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lilliloves · 5 years ago

Note

“you say you’ll stop, but then you keep doing it!” 😘

A little Brio Thanksgiving randomness because, why not? Thanks for the prompt

It’s Beth’s first Thanksgiving as an ex-wife so she’s not entirely sure what to make of it. On one hand it’s been a few months now and she’s gotten accustomed to the fact that she’s no longer in a marriage. On the other hand, she can see why the holiday season might feel a bit lonelier this time around.

That’s not to say she’d change anything.

She’s been awake since the sun came up preparing Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey would be done soon and she had herself in pretty good shape with all of the sides and accompaniments. She’s been baking for the last week so desserts are all set.

Annie and Sadie and the Hills are coming over which she decides is a good thing. It certainly helps to make things feel more normal and she hopes the company will distract the kids from remembering that their dad is missing, thereby reminding them of the divorce. They’re slowly adjusting but everyone, Beth included, is still getting used to the new normal.

She takes a deep breath and goes over her mental to-do list. There’s really not much else to do but re-heat before they sit down to eat and that won’t be for over an hour. She expects her guests any minute now and can hear the kids playing with toys and video games in the other room.

Beth pushes a piece of stray hair out of her face - she’d gotten ready earlier but could probably use a refresh.

Just as she convinces herself that she can take a break - the oven timer goes off indicating that the turkey is done. She smiles and grabs two oven mitts off of the counter before turning to remove the meat from the oven.

Beth hears the back door open but it doesn’t register right away. She’s too concerned with not dropping the twenty pound bird she’s pulling from the oven. It’s perfectly golden brown and moist (or, as moist as a turkey can be). She can tell she’s done well and she beams with joy.

“Looks good, ma.” She hears from behind her as she places the pan on the stove. She yelps in surprise and drops the mitts in her hand before spinning around.

“Jesus.” She says loudly, her hand over her heart beating in her chest. Her expression earns a grin from the man across from her. His hands are shoved deep in the pockets of his jeans and a smirk covers his face.

She rolls her eyes and smooths her hair back subconsciously - or maybe not.

“Can you please use the front door like a normal person.” She demands and her tone is impatient but she’s obviously not serious. It’s not the first time she’s said it and it won’t be the last but she doesn’t believe he’ll ever do it.

She’s pretty sure she doesn’t really want him to anyway. She likes how comfortable he feels around here - isn’t sure what exactly it means but she’s getting closer to being ready to find out.

He ignores her request the same way he always does and settles into the stool at the kitchen counter. He leans forward resting his weight on his forearms.

“Got a last minute shipment comin’ in tomorrow. Eight cars.”

“Rio.” She says, trying hard not to let her impatience show. “It’s the day after a holiday.”

“Ain’t a holiday in Canada.”

She bites her tongue and thinks it over before answering. Dean is picking the kids up for the weekend tonight so that’s not the problem - it’s just - she’s been looking forward to taking the day to herself.

“What time?”

“Between 8 and 9.” He replies, tilting his head as if he knows she won’t be satisfied with his answer.

She’s about to ask between which 8 and 9 when he adds:

“In the morning.”

She groans, taking a step towards the counter. Only the island stands between them and she can see the glint in his eyes, can tell he gets some kind of sick enjoyment out of riling her up.

“I’m working my ass off today.” She says, waving her arms around at the food on the counter. “And you want me to be at the dealership before eight in the morning on what was supposed to be my day off?”

“Don’t remember you requestin’ a personal day, sweetheart.”

She rolls her eyes and considers chucking something at his head but thinks better of it. Thinks he’d only find that more amusing. She turns back towards the stove, taking a closer look at the turkey to make sure it’s cooked to the correct internal temperature. When she’s confident it’s done, she turns back around and faces him.

“I’ll be there for the delivery but I’m not doing inventory until Monday.” She concedes, raising her eyebrows, daring him to argue.

“Deal.” He says with a nod, leaning his chin into his hand.

She’s relieved but not surprised. They’ve somehow sorted this partnership out so well that it actually works. She thinks he might even enjoy it sometimes, she knows she does.

Beth turns again, lighting the stovetop in front of her, ready to start her gravy. She can feel his gaze on her back - more likely on her ass - and waits for him to keep talking or stand up to leave or something but he doesn’t. Just continues to burn a hole into her backside until she can’t take the silence anymore.

“You could have called you know. Or texted.” She says, breaking the silence. She looks at him, crossing her arms over her chest.

“You didn’t have to come all the way over here on Thanksgiving.”

He shrugs and picks up a spoon on the counter next to him. “That ain’t as fun, though.”

He eyes the choices in front of him before settling on the stuffing to his left. He sticks his spoon into it and takes a large spoonful, ruining the perfect bowl she’d dished out earlier.

“Seriously?” She asks, annoyed (but not).

He ignores her and sticks his spoon back into the breading to take another bite.

