Newer streamers and content creators frequently struggle to present polished stream backdrops. Not all creators have a basement, an office or even just a dedicated room to create videos. As they struggle to make do with what they have, they might find themselves streaming with a messy room in the background or while family members walk in and out of the camera’s focus.
The Webaround is an effective solution to this challenge. As a green screen that attaches directly to a person’s chair, it solves a number of problems that streamers and YouTubers face in trying to create professional content. And, it does so at a cost so reasonable, there’s no reason every gaming creator shouldn’t have one on hand to assist them in their most creative green screen endeavors.
It’s almost deceptive in its ease of use. The green, 56" diameter Webaround, which is dubbed “The Big Shot,” comes in a zip-up bag about the size of an ordinary tote. But be forewarned that one should open it in an area that has several feet of open space as upon opening it, it quickly springs out into its full form.
From there, using the Webaround becomes a simple matter of setting it up. From start to finish, the process of opening the item and putting it on a high-back chair for the first time took fewer than three minutes. In subsequent uses, this process only got faster. On a chair with a low back, affixing the Webaround would require even less time.
Minor Adjustments to Meet Unique Needs
By its design, the Webaround’s straps, which allow the background to stay attached to the top part of a chair, are supposed to go on the inner seat while the screen itself is propped on the backside of the chair. But in the case of a high-backed chair, that created an unusual transparent cross-shaped effect on the screen, as seen below.
One could alleviate this by ensuring their webcam pointed squarely above the top of the chair. But, for this particular chair, it was best to simply turn the screen around for full coverage. The screen is durable and can withstand weight as a person pushes back against the inner seat.
Minimal Maintenance
One concern, especially in using it in this slightly modified manner, may be that it would get dirty, possibly from sweat or general messiness. But barring an accidental spill or the like, it’s tough to see how the screen would get so filthy that a simple wipe down wouldn’t be enough to solve the problem. It also comes with ironing instructions should a person need to iron out creases. Creases are minimal when the screen is propped, however, as it’s designed to stretch the fabric as much as possible without tearing it.
In placing the item, it at first seemed as though it should sit high on the chair. However, during use, it became evident that it should go lower. In the first instance, swinging from side-to-side allowed viewers to see the area behind the chair. Rather than attempting to zoom the webcam in so that it wouldn’t show the sides of the screen, simply pushing it down was the smarter option.
Additional Webaround Options
While the 56” model takes up a significant amount of two-dimensional space, the 42” is likely easier to maintain. Webaround bills this smaller model as “The perfect webcam background for portability and ease of preparation."
Additionally, the company’s 52” products are available as a circular backdrop or as square one with rounded edges. It’s possible squared edges might have allowed for better camera positioning to avoid the background exposure that came upon swiveling.
The Webaround saves space relative to a typical prop-up green screen, which would take up more space due to it being further back from the screen. A standard green screen could also be at risk of falling over should a user push their chair back quickly in a moment of excitement. Webaround’s backdrops come with stabilizers that help the screen stay firm and upright, which is helpful in the event of flimsy support.
Easy Technical Setup
Its manual includes a number of links and options to make the technical setup process as easy as possible. This includes recommendations for webcam software that allows zoom features on laptop cameras and links to detailed instructions as to how to set up chroma key on a variety of web applications. Chroma key is the technology that allows colored backgrounds to render as transparent so people can superimpose their own images.
Using Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), setting up chroma key comes down to adjusting settings accordingly. The process is intuitive for anyone who has ever adjusted a visual filter on a webcam using such a tool. A balanced transparent back chroma key effect is a matter of adjusting it to the right levels. From there, it’s also very easy to set backgrounds.
The only challenging part of using this object involved closing it and putting it away. The Webaround team offers very simple tutorials on how to fold it back into its carrying bag. However, for those who lack experience with this style of product, it’s a little bit tricky to figure out how to fold it. Still, it only took a couple of tries and with a few practice rounds of opening and closing it, it became more natural.
A Great Tool for a Professional Stream
Overall, the Webaround is a worthwhile investment for any streamer or video content creator looking to increase their stream’s background aesthetic. (Upon tuning into my stream, several viewers shared that they were impressed with the improved quality of my stream as I previously streamed with a messy desk in the background.) Being able to affix it directly to one’s chair makes it extremely convenient even in small spaces. It’s worth the investment, as the green screen backdrop is a simple way to create a professional look.
