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How to Make a Webcam Look Better?

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Updated August 16, 2022

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Table of Contents_

Tips for Improving Webcam Quality
Pick the Right Light Source
Check Your Webcam Settings
Try a Virtual Background

The best webcams out there provide great image quality. Even so, regardless of whether you have a premium or cheap webcam, you can still make things look better using a few tips and tricks to get your video up to par. Keep reading to find out more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The easiest way to improve your webcam quality is to ensure you have the best lighting possible. Use either natural light or a ring light for this.
You can also tweak your webcam settings to get a better video feed.
Finally, you can always use a virtual background to ensure you don’t have to worry about how tidy things are behind you during meetings.

Tips for Improving Webcam Quality

There are just some questions you’ll ask yourself when you begin using webcams, such as “How do I know if my webcam is on?” and “Why is my webcam grainy?” One important question you should be asking is how to improve the overall image quality. Keep reading to find out the best ways to do just that.

Insider Tip

Use a virtual background so that you don’t have to worry about staging the area behind you.

Pick the Right Light Source

Preferably, you should be using as much natural light as possible. This is soft and flattering, especially on webcam footage. Artificial light tends to be harsher and less flattering. If you need a good source of light, try using something like an 8-inch ring light.

Check Your Webcam Settings

Whether you’re using laptop webcams or an external webcam, you’ll need to understand how the settings work. You might want to learn how to invert a webcam, as well as how to update a webcam driver. Those are crucial to using your device correctly and attaining the best video quality possible.

Warning

If you use a harsh light, your webcam will likely not be able to capture the details of your face correctly.

Try a Virtual Background

Having the right background light is great, but having a clean background is even better. One of the best webcam setup tips you can get is ensuring that the space behind you during your Zoom meetings is clean and tidy. To make this easier on yourself, try using a virtual background. This provides a fake environment, so you don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of your office.

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F.A.Q.

Is it worth investing in a USB webcam device?

You should invest in an external device if you need great video quality. USB webcams can have some pretty nifty features and specs that make them far better than internal options.

Should I use the brightest light possible while on my webcam?

Absolutely not. This will create harsh lines and glare. Instead, you want a soft image quality using natural light or a ring light. Keep the light reasonably low, as well.

Will an internal webcam produce a good quality video?

Unfortunately, most internal models will not be the best for video chatting and calling. Instead, an external webcam is worth investing in.

Can I use a green screen with my webcam?

Yes, you can use a green screen, and it’s one of the cheap options available if you don’t want to stage your background. This is a great way to set up a virtual background.

References:

Beth Huston

Beth has an eye for all things editorial, overshadowed only by her drive to understand everything through dedicated research. You can find Beth reading fantasy in her spare time… especially if it’s by Brandon Sanderson.