“This shit is good.” He says with a mouthful before meeting her eyes. “Stove top?”

Beth glares and tosses the dish towel next to her at his face. It’s insulting for him to even think for a second that she’d make any sort of stuffing from a box - on Thanksgiving no less. He ducks, missing the towel flying at his head only barely. She only lets him off the hook because the glint in his eyes makes it clear he’s messing with her.

He’s always messing with her.

He reaches forward to take another bite but Beth slaps his hand away. He laughs loudly but tosses the utensil down, holding his arms up in surrender.

She chuckles, lowering her head down before looking back up at him.

“Seriously. Why are you here?”

“Wanted to tell you how thankful I am for you.”

He’s joking, obviously, but a flush appears on her cheeks regardless.

“Very funny.” And then she changes the subject quickly before he can say something crazy like he actually means it.

“What are you doing today?”

“Goin’ to my sister’s but not ‘til three.”

“Where’s Marcus?” She asks even though she’s pretty sure she knows the answer.

“With his ma.” He says confirming her suspicions.

Beth has come to know Rio well - sometimes she thinks he pulls back from her because he realizes just how well. It wasn’t intentional - that much she knows, but one way or another they’ve both wormed their way into the other’s life. Something had changed between them after they’d become partners. An understanding had been met, albeit silently.

She knows that if he did have Marcus today there’s no way he’d be here right now.

She thinks sometimes he uses her as a way to quell his loneliness and she’s okay with it - likes it, if she’s being honest, thinks she’s started to do the same with him since her divorce.

She turns when she hears the broth behind her boiling and spoons a bit of flour, mixing half heartedly. Before he’d appeared her mind had been focused on one thing only - now, she’s distracted.

She should be used to his affect on her by now.

Behind her, Rio quietly picks up the spoon to sneak another bite of stuffing but he’s not quick enough - she twirls around and catches him and he won’t lie - he feels like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“You say you’ll stop but then you keep doing it!” Beth says with a look not all too different than the one his mother has given him for years. While it may be the same look - it doesn’t result in the same reaction from him. The look from his mother clearly never left him wanting.

He shrugs but dips his spoon in anyway and bites back a smile when she huffs but let’s him get away with it. Same as his ma. It’s his charm - he knows - that gets him off the hook time after time.

He hears little footsteps rush into the kitchen behind him and turns his head to find Jane at his back.

“Mommy, I’m hungry.” She says before turning to Rio.

“Hi Mr. Rio.”

“Hey, kid.”

She smiles at him but turns back to her mother, expectantly.

“Aunt Annie and Aunt Ruby will be here soon with the appetizers.” Beth responds, glancing at the clock. It’s a few minutes after noon, the time she’d told them to arrive.

She’s pleased when Jane doesn’t fight her and turns to run back towards her brothers and sister.

“Annie and Sadie are coming over soon.” Beth says, looking pointedly at Rio. She expects he’ll take it as his cue to leave but he doesn’t budge.

So she adds: “Ruby and her family too.”

He hums in acknowledgement but isn’t phased.

“You know. With her husband. The cop.”

“I like cops.” He says with a smirk that’s akin to a Cheshire Cat. It’s a smirk she’s all too familiar with but not in the mood to indulge.

“Rio.”

He holds his hands up in surrender for the second time since he’s been there and pushes his stool back to stand.

She sighs because she doesn’t want him to go, not exactly, but it’s all so complicated.

Complicated in a way she wishes it wasn’t.

“Do you -“ she starts and then stops, tripping over her words. She pauses for a beat and then -

“Do you want to stay?”

“Told you I was going to my sister’s.” He replies but it’s not a no or a yes.

“We eat early.” She says with a shrug attempting to appear more casual then she feels.

“You can eat with us and then go. If you want.”

He narrows his eyes and she thinks he’s actually considering it when he speaks up again.

“Weren’t you just kickin’ me out?”

“I’m just trying to be nice.” She answers, annoyed. She turns around and stirs her gravy more for something to do than out of necessity.

Beth hears rustling behind her, can sense he’s moving closer, but she wills herself not to turn, not to tense as he approaches. She jumps when she feels his hands hit her waist.

“How ‘bout I come back later?”

His question takes her by surprise - they’d not gone there yet. Had been circling closer but there had only been innuendo and flirting since that time in the bathroom at the bar. What seemed like ages ago now.

She swallows and turns. His hands stay firmly planted on her hips, gripping her sweater between his fingers. She’s flush against him, can feel his body heat, and it’s enough to make her sweat.

“Later?” She questions even though she’s pretty sure she knows what he means.

“Yeah. Tonight.”

She nods and twists her hands together, unsure where to put them. She knows where she wants to put them. She wants to grip his shoulders and close the distance between them and kiss him, hard.

But she refrains like she’s been doing for months now.

“Dean’s picking the kids up at seven.” She answers quietly because she knows what it means - knows that everything changes if he comes over tonight.

