If you’ve just started streaming with OBS and are thinking, “I want to make my stream more appealing with overlays but don’t know how,” you’re not alone. Overlays are a vital feature that allows you to customize your streaming screen and convey originality and appeal to your audience.

This article explains how to configure overlays, how to obtain materials, and how to create them in an easy-to-understand manner. We also touch on creating animated overlays and points to consider, so check it out if you want to learn more.

By reading this article to the end, even beginners will find it easy to start streaming stylishly.

What Are Overlays in Live Streaming?

Overlays refer to elements that can decorate the live streaming screen. By designing it to reflect your personality, you can effectively convey your charm to the audience.

By setting designs for things like chat sections, social media accounts, and streaming titles, you can create a screen that’s easy for viewers to see and familiar with.

There are overlays that use static images and dynamic ones with added animations. Especially animated overlays can make your streaming screen more vibrant, effectively catching the viewer’s eye.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Overlays in Live Streaming

Overlays offer many advantages such as visual appeal and improved visibility. On the other hand, there are disadvantages like decreased readability with excessive decoration, and increased load on your PC.

However, by customizing your stream according to your content and environment, you can maximize the benefits and avoid the disadvantages.

Advantages

Customizing the streaming screen with overlays can make it more colorful and attractive, and create an environment that’s easier for viewers to watch. Here are some specific advantages:

• Visually appealing
• Organized streaming screen
• Differentiate yourself from other streamers

The impression of the streaming screen with overlays and without overlays can vary significantly among viewers. Overlays serve as a powerful tool to convey the personality and branding of the streamer. Consider utilizing them.

Additionally, adopting designs that match themes such as talk shows or game streams allows you to create a streaming environment that aligns with your audience demographics.

Disadvantages

While overlays are a convenient feature, their misuse may lead to the following disadvantages:

• Screen becomes hard to view
• Increased PC load

Excessive decorations with overlays can occupy the streaming screen, reducing the size of the game screen or videos. This could lead viewers to miss important scenes. Additionally, dynamic overlays or high-resolution materials impose a significant burden on encoding and PC performance.

These drawbacks might lead to viewers leaving the stream.

To avoid these disadvantages, it’s essential to adjust the overlay design according to your streaming content.

For instance, in game streams, simple overlays that display only essential information are appropriate. If you are concerned about PC load, consider measures to reduce it according to your PC specifications and Internet connection speed.

Preparations Needed to Set Overlays in OBS

To set overlays in OBS, you need to prepare image materials for overlays. There are mainly two ways to prepare image materials:

• Create using image editing software
• Use free distribution overlay images

For those using image editing software, recommended free software includes “Canva” and “GIMP2”. Using paid software like “Photoshop” allows you to create even higher quality images efficiently.

Free distribution overlay images can be easily set up by simply downloading them, making them recommended for those who aren’t confident in image creation or want to save time.

Try utilizing these methods to customize your streaming screen with ease.

How to Set Overlays in OBS (YouTube/Twitch/TwitCasting, etc.)

The method for setting overlays in OBS is common across major streaming platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and TwitCasting.

By preparing image or video materials and adding them to OBS, you can set overlays by adjusting the entire screen. Follow the steps below to proceed in detail.

Step 1: Adjust Image Size and Add to OBS

First, prepare the image or video materials you will use. There are three ways to prepare materials:

• Create your own: Use tools like Canva or Photoshop to design
• Download from sites: Look for pre-made overlay materials on free distribution sites
• Outsource to professionals: Use services like Coconala or crowdsourcing to outsource

Once the materials are ready, adjust the size to fit the streaming screen. Generally, 1920×1080 pixels is suitable.

After adjustment, select “Image” from the “+” button in OBS’s source list, and add the saved file via the “Browse” button. Once added, the image will be displayed at the configured size.

Step 2: Adjust the Overlay Position

Once you’ve added overlay materials to OBS, adjust the position to fit the screen. Frame-type overlays are often designed to match the streaming screen ratio in creation stages, but be cautious as fine adjustments might still be needed.

You can freely change the position on the screen by clicking and dragging the added overlay.

Drag the corners to adjust size and fit with streaming content. Adjusting it to the frames of the game screen or chat room can create a more viewer-friendly streaming screen.

Finally, check the balance with other elements and complete your original streaming screen.

