Ultimate Guide to OBS Vertical Stream Layouts (9:16)
With the explosive growth of TikTok Live, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, streaming vertically has become an absolute necessity for content creators. Dual-streaming (sending a horizontal 16:9 feed to Twitch/YouTube and a vertical 9:16 feed to TikTok) maximizes your organic reach and audience growth.
However, setting up a vertical canvas in OBS Studio (typically 1080x1920) can be tricky. Aligning your webcam, gameplay capture, and chat overlay without a reference point often leads to elements being cut off on mobile devices. This Free OBS Vertical Stream Layout Generator helps you visually pre-plan your layout. You can download the generated image as a transparent PNG template and use it as an alignment guide directly inside OBS.
How to Setup a Vertical Stream in OBS Studio
There are two main ways to stream vertically:
- Aitum Vertical Plugin: This is the most popular method. It adds a secondary vertical canvas alongside your main OBS canvas, allowing you to stream to Twitch and TikTok simultaneously from a single PC.
- Separate OBS Instance: You can open a second instance of OBS, set the canvas resolution to 1080x1920, and pull in your sources using NDI or Virtual Camera.
Regardless of your method, you need a clean layout. Use our generator above to position your camera (circle or rectangle), your gameplay area, and your chat overlay. Click "Download PNG" and drag that image into your OBS vertical scene to perfectly align your sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best resolution for vertical streaming?
The standard resolution for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels is 1080x1920 (a 9:16 aspect ratio). This matches the screen dimensions of most modern smartphones, ensuring your stream takes up the entire screen without black bars.
Where should I place my webcam on a vertical layout?
It is highly recommended to place your webcam at the very top of the 9:16 canvas. Mobile viewers naturally look at the top third of the screen. Keep the middle clear for gameplay, and place chat or alerts near the bottom (but above the TikTok UI elements).
Do I need a dual PC setup to stream vertically?
No! Modern GPUs equipped with NVENC (NVIDIA) or AMF (AMD) encoders can easily handle encoding two streams simultaneously on a single PC. Using plugins like Aitum Vertical makes this process incredibly lightweight.