He nods and moves one hand up so that it’s cupping the back of her neck. He squeezes and leans forward but before he can give her what she wants - what they both want - they hear the front door open and the commotion of holiday guests entering the house

He gives her one last squeeze and a wink before he pushes away from her and makes his way towards the back door. He pulls the door open but before he leaves he turns and nods at her.

“Save me some of that stuffin’, yeah?”

#beth x rio #nbc good girls #my prompts #happy thanksgiving!#my fic

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i-want-candy · 4 years ago

Note

👫 Attina x Alana, Tom x Phil, Mei x Ting, and reader's choice so i dont send every single relationship we have lol

Attina and Alana

Even though Alana is Beauty Queen(TM), she still claims Tina does the best hair and has her do it for her on special occasions.

In those student x teacher conferences, Tina was always FIERCE momma bear and was on her little sisters sides no matter what they did and could often argue their sentences down if they were in detention or being threatened with suspension (though, I doubt any of them did anything bad enough for that.) However, in the car on the way home, they always got a lecture about their grades or disappointing Daddy.

Attina often would surprise Alana by covering for her when she caught her sneaking in late or would occasionally text her like “Daddy’s still up, use side entrance.” However, she always forced her to do some horrible chore or something to make up for it like cleaning the drains lmao.

Attina always gives Alana sentimental gifts, because she knows that secretly, Alana loves pictures of her family and handmade things.

Tom and Phil

When they were in uni, Phil would always get Tom into the WORST scenarios on the weekend, but during the week, he definitely helped him study and was very patient.

When they were little Phil was lowkey kind of mean to Tom and teased him for not being very good at reading and the like. This stopped when Tom got broader and started beating on him for it lmao. ALTERNATIVELY: This stopped when Tom finally burst into tears one day and Phil was like DD:

Sometimes, because neither of them can sleep, they’ll just stay up late, sitting on the couch together watching shitty telly, but they don’t really talk much. They just sit together and it’s v nice for both of them.

One time, they liked the same girl when they were in their early teens. This almost ended the Golden Brio before it began. Ironically, the girl was definitely into John and he had no idea.

Maui and Dipper

They also still talk pretty frequently, though it’s more random bits of convos than full blown ones. Mostly they send no-context memes and videos to each other. And, every year on Dipper’s birthday, Maui always sends him a cake with a picture of his (Maui’s) face on it.

Dipper has kept Maui abreast of what was going down with Merida. They now have a group chat that is active again. Maui is pissed he is also not a knight. Some BULLSHIT - Maui. He wants full reports on all knight shenanigans.

Dipper will definitely be invited to some big fancy event at some point at like NASA or something that Maui is attending and geek out the whole time. Maui will find this endlessly entertaining.

When Dipper met Maui’s brothers they almost broke him, literally. They’re like all built like rugby players. Maui had to pry them off of him before they broke his bones.

#headcanons #my booooys #thelostillusionist

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blainesebastian · 5 years ago

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Brio, number 13😊😊

13. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, you’re safe with me.”

Also requested by: @free-young-beautiful

Edited the phrasing a little. Feel free to send me a prompt from this list.

–

Shit goes bad.

Beth feels like this should be par for the course at this point but somehow it always seems to surprise her when things go down the drain so quickly. This time it has to do with the police; it’s not a job gone sour, or a thug that can’t handle a simple deal honestly, or shaky hands or greedy underlying messages.

It’s the police and they’re onto them and it feels like anxiety is quite literally reaching into her chest and squeezing her ribs closed.

It’s not Turner, it’s someone higher up the food chain and scarier and bringing real threats to meetings they’re trying to have. If there’s anything to be happy about, she’s just glad that there were rumors about the police messing up one of their deals away from her dealership. The bad publicity isn’t something that she needs.

Though, she supposes she doesn’t need jail time either and fuck, fuck, she’s so screwed.

Beth bends a little to put her head in her hands, elbows on her knees as she sits down at a barely held together coffee table in a motel bedroom. This is one of Rio’s safe houses, or hiding places, whatever he wants to call it.

They drove past the deal, a trap, thanks to Aviles texting Rio at the very last minute letting him know that he heard rumblings of police involvement. God, what if they’d shown up at that deal? What if they’d been arrested? Would Rio be able to get them out of that one? She knows he has a good lawyer in his pocket—but how many times could playing that card really work?

She jumps as Rio puts something down on the table, Beth lifting her face to see a bottle of scotch. Her stomach turns and she shakes her head.

“No?” He asks, before pursing his lips. “What about coffee?”

She clears her throat, trying to swallow down bile that threatens to work its way out of her. Beth runs a shaky hand through her hair and leans back against the chair, saying nothing. That doesn’t deter Rio from making the bottle disappear, turning in the kitchenette and working a shoty coffee machine to gurgle to life.

“Nothin’s changed,” He says after a moment, so calm and patient that she wants to hit him. “We lay low for a few days, go back to business as usual.”

