Stream Overlay Configurator
Design professional stream layouts visually. Add, position, and customize overlay elements like webcam frames, chat boxes, alert panels, and more. Export your configuration for use in OBS Studio, Streamlabs, or other broadcasting software.
Understanding Stream Overlay Design
A well-designed stream overlay is essential for creating a professional broadcast that engages viewers and builds your brand identity. According to Twitch Creator Camp's official guidelines, overlays should enhance your content without distracting from it. The key is finding the right balance between visual appeal and functionality.
Stream overlays serve multiple purposes: they frame your webcam, display important information, showcase alerts and events, and reinforce your channel branding. Research from Stream Scheme indicates that streamers with consistent, professional overlays see up to 30% higher viewer retention compared to those with cluttered or inconsistent layouts.
Key Principles of Overlay Design
When designing your overlay, consider the viewing experience first. Most viewers watch on desktop monitors or mobile devices, so your layout needs to work at various sizes. The OBS Studio Wiki recommends keeping critical elements within the "safe zone" (the inner 90% of the canvas) to ensure visibility across all devices and platforms.
- Game Area Priority: For gaming streams, maintain 70-80% of the screen for actual gameplay. Viewers come to watch the game, not your overlay.
- Webcam Placement: Corner positions (usually bottom-left or bottom-right) are standard. Size your webcam at 15-20% of screen width for visibility without domination.
- Information Hierarchy: Place the most important elements (webcam, alerts) in prominent positions. Secondary information (social handles, goals) can go in less prominent areas.
- Consistent Spacing: Use uniform margins and padding between elements. This creates visual harmony and professionalism.
- Color Coordination: Choose 2-3 colors that match your brand. Avoid clashing colors that strain the eyes.
Overlay Elements Explained
Our configurator includes the most common overlay elements used by professional streamers. Understanding each element's purpose helps you design more effective layouts.
Webcam Frame: Frames your camera feed and helps it stand out from the game. Can be circular, rectangular, or custom-shaped depending on your aesthetic. The typical size is 320x180 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) but varies by stream style.
Chat Box: Displays live chat on screen, useful for VOD viewers and keeping chat visible during fullscreen gameplay. Position it where it doesn't block important game UI elements.
Alert Panels: Where follower, subscriber, and donation alerts appear. These are typically positioned at the top or center of the screen for maximum visibility. Keep them sized appropriately so alerts are readable but not overwhelming.
Recent Events: Shows recent followers, subscribers, or donors. This encourages engagement by recognizing supporters. Usually placed in a bar format at the bottom or top of the screen.
Goals: Progress bars for follower goals, donation goals, or sub goals. Creates engagement by showing viewers their contributions are making an impact.
Platform-Specific Considerations
Different streaming platforms have different requirements and viewer expectations. What works on Twitch may need adjustments for YouTube or Kick.
Twitch: The most overlay-friendly platform. Twitch viewers expect polished overlays with alerts, chat integration, and interactive elements. Channel points and predictions can also be incorporated into overlay design.
YouTube Live: Tends toward cleaner layouts. YouTube viewers often expect a more "professional" broadcast feel. Super Chat and membership recognition are key elements to include.
Kick: As a newer platform, Kick streamers often use overlays similar to Twitch. However, the platform's focus on content creators means clean, distraction-free layouts are increasingly popular.
Setting Up Your Overlay in OBS Studio
Once you've designed your layout using our configurator, you'll need to implement it in your broadcasting software. Here's how to translate your design into OBS Studio:
- Create a New Scene: In OBS, scenes are like pages that hold your sources (elements). Create a new scene for your overlay design.
- Add Sources in Order: Add sources from back to front. Game capture first, then overlay images, webcam, alerts, and finally any top-layer elements.
- Use the Position Data: Our configurator exports X, Y, Width, and Height values. In OBS, right-click a source and select "Transform" > "Edit Transform" to input these values precisely.
- Lock Sources: Once positioned, lock sources by right-clicking and selecting "Lock" to prevent accidental movement.
- Test Your Layout: Use OBS's "Preview Stream" or start a test stream to verify everything looks correct at full resolution.
Related Resources
For optimal streaming quality alongside your overlay, use our Stream Bitrate Calculator to determine the best encoding settings. If you're unsure when to stream, our Stream Schedule Optimizer helps you find peak viewer times for your target audience in Taiwan and globally. To project your potential earnings with your polished new setup, check out the Stream Revenue Calculator.
Learn more about Taiwan's streaming ecosystem in our comprehensive guides: Twitch Taiwan Trends covers the local Twitch scene, while our Taiwan Streaming Platform Comparison helps you choose the right platform for your content. For aspiring partners, don't miss the Taiwan Twitch Partner Guide.
Save Your Layouts
Use the "Save to Browser" button to store your overlay configuration locally. You can return to this page anytime to load, modify, and re-export your layouts. We recommend also exporting to JSON as a backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What resolution should I design my overlay for?
Design for 1920x1080 (1080p) as your primary resolution. This is the standard for most streams. If you stream at 720p, you can scale down your design. OBS handles scaling well, so a 1080p design works at any output resolution.
How much of the screen should be visible for gameplay?
For gaming streams, aim for 70-80% of the screen dedicated to gameplay. The remaining 20-30% can hold your webcam, chat, and information panels. For "Just Chatting" streams, you can use more screen real estate for overlays.
Should I use animated or static overlays?
This depends on your content and style. Animated overlays can be eye-catching but may distract from gameplay or increase system resource usage. Static overlays are cleaner and more performant. Many streamers use static base overlays with animated alerts.
How do I import these positions into OBS?
Export your layout as JSON or use the OBS Setup Guide. In OBS, add your sources, then right-click each one and select Transform > Edit Transform. Enter the X, Y, Width, and Height values from your export. This positions elements precisely where you designed them.
Can I use this tool for Streamlabs or XSplit?
Yes! The position and size values work with any broadcasting software. Streamlabs Desktop and XSplit Broadcaster both allow precise source positioning using the same X, Y, Width, Height system.