A process, software and apparatus for eliminating from a video telephony signal information that is extraneous to the user's head, and replacing it with a monotonous data for transmission to the other end of the videophone link, is disclosed. The resulting video stream looks better upon subsequent viewing, and can be more efficiently transmitted and/or compressed for transmission or recording. Furthermore, the system provides for background setting replacement in video telephony encoding and decoding, wherein an image stored on the receiving end of the videophone link can be used to replace the monotonous data. Furthermore, the system provides for a sliding viewport that allows a user to position or adjust the source camera to provide a wide field of view, but ensures that the user's head will be automatically centered within the transmitted video signal. Thus, the user's need to adjust the position of his head or the camera, in order to ensure that the proper image is being transmitted or recorded, is reduced. Furthermore, the process also reduces lateral movement of the users head in the transmitted image, thereby providing more efficient transmission and/or compression of video data, as well as a better looking image upon later viewing.