“How did they know?” She says, doesn’t wait for him to finish.

Rio turns and leans against the counter, taking his coat off to set next to the fridge. He takes his time to answer her, rolling up the sleeves of his off white Henley. “Because people talk for money,” It sounds so simple. “People bend over backwards to knock others off the top; that’s where you and I are, sweetheart. The top.”

“How can you be so calm about this?” Beth presses the palms of her hands together, fingertips touching her lower lip.

He shrugs his one shoulder, making the feathers on the one side of his bird tattoo rustle. “Because this is how this shit works. What, did you think there’d be no consequences for your actions? Know you’re not that naïve.”

She doesn’t appreciate the undertone of cruel teasing along his words, wrapping around her like sandpaper—because no, she wasn’t prepared for this. Somehow it’s the last thing she thought of, the other shoe dropping, the wave finally crashing down into the shore.

Beth didn’t think about their work catching up with them.

She wants to say something back, something just as equally nasty so she doesn’t feel so small and ground into tiny bits—but nothing comes out. Instead a high-pitched noise empties out of her lips, a sound that signals she might lose it, that she might vomit or cry or scream or something that’s not patterned, thought-out words.

Her hands cover her mouth, her eyes squeezing shut a moment and Rio shifts on his feet, a soft sigh emptying into the space around them before she feels him approach her. When she opens her eyes again, he kneels in front of her, one hand falling to her knee. He squeezes, trying to get her attention, his golden pinky ring shining too bright in the florescent lights.

“We’re gonna be fine,” He tells her, his thumb working circles into her inner thigh. “Nothin’s gonna happen to you, yeah?”

It sounds awkward coming from his mouth, like he wasn’t prepared to say it, his jaw working as he chews on words underneath his tongue. He makes sure to hold her gaze for a few moments, his other hand reaching for the palms on her lips. He laces their fingers and presses a kiss to the back of her knuckles.

“This place looks like it’s held together by glue and maskin’ tape,” A laugh empties from her throat, very purposely on his part. “But it’s safe. You’re safe.”

Beth swallows but she nods, holding his gaze because his eyes are brown and warm…and she believes him.

She trusts him against his better judgement.

“Business as usual?” She whispers, an invitation.

Rio hums and stands, squeezing her hand before letting go. “Business includes scotch, so prepare yourself for a little kick in your coffee.”

#brio #beth x rio #good girls nbc #nbc good girls #beth boland #rio #mccall writes things #brio fic

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craigedwardgiven · 4 years ago

Text

Moving Video Call Backgrounds

Animated Backgrounds in Video Calls & Virtual Meetings

Overview

Coworkers have been asking me how I get animated and moving backgrounds (and foregrounds) in my video conference calls and virtual meetings. So, I’ve created this article to give an overview of the process and tools. For this article’s background example I chose a video that won’t get me into copyright trouble. Its background is a recording of the city gates of Amnoon. And its a scene I recorded while playing the game Guild Wars 2.

The method to create this effect is layering. In oversimplified terms, the background is the bottom layer. In my example I used a video instead of a static image. Layered on top of the background is the output from my webcam. And finally, the very top layer is a graphic with some text. I combined all these layers using the free software tool OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) and output that as a single video feed.

Since I’m not actually “broadcasting” or streaming (OBS is primarily for Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Live, etc.), I need something to convert the broadcast into a useable format. Therefore, I’ve installed the OBS plugin VirtualCam, which makes the OBS output look like a webcam to other programs. Instead of selecting my actual webcam as the input for my video-conferencing software, I set it to the virtual device named “OBS-Camera.” This technique works for Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, Jitsi, and GotoMeeting. I’ve done so much testing that some of the results are fading into a memory fog. So, I’m only “mostly positive” that it will work with Google Hangouts, Google Meet, and Discord. The only “failure” I distinctly remember is for my doctor’s tele-medicine product, and that was because it would not let you choose an input device.

OBS is just one “link” in the chain of tools used to create my desired output, and each software tool runs on a fairly beefy computer (see the end of article for details). Below is more detail on each link in this chain of tools. They are presented in a logical sequence: from the source to the destination. Along the way I’ll also mention some alternative tools that I’ve experimented with, since they may suit your needs better. And at the end of the article is a collection of miscellaneous notes, tips, and tricks.

The Chain of Tools

Environment

I’ve arranged my environment to improve the image and audio quality I can produce. I’ve added lamps and baffles to diffuse, bounce, direct and control the temperature (color) of the lighting. Not only of my face but also of the background (so it’s easier for the computer to cleanly “remove” my real background). For audio I do the same to optimize conditions: I set the timer on my air conditioner so it cools the room beforehand, and automatically turns off just prior to the start of the next meeting. I then turn down fans and other background noise. I’ve also covered the glass (bordering our front door) with a decorative overlay so the dog is oblivious to the comings and goings in our neighborhood. And finally, I close the office door if the grandchildren are visiting.

