Making a scrapbook or collage video? Want to share vertical videos on a widescreen display? This is great fun as an editor, but you’ll need help rounding out the entire frame. With custom backgrounds in CapCut, you can do exactly that.
In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create custom backgrounds in CapCut. You’ll soon learn how to add image backgrounds, blurs, solid colors, and more. It’s the perfect solution for empty space behind the videos that you export and share with the world. Let’s jump in!
Why make creative custom backgrounds for CapCut videos?
Custom CapCut backgrounds are a powerful tool that video creators like you will love. When you make a video, you really have two goals. You want to engage with your audience, and you want to do it in an engaging way.
A video without a background can come across as unprofessional or sloppily edited. Why not add a CapCut background to boost your production’s quality?
That’s but one of the benefits offered by CapCut’s simple custom background tools. If you’re editing a video with a visible background, consider this:
- You’ll dramatically boost your visual appeal. Many videos - even those made by pros - don’t use custom backgrounds. It helps you stand out in cases where your video clip (or other media) doesn’t fully fill the viewing canvas.
- Audiences will focus more on your media. A subtle backdrop does as the name suggests: fades into the background. This makes viewers more likely to focus on your core media. That’s especially true if you’re sharing more than one still image at one time.
- You can set the mood with a creative aesthetic. Custom backgrounds are quirky, unique, and fun. They’re a great way to set a positive, inspiring vibe with your audience.
- These tools are simple and quick to use. CapCut makes it nearly effortless to build custom backgrounds. You don’t need fancy (and costly) software. Nor do you need to be a skilled editor. The tools are easy to use and you can add them with the mobile app.
As you can see, CapCut custom backgrounds offer compelling benefits. Let’s learn how to add them to a video, step by step.
How to create custom backgrounds in CapCut (step by step)
As I mentioned, CapCut is best known as a mobile app. With that in mind, I’ll show you how to create custom backgrounds in CapCut using an Apple iPhone. Android user?
Don’t fret - CapCut is available for free from the Google Play Store! And if you prefer editing back home on your computer, you’ll find versions available for both Windows and Mac.
The video clip you’ll see comes from Envato Elements. You can download it by clicking here, if you’d like to follow along in real time as you read.
1. Shrink videos to show the background
Go ahead and open CapCut on your device. Then, launch a project. In CapCut, projects are the groupings of media you use to produce videos. In a project, you’ll find video clips, along with still images and audio. You’ll also be able to make edits and add effects. In short, projects are CapCut’s main workspace, with your media included.
Front and center in a CapCut project is the video preview. Here you’ll see clips in real time. Edits you make and effects that you add will appear instantly. This is the main video canvas, and it’s where you’ll see your custom backgrounds very soon.
Below the video preview is the Timeline. Just as the name implies, the Timeline controls sequencing and timing of media in your projects. And down at the very bottom is the toolbar. The toolbar is where you’ll find all the editing features you know and love - custom backgrounds included!
Notice here that you don’t have a video background yet. That’s because the video itself is filling the entire frame. To shrink it down for a background, tap the video on the Timeline to select it. You’ll see a blue frame appear around the clip in the preview.
To reduce its size, simply pull on opposite corners with your finger. It’s the classic zoom gesture on touchscreen devices. Here, it shrinks the video. You’ll see a black box behind the clip. This, in fact, is the background that we’re about to customize.
2. Launch CapCut’s background panel
You’ve made your video’s background visible in CapCut. Now, it’s time to get started customizing it. In moments, you’ll have a design that’s completely your own.
The first thing to do is find CapCut’s Background panel. This is the menu panel where all custom background features live.
Remember how I said that all options live on the toolbar? Take a look at the bottom of your screen. The toolbar is just a row of buttons. Starting on the left, you’ll see Edit, Audio, Text, Effects, and so on. One thing that’s not immediately obvious: you can scroll the toolbar! That means that some options are “hidden” off to the side.
Scroll by flicking your finger from right to left across the toolbar. Keep going until you reach the very last option in line. It’s the one you need: Background. Tap the Background button to launch CapCut’s custom background panel.
