Practical Presentation Tips...
When interpreting online, it’s not just the words and signs that matter – it’s how clearly you can be seen. From lighting and camera angles to background choices, small details can make a big difference in helping BSL users follow every sign with confidence. In this guide, we share practical tips to help interpreters bring their best to the screen and make sure communication shines as brightly as their skills.
Lighting Matters
- Avoid shadows: Position lighting in front of you, not behind, to keep hands and face clearly visible. Use a diffuser for lighting to reduce the shadows.
- Natural light: We do not recommend using natural light due to its inconsistency. Some days it will be bright and others will be dull, and may even vary throughout the duration of a booking.
- Ring lights or desk lamps: We've had feedback from deaf clients that the circle reflection in interpreters eyes using ring lights is unpleasant and odd. Often the ring lights are insufficient too in providing enough light.
- Consistency: Keep lighting stable throughout a session – flickering or changing light distracts from communication. If you are getting horizontal lines moving up or down your screen it is more than likely being caused by your lighting.
- Light colour: use white/cold lighting rather than warm lighting levels. White lights will give you the best skin tone colour, whereas warm lighting may make you look orange.
Camera Position and Framing
- The Camera should be at eye level, with head, torso, shoulders, and hands in frame. Do not be tempted to cut your framing too high at chest height. This causes an unnaturally high signing space that can do you long term musculoskeletal damage.
- Camera distance should be a couple of arms length away from you.
Backgrounds
- A plain, uncluttered background is ideal. A wall is sufficient if it is plain and well kept.
- If using pop up screens beware of the pesky corners, as they can often be seen in the corners of interpreters framing. You'd be surprised at how big you need to go to avoid the corners being seen.
- Avoid “looking down” or “up” at the camera – a neutral angle is easiest to read.
- Test framing before meetings: ensure signs don’t go out of view.
Green Screens and Virtual Backgrounds
- Can be effective, but only if lighting is good – otherwise hands and arms may “blur out.” We'd recommend to avoid using virtual backgrounds where possible.
- Choose high-contrast colours (avoid pale backgrounds that wash out hands).
- Avoid busy patterns or branded virtual backgrounds that reduce clarity.
IM comment: Virtual backgrounds can be problematic due to disappearing hands. It's crucial that the whole of the background covers the interpreters video, otherwise it defeats the object of having one if the viewer can see around it. Professional backgrounds do not need to be purchased, as roll down blinds fitted can be just as effective as long as they are wide enough. IM would not book interpreters for platform work if the interpreter did not have a plain professional looking background.
Clothing and Contrast
- Wear solid, contrasting colours to your skin tone for maximum visibility.
- Avoid stripes, patterns, or reflective materials.
- Neutral colours (like navy or dark green for paler skin tones) often work best for interpreters.
- Black is not the best colour choice for clothing of paler skinned interpreters because it is such a high contrast to skin tone, so webcams may have trouble with the differences.
Tech Setup Essentials
- Ensure a stable internet connection (wired if possible). WIFI works in waves, so when the wave dips, so does the quality of video and sound you are transmitting and receiving. Ethernet cables can be purchased in long lengths and not just the standard shorter lengths.
- Use a high-quality webcam – HD resolution helps capture signing clearly. An internal webcam is unlikely to offer the same quality or functional controls as an external webcam.
- Headsets with microphones help for interpreting into spoken English.
- Test your setup before the meeting begins.
Positioning in Microsoft Teams
- Use Sign Language Mode in Teams so your video is prioritised for sign language users. You can make these adjustments within the settings of Teams.
- For multi-interpreter events, find out who is responsible for swapping the interpreters in view and agree turn-taking signals in advance.
- Ask organisers to designate you as an interpreter where possible.
IM comment. If working with tech companies, ideally set up an off platform communication channel between all involved so if there are issues you can contact them directly. You can also use this to communicate with the person who is controlling the interpreter swaps if the interpreters are not doing it. Learn how different platforms work, as some will prioritise video streams in order (such as Zoom) where others do not.
Conclusion
Good lighting, thoughtful presentation, and a professional setup make all the difference in remote interpreting. They help ensure that Deaf BSL users can access clear, accurate communication – and that interpreters are seen as the skilled professionals they are.
At IM we recognise the importance of professionalism of interpreters working for companies remotely. How they are seen is a reflection of your company as well as the Deaf participants. Clear communication is vital. We would expect professionalism from interpreters at a venue when working on a platform, and we do not have less expectations when working remotely. We individually check all interpreters remote set up before they are booked to work remote platform assignments, as we see this as part of our commitment for high standards and expectations. We do not want Deaf people logging into training or a conference, only to find the interpreting is not accessible to them because of an interpreters poor internet connection, or poor lighting etc.