
If you’re ready to find your own professional-quality background, check out Uppbeat’s free motion graphics library. With ready-made animated backgrounds specially curated for content creators, you can easily improve your videos without the hassle of complex editing!