Audio hardware

My primary microphone is a dynamic mic with a cardriod sensitivity pattern (i.e., it minimizes off-axis and extraneous background sounds and focuses on just my voice). It’s a Samson Q2U in a Rycote InVision USM shock mount on a Gator Frameworks boom and stand. The mic can be connected via USB, but I’m using an XLR cable to a Zoom H6 acting as my computer’s Audio Interface. The Zoom H6 lets me mix multiple audio inputs, directly monitoring the mic, control gain, enhance the audio (e.g., volume compression), etc.

video hardware

Built-in webcams typically produce terrible video (grainy, choppy, dark, and low resolution) and at the wrong angle. Dell is notorious for their “nostril” cameras, which are mounted below the screen. Therefore, I began my journey with equipment already at hand. For video I used an iPhone XS Max because it has an awesome camera. To make my iPhone act as a webcam, I used Kinoni’s EpocCam app and PC software. To hold the phone at the proper height and angle, I used a Ram Mount X-grip with an extension arm and custom base (a glass brick filled with decorative river stones). A wireless Qi charging pad from Anker was stuck to the back of the X-grip to supply continuous power.

Although the iPhone was a high-quality solution, I wanted a dedicated webcam because I kept forgetting it was still mounted above and behind my monitor. Not only did I keep leaving it behind, it was also inconvenient to use the phone, as a phone, in this configuration. Although the cameras on iPads and Touch iPods are not as good as recent iPhones, they could be a dramatic improvement over the built-in webcams you’re using. And EpocCam works with Android devices and on macOS as well, as well as other competitors that I’ve heard of from other users.

Before for buying a dedicated webcam, I also experimented with other “normal” cameras configured to work as webcams. One option was using the HAYOX capture device to convert HDMI output to USB input (e.g., when connecting a GoPro HERO8 Black in a Media Mod “cage”). But the latency and low-light performance was poor. I also converted a security camera I had on hand (the Wyze Pan Cam) into a webcam by applying a special firmware change. This was purely out of curiosity since the camera has an extremely large field of view that makes it undesirable except for the most desperate of users. You also lose the Pan/Tilt/Zoom controls and Infrared features, so it’s now restored back to its “security camera” configuration. And I can feed it into OBS as a secondary camera view using an iPad connected with an Apple HDMI adapter—it’s pretty cool, but not particularly useful for virtual meetings.

None of the above experiments compared to the performance of a dedicated webcam like the Logitech Brio (which is what I’m currently using). The less expensive Logitech C920s, C922, and StreamCam are also great alternatives. And I’ve craved pricer upgrades such as the HuddleCam HD or an Alpha-series Sony mirrorless camera (e.g., the wallet-busting a7S III). But those are more suited to professional streamers and media influencers that broadcast for a living.

The final piece of hardware equipment I have is a “green screen” (for chroma keying). I would NOT recommend it for most users, and I only use it for special situations. A lot of the software that I mention below can be used without it. Green screens can be tricky to set up because they must be evenly lighted (no shadows or brighter areas) and can “splash” a green glow onto the subject if the light angles or distance are wrong. And when the screen is far enough back from your position, then it has to be humongous to still fill the camera’s FOV (field of view)! I use the Valera Explorer 90 and even at this size it is a challenge to position so that it fills my webcam’s FOV. I wish it came with other color screens (chroma blue, neutral gray, and white), and I may make some by hand if the vendor doesn’t add them. I had originally contemplated a retractable ceiling-mounted backdrop that pulls down like a movie-projector screen. But I went with the Valera since it collapses easily and is small enough to store out-of-sight in a closet corner. If I were a professional streamer, and had a larger office/studio, then I’d probably go for a fixed screen (like this massive 8x8 foot backdrop) or perhaps a wall covered with special chroma green paint.

Software

I use multiple software programs to create the video feed used in virtual meetings. And the combination changes based on the look to be achieved. If I’m using a static image as my background, then no additional software is needed. Both Microsoft Teams and Zoom include excellent features that do background replacement.

A more complex composition, like my example video above, uses a few more tools. Let’s look at the layers (from front to back) and the tools used for each. In the foreground is a graphic with text that provides additional information. The broadcast industry calls this a “Lower Third” (or L3) since it typically appears at the bottom of the screen. In my example video above, my L3 is actually positioned in the upper right corner. It was created using the free art program Paint.NET but any graphics software (CorelDraw, Photoshop, Procreate, etc.) could be used. I save my L3 graphics in the PNG format since it lets me save images with transparent backgrounds. But also because PNG does a superior job of compressing mostly solid, non-gradient colored shapes and text, which is what most L3s are.

