# Backgrounds & aspect ratios: Put your recording on a better background.

> Wallpapers, colours, animated shaders, padding and corners, in any aspect ratio.

Canonical: https://www.smoothcapture.app/features/backgrounds

Replace the desktop behind your recording with a wallpaper, a colour or an animated background, then pick the shape of the video: wide, square or vertical.

## Highlights

### Images and colours

Pick from the Apple, Nature, Zen and Gradient collections, use your own image, or choose a solid colour.

### Animated backgrounds

Mesh Gradient, Grain Gradient, Simplex Noise, Neuro Noise, Warp and God Rays move behind your video.

### Frame the video

Set the video’s zoom from 50% to 200%, the corner radius and edge padding.

### Seven aspect ratios

Source, 16:9, 19.5:9, 4:3, 1:1, 9:16 and 9:19.5, set once for the whole project.

### Brightness and blur

Dim a busy wallpaper or blur it so the recording stands out.

### Apply to everything

Apply to All Clips and Cards copies the look to every take and slide.

## How to do it

### 1. Pick a background

Open Background in the inspector, choose a type, then a wallpaper, colour or shader. Adjust zoom, corners and padding under Video Frame.

### 2. Change the aspect ratio

Use the aspect ratio menu under the preview to switch the whole project between wide, square and vertical.

## From the CLI or an AI agent

Set the look of a take from a script. The response lists exactly which takes changed.

```bash
smoothcapture cli editor apply --input - <<'JSON'
{"revision": "…", "operations": [
  {"action": "setAppearance", "clip": "…",
   "appearance": {"background": "Gradient/gradient_3",
                  "padding": 0.84, "cornerRadius": 0.05}}
]}
JSON
```

## FAQ

### Can I export a vertical video for TikTok, Reels or Shorts?

Yes. Set the project to Portrait 9:16 and the recording is laid out on a vertical canvas. Use zoom and padding to fill it.

### Can I use my own background image?

Yes. Choose Image and add your own picture next to the built-in collections.

### Can I have a transparent background?

Yes, at export. Choose ProRes (MOV) with Transparent background to get ProRes 4444 with alpha.

More: [Export formats](https://www.smoothcapture.app/features/export)

### Can different clips have different backgrounds?

Yes. Background belongs to each take, so every recording can have its own. Apply to All Clips and Cards makes them match.

## Related

- [3D device mockups](https://www.smoothcapture.app/features/3d-device-frames)
- [Export & sharing](https://www.smoothcapture.app/features/export)
- [Timeline editor](https://www.smoothcapture.app/features/timeline-editor)