Stream overlays make your stream look professional. Learn what overlays you need, the right dimensions, and how to add them to OBS.
🎨 Create Your Overlay
Design custom stream overlays with our free generator.
Open Overlay Generator →Types of Stream Overlays
1. Webcam Frame/Border
A decorative frame around your webcam. Makes your face cam look polished and professional.
- Common sizes: 1920×1080 (full), 400×400 (webcam only)
- Format: PNG with transparency
2. Starting Soon Screen
Displayed before you start streaming. Usually includes countdown timer.
- Size: 1920×1080
- Elements: Timer, social links, music visualizer
3. Be Right Back (BRB) Screen
Shown when you step away. Keeps viewers engaged.
4. Stream Ending Screen
Thank viewers, show follower goal, promote socials.
5. Alert Box
Displays follower, sub, and donation alerts.
🖼️ Make Your Own Overlay
No design skills needed. Pick colors, shapes, and download.
Use Overlay Generator →Overlay Dimensions
| Overlay Type | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Full Stream Overlay | 1920 × 1080 px |
| Webcam Frame | Match your cam size (e.g., 400×300) |
| Alert Box | Varies (often 600×400) |
| Chat Box | Varies (often 400×600) |
How to Add Overlays to OBS
- Open OBS Studio
- In Sources, click + → Image
- Name it (e.g., "Webcam Frame")
- Browse and select your PNG overlay
- Position it over your webcam or content
- Right-click → Transform → Fit to screen if needed
💡 Layer Order Matters
In OBS, sources at the top of the list appear on top visually. Put your overlay above your webcam in the sources list.
Design Tips
- Keep it simple - Don't cover important gameplay areas
- Match your brand - Use consistent colors across all overlays
- Use transparency - PNG format with transparent backgrounds
- Don't obstruct gameplay - Keep overlays to edges/corners
- Test at different sizes - Check how it looks on mobile viewers
FAQ
What format should overlays be?
PNG with transparency. JPEG doesn't support transparency, so you'd have an ugly white box.
Do overlays affect stream performance?
Static PNG overlays have zero impact. Animated overlays (GIF/WebM) use slightly more resources.
Can I use animated overlays?
Yes! Use a Media Source instead of Image Source in OBS. Supports GIF, WebM, and MP4.
Ready to Create Your Overlay?
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