Both L3 examples above have a section for a ticker (scrolling text). This text is layered over the L3 and comes from, and is configured in, OBS. The ticker is a “Text” layer with a “Scroll” filter added. Below is a screen shot from OBS for an AFK (Away From Keyboard) screen. At the bottom (second pane from the left) is the SOURCES pane and it shows the two layers that make up the preview being displayed. The bottom layer is named “Please Stand By TV” and it pulls in the background image. On top of that is the ticker: a layer named “AFK Text” which contains the “I will be back in just a moment” message (including settings for placement, color, font, size, speed, opacity, etc.).

For my example video at the top of this article there is a middle layer, which is me via the webcam. In OBS this is a “Video Capture Device” layer type. However, there is a software component that sits between the Logitech Brio and OBS. The “Logitech Camera Settings” application lets me adjust and optimize the camera’s video. I adjust saturation, white balance, contrast, etc. to match the background (whether moving or static). For example, if it’s a sunny beach scene then I would set the white balance to a warmer golden cast, increase the contrast, and bump up the brightness so it matches the scene. I also adjust my office lighting so that the shadows fall in the same direction as in the background. If the background is of a thunderstorm at sea, then I would match my image with a cooler white balance (i.e., a subtle blue cast), a darker exposure, and less contrast. I’ve also taken the opposite approach, and selected backgrounds that already match the lighting in my office. With more believable backgrounds (like a photo of an office or kitchen versus the cockpit of a spaceship), the matched lighting has been realistic enough to cause people to think I was actually in those locations!

In addition to the camera’s utility software, OBS can also apply filters, and adjustments, and LUTs (adjustment Look Up Tables). A LUT is customized to both your specific camera and to your specific lighting conditions. To create a LUT, you first capture an image from your camera, which is taken under set lighting conditions. Then use a photo (or video) editing program to make adjustments to the captured image until it looks best. The adjustments are not applied directly to the captured image. Instead they are put on a separate layer, and you’re viewing your image through the adjustment layer. (Think of it as if you were painting on a pane of glass that is sitting on top of a photo.) Next, you replace, cover, or hide your captured image with a LUT reference table (original and unmodified). The LUT table is now sitting below those same adjustments. The results are flattened (the layers combined) and saved to a PNG image. This file is a custom LUT that can be applied to your camera’s output so all video gets the enhancements. Below is the before-and-after for a Wyze Pan Cam, a camera that’s optimized for security monitoring, not image quality. As you can see it adds a terrible yellow cast to the video, but with a custom LUT applied, the colors are much more natural.

For an animated, moving background I’ve been using YouTube videos. Yep, it’s just that simple! In OBS this is a “Browser” layer and would be positioned at the bottom. If your videoing or photographing your own (or when choosing someone else’s) backgrounds, be mindful of the angle. In a meeting, your webcam is at eye-level while seated! So choose/take photos at that same height to create more natural backgrounds.

Picking a good background is a balancing act. If it’s too plain, then the artificial outline—the edge where the computer cut you out from your real background—will be very noticeable. A bit of detail and texture in the background helps to hide that outline. If the scene is too busy and detailed, it becomes distracting and you blend with it instead of being in front of the background. In real TV studios they use a “hair light” to ensure distinction and depth—to make the person stand out from, instead of blend into, the background.

When removing and replacing your actual real-life background, you want it to be plain and as uniform as possible. A blank wall would be excellent. This helps the computer distinguish your outline from the background. Angle your lights and use baffles (I use foam core boards) so that the light falls on your face and shoulders but not on the wall behind you which are slightly darker. To prevent “hot spots” and deep shadows on your face, bounce the light off the walls instead of pointing lights directly on yourself. This will soften and diffuse the lighting and create a more appealing appearance.

While on the topic of texture and detail in background images, it’s important to not go overboard. Some software cannot cope with an image that is too intricate. I had a photo of the interior of the NASA space station. The original was too complicated for Microsoft Teams to even display. Also, you don’t want to overload the software by having it to constantly downscale large images. And photos from modern cameras and phones are massively oversized compared to a computer screen. They are so large they can crash your software. To prevent big images from slowing down or crashing my software, I proactively resize my backgrounds to “Full HD” size—that is, 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall. (This is also the size that MS Teams would reduce a background image to, so it saves the time and effort required to convert it every time,) And while I’m cropping, sizing, and enhancing backgrounds, I will also flip them so the incoming light in the image matches my actual lighting. For example, a background photo may have a window (with incoming light) that is on the left. I will flip that photo so the window is on the right-hand side, like my real-life window.

While we’re discussing software limits, don’t load too many backgrounds into your meeting software! I learned the hard way that MS Teams will crash if you have over 100 custom backgrounds. I now keep all my custom backgrounds in their own folder and only copy about 75 to MS Teams at a time. Below is a script I use to replace old custom backgrounds with a set of fresh “finished” images.

DEL /Q C:\Users\Craig\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads\*.jpg COPY /Y C:\Backgrounds\Finished\*.jpg C:\Users\Craig\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads\

Tips, Tricks, & Notes

Use a wired ethernet connection when video conferencing. It’s not only faster, but also more reliable and stable than WiFi.

