Lightboard Effect using Wacom

You can create a lightboard effect in Zoom using a Wacom tablet through two primary methods: using the built-in Zoom Whiteboard feature for simple digital inking, or by using Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio with a physical lightboard for a professional “transparent glass” effect.  and use Picture-in-Picture Mode.

You can purchase your own, or do this virtually for better presentations.

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Method 1: Using Zoom

  • Start Zoom and Share Screen with Picture in Picture option
  • Share https://excalidraw.com/ and change to Theme to Dark mode
  • Select Light Green, etc
  • Use your Wacom
  • Click Option + z for Zen mode to remove all the Menu
  • In Chrome , View Full Screen

Method 1: Using Zoom’s Built-in Whiteboard

This method allows you to use your Wacom as a drawing input device directly within a Zoom meeting, much like a standard whiteboard. 

Setup Steps:

  1. Connect your Wacom tablet to your computer and install any necessary drivers from the Wacom support page.
  2. Test the tablet by drawing in a simple application like MS Paint or OneNote to ensure it is working correctly.
  3. Start or join a Zoom meeting.
  4. In the meeting controls, click the Share Screen (or Whiteboards) button.
  5. Select Whiteboard from the sharing options.
  6. Once the whiteboard opens, use the annotation toolbar (pen tool, colors, eraser, etc.).
  7. Use your Wacom stylus to write and draw directly on the digital canvas, and your strokes will appear in the Zoom meeting for all participants to see. 

Note: Some users on Windows have reported issues with strokes skipping if “Windows Ink” is enabled for Wacom tablets within Zoom’s whiteboard feature; disabling this setting may resolve the issue. 

Method 2: Creating a Transparent Lightboard Effect with OBS

For a professional “lightboard” where you write on a physical glass board while facing the camera, and the writing appears superimposed and reversed correctly, you need a more advanced setup involving OBS Studio (free software). The Wacom tablet can be used with a separate software (like Microsoft Whiteboard or OneNote) in this scenario. 

Required Hardware (Advanced Setup):

  • A physical lightboard (a clear glass board with LED lighting).
  • A dedicated camera for the lightboard or a single camera setup with Chroma Keying capabilities.
  • A Wacom pen tablet (optional, for digital whiteboarding, but a physical lightboard is the primary tool here). 

Conceptual Steps:

  1. Set up the physical lightboard and camera.
  2. Use OBS Studio to capture the camera feed.
  3. Apply Chroma Key filters in OBS to make the background transparent (if using a green screen) or use specialized lightboard software (like eGlass Fusion) to handle the effect and image reversal.
  4. Send the OBS output as a virtual camera source to Zoom.
  5. Select the OBS Virtual Camera as your camera source in Zoom’s video settings. 

This more complex setup creates the illusion of you writing on a transparent screen in front of your content, which is a powerful presentation tool for teaching and demonstrations. 

Tips

  • Automatically hide and show the menu bar – Settings / Control Centre / Menu Bar Only / Automatically hide and show the menu bar
  • Hiding the Dock (Bottom Bar) – Settings / Desktop & Dock / Automatically hide and show the Dock.