When you watch a polished recording or stream, you are usually looking at more than one thing at once: the game or presentation in the middle, a webcam in the corner, a name or title at the bottom, and perhaps a small frame or logo. In OBS Studio, each of those elements is a source, the group of sources that appear together is a scene, and the extra graphics layered on top are overlays. Understanding that simple structure is the key to building a layout that looks intentional instead of cluttered.
This guide explains scenes, sources, and overlays in plain language, then walks through planning a scene collection, adding image, text, and browser overlays, laying them out cleanly, switching between scenes, and organising your work so you can reuse it. It does not assume a particular overlay pack or design, and it does not promise a particular look on any specific computer. Results depend on your sources, your layout, and your hardware. If you are new to OBS, start with our guide to using OBS, and for the video settings behind this guide, see our best OBS recording settings guide.
Scenes, sources and overlays explained
A scene is a complete layout: everything the viewer sees at one moment. A source is one element inside that layout, such as a game capture, a webcam, an image, a text label, or a browser source. An overlay is a source whose job is to add information or decoration on top of the main content, such as a frame around the webcam, a lower-third name label, a logo, or a chat box. The same source can appear in more than one scene, and a scene can contain many sources, but only one scene is live at a time.
Sources are stacked in the order shown in the Sources panel: the source at the top of the list appears in front of the ones below it. That order matters. If your webcam is below the game capture in the list, the game will cover it. If your text label is below a large image, the image will hide it. To fix a hidden source, drag it higher in the list, or use the up and down arrows. You can also hide a source temporarily by clicking the eye icon next to it, and lock it by clicking the padlock icon, so you do not move it by accident while dragging another source.
Planning your scene collection
Before you add anything, decide which scenes you actually need. Most recordings and streams need only a few: a starting scene, a main scene, a break or pause scene, and an ending scene. A gaming setup might add a second main scene for a different game or a full-screen webcam scene for talking to viewers. A tutorial setup might add a scene for slides and a scene for a demonstration. Start with the smallest set that covers your session, and add more only when you find yourself switching awkwardly.
Give every scene and source a clear name, such as Main Game, Webcam Full, or Lower Third Name, instead of leaving the default names. Clear names make switching faster and make it easier to find a problem later. Keep the same overlay style across scenes, so the viewer sees a consistent design: the same colours, the same font, the same webcam frame, and the same position for recurring elements. A consistent layout looks more professional than a different design in every scene, and it is far easier to maintain.
A simple scene plan
- Starting: a title, a logo, and a short message, with no game or webcam yet.
- Main: game or presentation, webcam in a corner, and a name label.
- Break: a simple message and a still image, with the main sources hidden.
- Ending: a thank-you message and the same title style as the start.
Adding image, text and browser overlays
Image overlays are the simplest kind. Click the plus button in Sources, choose Image, give it a name, and select an image file, preferably a PNG with a transparent background for frames and logos. Drag it to the right position and resize it by dragging a corner handle. Keep image files at a sensible size: a very large image will use more memory than it needs to, and a very small one will look blurry when enlarged. A frame or logo that matches your canvas resolution will look sharpest.
Text overlays work the same way. Choose Text, type the words, and set the font, size, and colour. Use a large, readable font and a colour that contrasts with the background. A lower-third name label, for example, should be easy to read at a glance, even on a small screen. Browser sources are more powerful: they display a web page inside OBS, which is how many alerts, chat boxes, and widgets work. Add a Browser source, paste the web address provided by the widget, and set the width and height to match the widget. Each browser source runs a web page in the background, so keep the number low on a modest computer.
Layout, alignment and safe areas
A good layout gives each element room to breathe. Place the main content, usually the game or presentation, to fill most of the screen. Place the webcam in a corner where it does not cover important information, such as health bars, menus, or slide text. Place text labels near the bottom or the top, with enough contrast to read easily, and keep them away from the very edge of the screen, where some players and displays may cut them off.