The Zoom H6 can be used with an iPhone/iPad, even without AA batteries! When the H6 boots up, select PC (instead of iPAD) as the connected device.

Video processing can be intensive and requires a computer with sufficient capabilities. My Windows 10 PC has a Core i7-7700K at 4.2GHz, 32GB of RAM, a Samsung 850 Pro 512 SSD, 4 Toshiba 7200RPM 500GB drives in a RAID 5 array, an ASUS Prime Z270-AR motherboard, an Anker 10-port powered USB3.0 hub, a 1000 watt Corsair power supply feeding dual video cards, and a Corsair Hydro H100i liquid cooling system to supplement two case fans to keep the whole thing from burning itself out. This computer sits next to a window air conditioner that counters all the heat coming from this PC, the monitors, and accessories. Before the AC was installed the office could reach 80°F even in the dead of winter with all the heating vents closed.

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prince--thomas · 4 years ago

Text

October 18, 2020 ~~ [The Golden Brio Texts]

In which the boys are nosy about Tom’s love life...

@knightley--phillip, @captain--john

[tw: none except the boys being a bit gross.]

Phillip Knightley

oi tommy will the lady be wanting pancakes this morning

Tom Harrington

what the fuck how did you even ?? she already left

Phillip Knightley

ah damn i have my ways :wink: john no extra pancakes so did you get lukcy

Tom Harrington

john, if you're near phil, punch him please

Phillip Knightley

at the risk of our pancakes turning out badly??

Tom Harrington

john can multitask

John Smith

you lot are really something

Phillip Knightley

hi johnny :heart:

Tom Harrington

i did not DO anything. don't listen to whatever phil is saying

Phillip Knightley

tom wont say if he got his dicky wet

John Smith

could have at least waited until I was done with the pancakes before blowing up my phone

Phillip Knightley

never

Tom Harrington

PHIL

Phillip Knightley

is that a yes or a no i can't tell

Tom Harrington

we aren't in year 12 anymore for christ's sake

John Smith

Tom had a lady over?

Phillip Knightley

our lovely American colleague :eyes: stayed the night

Tom Harrington

NO i mean yes but

John Smith

Ah an American. Both of you seem to be into that lately

Tom Harrington

she was drunk, it was late, i wasn't going to make her sleep on the couch

Phillip Knightley

i do not discriminate plus she's BASICALLY handpicked by our superiors really John you should be thrilled

John Smith

well I say good on Tom for having an Order approved girl

Phillip Knightley

We're running out of English noblewomen, we've got to out source

Tom Harrington

don't say it like that

John Smith

Phillip do not speak for me moments before I speak

Phillip Knightley

I won't be surprise if they ship more over

Tom Harrington

she's -- i mean rose is lovely it's just -- she was drunk

John Smith

this whole thing could strengthen the bonds between the Order and Huntsclan

Phillip Knightley

Congrats tommy for singlehandedly solidifying international relations

John Smith

Quite a lofty achievement

Phillip Knightley

couldn't be prouder

Tom Harrington

i didn't! she just slept in my bed becos i wasn't gonna have her going home bloody wasted off whatever you put in those drinks, phillip

Phillip Knightley

you were totally talking her up all night though proud of both of you

John Smith

Tom had a lady in his bed wow how long has it been Tom-o

Phillip Knightley

Ask her to dinner!

John Smith

Practically betrothed they grow up so fast

Tom Harrington

it's not been that long! i can't ask her to dinner isn't that like ... against the code or something? do we even have code for this ?

Phillip Knightley

do you mean bro code or like Our Superiors bc mate, i am like 98% sure the reason they sent over a girl was to hook her up with one of us or Henry I guess if you mean bro code, she's not my type and John's heart is spoken for

Tom Harrington

oh bloody hell how old even is she

Phillip Knightley

twenty......something

Tom Harrington

and wait by who

John Smith

What are you prattling on about Phillip

Phillip Knightley

:slight_smile:

anyway! you're fine tommy boy

Tom Harrington

i...should i ask her out proper-like then?

Phillip Knightley

yes

John Smith

my heart is firmly in my chest thank you very much

Phillip Knightley

do it tommy we're not talking about you john help me out with this pep talk

John Smith

Tom if you like her you should ask her out

Phillip Knightley

also a dinner isn't like committing to marriage see what the chemistry is outside of "work"

Tom Harrington

i mean, course i like her -- she's quite interesting, isn't she?

