Blur or replace your camera background in Bevy Virtual Meetup, Bevy Virtual Conference, or a webinar room before you join or during the session, choose from built-in effects (or your community’s custom background), and fix common browser limits.
Use Background effects to blur or replace what appears behind you when your camera is on in Bevy Virtual. The same controls work in Bevy Virtual Meetup, Bevy Virtual Conference (including backstage), and webinar rooms. You can set an effect in the pre-join area (haircheck) or change it during the session after you have Presenter mode.
- Effects — control that opens the Background effects picker.
- Background effects — modal where you preview yourself and select an option.
- None — clears the effect so your real background shows again.
Note: Background effects work on desktop Firefox and Chromium-based browsers (such as Chrome, Edge, and Brave) that support video processing. They are not available on mobile browsers. If Effects is disabled and shows Not supported in this browser, update your browser or switch to a supported desktop browser.
Set an effect before you join
On the pre-join (haircheck) screen, allow camera access so Bevy can show your preview, then open effects before you enter the room, session, or backstage.
- On the pre-join screen, turn on your camera if it is off.
- Select Effects.
- In Background effects, select an option under Select an effect.
- Close the modal when you are ready, then join.
Your choice is remembered for later visits on the same browser when possible.
Change an effect during the session
In the live room, session, or backstage, background effects are available from the camera menu when you have Presenter mode (so you can turn your camera on).
- In the bottom tray, open the camera options menu (arrow next to Start video / Stop video).
- Select Effects.
- In Background effects, choose an option, then close the modal.
Tip: You can change or clear an effect anytime while presenter mode is on. Start video if your camera is off so others can see the result.
Get Presenter mode (when in-session Effects is missing)
If Effects worked in haircheck but the camera menu does not offer it after you join, confirm you have Presenter mode for that room:
| Where you are | How Presenter mode works for Effects |
|---|---|
| Bevy Virtual Meetup | A host or moderator turns on Presenter mode for you. See Use Bevy Virtual Meetup as a presenter. |
| Bevy Virtual Conference (session or backstage) | A host or moderator turns on Presenter mode (Participants → your name → Actions). See Roles and permissions in Bevy Virtual Conference and Use Bevy Virtual Conference as a host/moderator. |
| Webinar room (Meetup or Conference) | You need Presenter mode in that room the same way. Hosts promote or admit presenters separately from Effects — see Promote or remove a presenter in webinar mode and Admit attendees from the webinar waiting room when those steps apply. |
Choose a background effect
The picker shows a live preview of you with the selected effect. Options include:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| None | Turns background effects off so your real camera background shows. |
| Soft blur / Strong blur | Softens your real background without replacing it. |
| Image backgrounds | Replaces your background with a built-in scene (for example Wall, Office space, Library, Gradient, and other listed options). |
| Custom background (when your community has one) | Shows your community’s branded image. It replaces the built-in Wall option and may use a custom label instead of Custom background. |
Important: Your self-view preview is mirrored on purpose. Text or logos on a background can look reversed to you even when attendees and recordings see the correct orientation. Do not flip an image file to “fix” the preview.
Community custom background
If your community has a branded custom virtual background, it appears in the same picker (often labeled Custom background, or a label your community set). Presenters select it here; they cannot upload their own image.
Admins request a community custom background through Bevy Support — see Set up a custom virtual background.
Troubleshoot background effects
- Effects is missing or disabled — Use a supported desktop browser with the latest update. Mobile browsers do not support this feature.
- Effects works in haircheck but not in the room — Confirm a host or moderator has turned on Presenter mode for you, then open the camera menu again. See the Presenter mode table above for Meetup, Conference, and webinar paths.
- I do not see our branded background — Ask an admin whether Support has published the community image. Until it is published, you only see the built-in list (including Wall).
- The effect looks soft or delayed — Close other apps that use the camera or heavy CPU, and keep lighting even on your face.
- I want my real background back — Open Background effects and select None.