> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.tella.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Change your camera background

> Blur your camera background or replace it with a solid color or image, right in the Tella recorder.

You can change your camera background directly in the Tella web recorder or Chrome extension. Blur everything behind you, or replace your background with a solid color or an image, with no green screen or third-party app needed.

<Note>
  Tella's background effects (blur, solid color, and image) are available in the web app and the Chrome extension. The Mac app can use background effects provided by macOS. Background effects are not supported in the Windows app or in Safari.
</Note>

## Change your background in the Mac app

The Mac app uses the video effects provided by macOS. Which effects are available depends on your macOS version and selected camera.

1. Hover the camera button and click the **chevron** next to it to open the camera menu.

2. Under **Apple Effects**, click **Portrait** (or **More effects…**). Both open the macOS **Video Effects** panel, where you switch **Portrait** on to blur your background, and on macOS 15 or later pick a **Background** (color gradient, system wallpaper, or your own photo) if your camera supports it. Tella's menu shows a checkmark next to the effects macOS is currently applying, and **Center Stage** can be toggled straight from the menu.

If an effect is disabled or missing, the current macOS and camera combination does not support it. Try another camera from the same menu. See [Apple's camera guide](https://support.apple.com/en-me/guide/mac-help/mchlp2980/mac) for more information.

## Turn on a background effect in the web app

1. Open the recorder and make sure your camera is on.
2. Open **Camera background**:
   * In a camera-only recording, click the **Camera background** button on the camera preview.
   * When sharing your screen, click **Camera settings**, then select **Camera background**.
3. Choose **Blur**, **Color**, or **Image**. Your background changes immediately, and the recording captures the processed feed automatically.

Set your background before you start recording. You can still use the fit and mirror controls while recording, but background options are only available during setup.

## Turn on a background effect in the Chrome extension

1. Open the extension recorder and make sure your camera is on.

2. Click the round **background** button in the corner of the camera preview to open the background options.

3. Choose **Blur**, **Color**, or **Image**. Your background changes immediately, and the recording captures the processed feed automatically.

Your camera keeps showing its original feed until the effect is ready, so you never record a blank frame while it loads.

## Choose a background

Open **Camera background** in the web app, or click the round **background** button in the Chrome extension, to choose:

* **Off:** the first swatch in the **Effect** row turns the effect off and shows your original camera feed.
* **Blur:** softly blur everything behind you so the focus stays on your face.
* **Color:** replace your background with a solid color. Pick from the preset swatches or your recent colors.
* **Image:** replace your background with one of the preset images, or upload your own.

<Tip>
  Picking a color or image turns the background effect on automatically if it isn't already.
</Tip>

#### Upload your own image

In the **Image** section, click the upload tile and choose a JPG, PNG, or WebP file. Your uploaded backgrounds are saved so you can reuse them later.

## Adjust blur intensity

When blur is selected, a **Blur amount** slider appears inside the background options.

* Drag the slider to the **right** to increase the blur (up to 20).
* Drag the slider to the **left** to decrease the blur (down to 1).

## Turn off the effect

Open the background options and pick the first swatch in the **Effect** row (**Off**). Your camera feed returns to its original state.

Your background choice is saved per device and persists across sessions.


## Related topics

- [Record camera only on Mac](/docs/help/recording/record-camera-only-on-mac.md)
- [Record a video using the Mac app](/docs/help/recording/record-a-video-using-the-mac-app.md)
- [Record with the Tella Windows app](/docs/help/recording/record-a-video-using-the-windows-app.md)
- [How to edit a video](/docs/help/editing/edit-a-video.md)
- [Backgrounds](/docs/help/editing/pick-a-background.md)