Using Overlays in OBS

The short answer

In OBS Studio, an overlay is any source placed above your camera in the same scene. Common examples are a PNG frame, a name banner or a lower third. You add it from the Sources panel, then drag it above your camera in the source list, because OBS draws sources from the bottom of the list upward. If you want the overlay to appear in Zoom, Teams, Meet or a similar app, start OBS's virtual camera and choose it as the camera in that app.

"Overlay" can mean slightly different things depending on what you want:

• A static graphic, such as a frame, logo or banner: use an Image source, usually a PNG with a transparent background.
• Text you may want to edit, such as your name or a title: use a Text source.
• An animated or web-based overlay, such as an HTML widget or a template from an overlay maker: use a Browser source.
• A video clip with motion graphics: use a Media source. Transparency in the clip only works if the video format supports it, or if you remove a solid background with a color key filter.

Before you start

Check your canvas size under Settings > Video. The base (canvas) resolution is the frame your overlay has to fit, so design or export your graphic at that same size. A graphic made for a different aspect ratio will need to be stretched, cropped or left with empty areas.

Make sure your camera already works in OBS before adding graphics. If the Video Capture Device source shows a black or empty frame, fix that first. A common cause is another app using the camera, or the operating system blocking camera access for OBS. An overlay will not help with either problem.

Step by step: adding an image overlay

• 1. Select the scene that contains your camera in the Scenes panel.
• 2. In the Sources panel, click the + button and choose Image.
• 3. Give the source a clear name, such as "Name banner", and confirm.
• 4. Click Browse, select your image file and click OK.
• 5. In the Sources list, make sure the image is above your camera source. If it isn't, drag it up or use the arrow buttons below the list.
• 6. Position and size the overlay in the preview. Drag it to move it, drag the red corner handles to resize it, or right-click it and choose Transform > Fit to screen for a full-frame graphic.
• 7. Click the lock icon next to the source so you don't move it by accident.

Transparency comes from the file itself. A PNG exported with a transparent background lets your camera show through the empty areas. A JPG has no transparency, so it will cover everything beneath it with a solid rectangle.

Adding a text overlay

Click + in Sources and choose Text. On Windows this source is labeled Text (GDI+); on macOS and Linux it is Text (FreeType 2). Type your text, then set the font, size and color. Some versions also offer outline or background options. Keep the text source above the camera in the list, just like an image.

A Text source is handy when the wording changes often, because you can edit it without making a new graphic. For a more polished look, put the text on top of a separate image or color-bar source.

Adding a browser-based or animated overlay

Click + and choose Browser. Then either enter the web address supplied by an overlay service or tick the local-file option and pick an HTML file on your computer. Set the width and height to match your canvas. Browser sources render with a transparent background unless the page sets its own background color, which is why many ready-made overlays are delivered this way.

If the overlay appears blank, check that the address or file path is correct and that the page loads in a normal browser. Then use the source's Refresh button in its properties.

Getting the layout right

Task | How to do it in OBS

Bring an overlay in front of the camera | Move it higher in the Sources list

Crop part of a source | Hold Alt (Option on macOS) while dragging an edge handle, or right-click > Transform > Edit Transform

Center or reset a source | Right-click > Transform, then Center to Screen or Reset Transform

Hide an overlay temporarily | Click the eye icon next to the source

Remove a solid color behind a graphic or clip | Right-click the source > Filters, then add Chroma Key or Color Key

Reuse the same overlays in several scenes | Build them in one scene, then add that scene as a source inside other scenes

Using your overlay in a video call

Click Start Virtual Camera in the Controls panel. Then open your call app's video settings and select OBS Virtual Camera as the camera. The app now receives OBS's finished picture, with your camera and overlays combined. In some apps, the virtual camera only shows up after you restart the app.

Many call apps mirror your self-view. If your overlay text looks reversed on your own screen, that is usually only your preview. Other participants normally see it the right way round. To be sure, check from a second device or ask someone on the call.

Keep these three things separate: the call app detecting the virtual camera, the call app showing a live picture from it, and the picture looking good to others. Selecting the camera only covers the first. You still need to see your composed image in the app's preview. Sharpness and smoothness on the call also depend on your connection and the app's own processing, which overlays do not change.

Checking the result

• In the OBS preview, the overlay sits where you want it and does not cover your face.
• Transparent areas of the graphic show your camera, not a solid block.
• With the virtual camera started, the call app's preview shows the same picture as OBS.
• A short test recording in OBS, or a test call, shows the overlay clearly at normal viewing size.

Gaps in this guide

No specific OBS version, overlay product or call app was tested for this article. Menu labels and options can differ between OBS releases and operating systems. If a menu name here doesn't match what you see, look for the closest equivalent in the Sources panel or the source's right-click menu.