We’ll be using Canva. It’s extremely easy to use, has a free plan, provides a large library of images, and offers a ton of editing tools. Before you can use it, though, you’ll have to create an account.

After you set that up, head over to Canva’s Zoom Virtual Background Maker and click “Create a Zoom Virtual Background.”

You’ll now be in the “Templates” tab of the console. Here, you’ll find some custom images with text and special effects. You can also browse under the “Photos” tab to find an image you like and edit it. Most of these are free; if not, you’ll see the “Pro” label.

If you want to upload and use your own photo, just click the “Uploads” tab.

It only takes a few seconds for your photo to upload. When it appears, click your image.

Your image will appear on the canvas at the right and you can now freely edit it. If you click the “Elements” tab, you’ll see stickers, charts, lines, gradients, and a bunch of other stuff you can use in your image. We’re adding a gradient element to our image.

To resize an element, select it on the canvas, and then click and drag the corners. To move it, click and drag the entire element to the appropriate location.

You can also add content to your image under the “Text” tab. Here, you can explore different fonts, and add a heading, subheading, or some text to your image.

When you’re finished editing your image, click the Download icon at the top right.

In the drop-down menu, select the file type you want to save your image as, and then choose a resolution. Click “Download” when you’re ready to save your background image.