How to Obtain Overlay Materials for Streaming

Overlay materials can be obtained quickly by downloading from distribution sites or outsourcing to professionals. With a wide range of options available, you can easily create an attractive streaming screen, making it easy to utilize overlays even if creation is difficult.

Below, we explain each method of obtaining them in detail.

Download from Distribution Sites (Free Available)

If you want to obtain overlay materials easily, using free or paid distribution sites is recommended. Refer to the following recommended distribution sites:

• BOOTH
  A plethora of paid and free overlay materials created by creators. Choose from simple designs to elaborate ones.
• Pngtree
  A distribution site specializing in image data, with a large selection of free materials that are easy to use.
• PIXIV
  A major image-sharing site with materials for game streaming and VTubers available. Many free materials are also available.

When downloading from distribution sites, make sure to check the license terms and verify that use in streaming is permitted.

Outsource to Professionals on Platforms like Coconala

If creation is difficult or you want an original design, commissioning a professional is another option. The following two services are recommended for commissioning professionals:

• Coconala
  With many creators enrolled, it’s relatively affordable to commission overlays. You can check samples, making it easy to judge whether the creator matches your image.
• SKIMA
  Many creators are specialized in creating overlays for VTubers. You can also request a set with avatar creation.

The general flow for commissioning is as follows:

• Check samples
• Discuss desired design and delivery deadline
• Confirm commission and payment
• Check progress and request revision before delivery

By conveying your wishes concretely, you should be able to have a satisfying overlay created.

How to Create Overlays for Streaming

Creating your own streaming overlay can better express originality. For beginners, “Canva” is recommended for use at no charge. Canva offers a rich selection of templates, allowing you to easily design streaming screens and social media accounts.

The following are simple steps for creating overlays using Canva, so use them as a reference:

• Register and log in to Canva
• Create a 1920×1080 pixel canvas with “Custom Size”
• Select design
• Export with background transparency

Because background transparency export is only available with the paid version, use a tool to make the background transparent when using the free version.

For those who want to create unique overlays while keeping costs low, consider using Canva.

How to Create Animated Overlays

Using animated overlays can make your streaming screen even more vibrant. “Adobe After Effects” or the free software “GIMP2” are convenient for creating them.

There’s also a simpler method of using a video as a background, introduced below:

• Prepare a background video
• Add the video to OBS in the order of “Source” → “+” → “Media Source”
• Layer a transparent image frame over the background video

By adding videos to OBS through these steps, you can make it appear as though the streaming screen is moving. If you want to try an easy way to set animated overlays, give this a try.

For background videos, light effects or sparkling videos are recommended.

Points to Consider When Using Overlays

When using overlays, consider both screen composition and the impact on PC loads. Knowing the cautions when using overlays is crucial to prevent declines in stream or PC performance.

Here, we explain the points to consider in detail. Those keen on using overlays should check them out.

License Terms and Usage Range of Distributed Materials

Overlays displayed on distribution sites often come with license terms and usage ranges.

Licenses and terms of use may include restrictions such as “prohibition of commercial use,” “no editing,” or “no redistribution to third parties.” Violating these rules constitutes copyright infringement, so be cautious.

Particularly, be careful with streams aiming for monetization. If you wish to monetize, carefully check the terms and select materials permitted for commercial use.

Using Overlays with Low-Spec PCs Is Not Recommended

Using overlays increases the load on PCs. Therefore, it’s not highly recommended for low-spec PCs.

Especially, increasing additional features like comments or time displays may lower encoding or game performance. Be cautious as excessive decorations can make the game screen heavy, compromising a comfortable viewing environment.

When using overlays on low-spec PCs, prioritize stream comfort by limiting elements to the essentials.

What to Do After Utilizing Overlays in OBS?

This time, we’ve explained in detail how to set overlays in OBS and how to obtain and create materials. By utilizing overlays, you can enhance the quality of the streaming screen and leave a more appealing impression on viewers.

If you’re particular about the overall stream screen design, the streaming screen creation service “Alive Studio” is recommended.

• Over 1,000 background and prop materials provided by the VTuber material production team “Usa Neko Memory,” available unlimitedly!
• More than 100 BGM tracks provided by the music material site “Maou Soul” available unlimitedly!
• Equipped with theme roulette and counter functions!
• All features available, at a monthly cost of 980 yen (tax included)!

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