Phillip Knightley

yeah

Tom Harrington

and definitely pretty too

Phillip Knightley

see! all good things a little dinner won't do any harm At the best, you've found the One at the worst, you spend some extra time with an interesting and pretty colleague

John Smith

In any case, if it doesn't feel right you could say its a 'friend date'

Tom Harrington

i'd also hurt her if she's interested and im not, aye

Phillip Knightley

mate one date isnt gonna make her fall in love with you

John Smith

even if you are a handsome lad who girls just fawn over

Tom Harrington

yeah true i suppose. i just don't want to make things complicated

John Smith

Let the girl decide for herself ya know, she's a Huntsclan lady she knows risk

Phillip Knightley

yeah tommy, you underestimate her she's not your typical Order lass

John Smith

we don't exactly have "Order lasses" She's like a female American version of Henry I suppose

Phillip Knightley

I mean the LADIES so pedantic over my terminology before coffee aren't we johnny

Tom Harrington

please do not use words like pedantic before noon

John Smith

I am currently waiting very patiently for it to brew while your pancakes all get cold

Tom Harrington

will you bring them up to me it's my birthday :pleading_face:

Phillip Knightley

yes :heart: oh if its not brewing i may've accidentally broken it,

Tom Harrington

:heart_eyes: you guys can eat in my room with meeee

John Smith

......

Phillip Knightley

:heart: going up to tommy's now!!

John Smith

Phillip WHAT DID YOU STICK IN MY COFFEE MAKER ... I'll put extra whipped cream on for the birthday boy and be up in a minute with your plates Phillip I cannot guaruntee yours won't end up down your shirt or in your lap

Phillip Knightley

that's hot

Tom Harrington

just don't mess up my sheets i should not have to do laundry on my birthday

John Smith

You're getting me coffee from Hatter's Phillip and buying me a new coffee maker

Phillip Knightley

i can do that

#swynphillip #swynjohn #tomplip texts #tohn texts #the golden brio texts #realized i never poste dthis WHOOPS #we did this back in october lmfao #anyway this is how tom and rose s tarted dating so

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prince--thomas · 3 years ago

Text

Betrayed by Blood ~~ [The Golden Brio Texts]

In which Tom and Phil realize something about Annie’s Instagram and bring their findings to John...[takes place: March 6, 2022]

@captain--john, @knightley--phillip

[tw -- none]

TOM HARRINGTON:

So, are you going to tell him or am I?

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

John, eloise is meeting up with tom's baby momma

TOM HARRINGTON:

JOHN SMITH:

Wait, what?

Fuck

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

so uh should we..... talk to annie

JOHN SMITH:

We have to handle this calmly and rationally lads. After the Twittergate of earlier we know Annie doesn’t respond well to being accused or really any help at all where her child is concerned

TOM HARRINGTON:

*our child

JOHN SMITH:

Mate, I know that but she obviously doesn’t

TOM HARRINGTON:

Sorry. I am a little touchy atm.

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

lol understandable

is it ... worth it to talk to eloise or nah

JOHN SMITH:

I know Tommy I’m just trying to process. You should talk to Annie but be nice about it. Maybe just like oh your brunch looked nice who were you with? Blah blah rubbish kiss ass

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

I mean trust me i get if you don't wanna

TOM HARRINGTON:

Dunno if I can be nice honestly.

Why do I feel like she's doing this just to piss me off? Also how the hell did she get ahold of Ellie? Did she reach out first? Christ. I know this would happen.

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

i wouldnt be surprised if they were just monitoring all our social media posts

fuckers

JOHN SMITH:

Yeah mate I don’t think she’s the guilty party necessarily

I mean she made the bloody post but I’m sure Eloise reached out

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

you know how they all are

probs knew she was upset with you and me yknow

easy to turn her even more against us

fuck im sorry

if i hadnt come for her on twitter maybe she woulda been nicer

JOHN SMITH:

….I could reach out to Georgiana

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

my fiancée ❤️

TOM HARRINGTON:

Would Georgiana listen to you? Or would that just drag more people into this mess?

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

lmao sorry

TOM HARRINGTON:

And I don't think this is your fault, Philly. She hated my guts long before she hated yours.

JOHN SMITH:

She’s honestly the most mature of our sisters and they all talk

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

Mine doesn't

JOHN SMITH:

I feel like we’re going to be in a mess regardless

we either go directly to Annie or Eloise or we try to get info from siblings

TOM HARRINGTON:

I feel like Annie is our only chance, which isn't saying much. The Order won't like us interfering. If you've forgotten we bloody promised them our sons.

JOHN SMITH:

I’ll support you Tom, it’s your kid

TOM HARRINGTON:

Feels like there is no good option.

JOHN SMITH:

There isn’t mate, not when you’re dealing with someone irrational

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

we've got your back no matter what mate

TOM HARRINGTON:

I just dunnae kin what to say to her to get her see sense.

JOHN SMITH:

We just gotta keep an eye on the little one. She can fuck her own self over for all I care just not your kid

PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY:

Phil Jr. deserves the best

TOM HARRINGTON:

That is not his name.

And aye, I suppose you're right. I will talk to her.

#swynjohn #swynphillip #tohn texts #tomlip texts #JUNIOR #the golden brio #the golden brio texts #betrayed by blood #sounds incredibly dramatic but #we love an alliteration

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