3. Apply solid color backdrops for sleek effects
When you open the Background panel, you’ll see four options listed on the toolbar. They’re Color, Image, Blur, and Brandbackgrounds. Brand backgrounds allow you to log into media kits on other platforms like Google and Apple. We’ll focus on the other three, starting here with Color. Want to skip ahead? Step #4 covers image backgrounds, and blur backgrounds feature in step #5.
To apply a solid color background to your video, click on the paint bucket button labeled Color. The Color Background panel will launch in CapCut. Here, you’ve got unlimited options for color backdrops.
For quick preset colors, scroll to the right. You’ll see circular color thumbnails shown, spanning the whole rainbow. Find one you like? Tap, and watch your background appear in the video preview above.
For precise shades, tap the Color Wheel button over on the left. When you do, a color chooser will appear. You can use it to select and apply absolutely any shade that you want. As you navigate, you can see the live video preview in real time. Tap the Checkmark when you’ve found a hue you like.
Finally, you can match your background to a color in your video. This is pure elegance from a video editing standpoint. If you’re going for a subtle, sleek, and professional look, you’ve found it here. Tap the Eyedropper button. You’ll see a circle appear on the video itself. In the center is a dot. Drag the circle around with your finger. Place the dot on a color - any color - in your video that you’d like to match. Instantly, your video background will transform.
4. Explore image background options in CapCut
Colors give you plenty of style choices. But they’re far from your only option! You can add an image background to CapCut videos too. To do that, go back to the main Background panel and tap Image.
Again, you’ll find multiple options to select from. You can tap the Album icon to browse images that you have stored on your device. Or, you can explore a wide selection of included images that come with CapCut. Scroll over to the right to check them out. Some are labeled Pro, which means they’re part of CapCut’s premium tier. But most are free to use.
Find one you like? Once more, tap the thumbnail. Your image background will instantly be added to your CapCut video.
This feature can take some trial and error. While style choices are definitely up to your imagination, keep a few rules of thumb in mind. Try not to choose an image background that actively clashes with the actual video. While backgrounds can and should be engaging, the last thing you want is to distract your audience with them. Choose images with shades that don’t conflict with those in your video.
And, as always, remember that CapCut edits are non-destructive. Try out a custom background and decide you don’t want to use it? Simply jump back to the Background panel and swap it out for a new design. Or, remove the background altogether. The choice is always yours.
5. For a funky aesthetic, try a blurred background
A third great option in CapCut is a blurred background. They work like this: the background of your video project becomes a blurred version of the video itself. No details remain visible. It’s a funky, stylish edit that you can use in select situations. It also stands out because, although blurred, the background actually moves, too.
To add a blurred background, return once more to the Background panel. This time, tap the Blur icon. When you do, you will see four options to choose from. All four are the same background, with increasing blur strengths.
The default setting is blurry, but still recognizable. Others become more and more blurred. Here, it’s always a good idea to tap through your options and see which one looks best for your video.
Finished? Select the Checkmark icon, and your background will be applied! In moments, you’ve learned how to add custom backgrounds to all of your CapCut videos.
Learn more CapCut tips and tricks from Envato Tuts+
You saw it above: CapCut offers a vast set of editing tools and features. Chances are, you want to learn more! And here at Envato Tuts+, we’ve got you covered. Below are several leading tutorials from our vast library. Enjoy browsing them and in no time, your CapCut skills will grow and expand.
How to quickly apply blur effects to videos in CapCut
CapCut: How to Quickly Use Green Screen (Chroma Key)
How to Quickly Use CapCut for Video Editing (Tutorial, 2025)
How to Quickly Remove a CapCut Watermark
How safe is it to use CapCut? Is CapCut safe for kids?
Create your own custom CapCut background in moments
In this tutorial, I showed you how to create your very own custom backgrounds in CapCut. It’s clear to see how custom backgrounds enhance every video. If you have open space behind your clips, never skip a custom backdrop! As you can see, the options are many.
Whether you want an image, a solid color, or a blurred backdrop, CapCut has you covered. All options can be found on the Background panel. Add them to your next video to practice this creative technique.
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