Use alignment to keep the layout tidy. Select several sources, right-click, and use the Align options to line up their edges, or use the Transform options to centre a source exactly. Check the layout in the preview at full size, and record a short test to see how it looks in the finished video. If an element looks slightly off, move it by a small amount and test again, rather than adding more decoration to distract from it. A simple, aligned layout is easier to watch than a busy one, and it is easier to adjust later.
Transitions and switching between scenes
A transition is the effect OBS uses when you switch from one scene to another. The default Fade is a gentle crossfade that works well for most purposes, and Cut switches instantly with no effect. A Stinger is a short video animation that plays during the switch, which can look impressive but needs a suitable video file and extra setup. For most recordings, Fade or Cut is enough, and a simple transition is less distracting than a long animation that plays every time you change scene.
To switch scenes, click the scene in the Scenes panel, or use a hotkey if you set one in Settings, then Hotkeys. Hotkeys are useful when you need to switch quickly without moving the mouse, for example during a game. Studio Mode, in the Controls panel, lets you preview the next scene before you make it live, which is helpful for live work but not necessary for recording. Practice switching a few times before a real session, and check that each scene shows what you expect, with no missing sources or hidden overlays.
Alerts and widgets through browser sources
Alerts and widgets are usually delivered as browser sources: a web page that shows a message, an animation, or a counter when something happens. To add one, copy the web address from the service that provides it, add a Browser source in OBS, paste the address, and set the width and height to the size the service recommends. Place the browser source where the alert should appear, usually near the top or centre of the screen, and make sure it is above the main content in the Sources list so it is not hidden.
Keep widgets to the ones you actually use. Each browser source adds work, and several animated widgets in one scene can slow down a modest computer. Test each widget by triggering a test alert, if the service offers one, and check that it appears and disappears cleanly. If a widget does not appear, check the web address, the width and height, and whether the source is hidden or below another source. Do not paste a web address from an untrusted source into OBS, and do not share a widget address that includes a private key or token with anyone else.
Organising, backing up and reusing scenes
As your scene collection grows, organisation becomes important. Group related sources together by selecting them, right-clicking, and choosing Group, so you can move them as one unit. Rename groups clearly, and lock sources you do not want to move by accident. If you use the same overlay in several scenes, consider adding it once and reusing the same source, rather than creating a separate copy in each scene, so a change to the overlay updates everywhere.
Back up your scene collection regularly. In OBS, choose Scene Collection, then Export, and save the file somewhere safe, along with the image and overlay files it refers to. The export does not always include the image files themselves, so keep those files in a folder you will not move or delete. If you move to another computer, copy both the exported collection and the overlay files, then import the collection and check that every source appears. For webcam placement in your scenes, see our guide to adding a webcam in OBS, and for audio in scenes, see our OBS audio settings guide.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is adding too many overlays at once: a frame, a logo, a chat box, a counter, and an animated background, all in the same scene, so the viewer does not know where to look. Another mistake is covering important parts of the game or presentation with the webcam or a text label, or using text that is too small or too low in contrast to read. People also forget to test a scene after adding a new source, and only notice a hidden or misplaced overlay after a long recording.
- Stacking sources in the wrong order, so a large image hides the webcam.
- Using a different design in every scene, so the video looks inconsistent.
- Adding several browser sources with animation to a single scene.
- Placing text at the very edge of the screen, where it may be cut off.
- Forgetting to back up the scene collection and its image files.
Troubleshooting
If an overlay does not appear, check that the source is not hidden, that it is above the main content in the Sources list, and that it is inside the canvas area. If a browser source is blank, check the web address, the width and height, and whether the page needs to be reloaded. If a scene looks different from the preview, check that you are looking at the live scene and not a preview in Studio Mode, and that no source is locked in the wrong position.
If OBS runs slowly with many overlays, remove animated browser sources, use still images instead of looping video, and close other programs. If a transition looks wrong, try Fade or Cut instead of a custom animation, and test the switch several times. If a scene collection will not import on another computer, check that the image files are in the same place and that the exported file was copied correctly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a scene and a source in OBS?
A scene is a complete layout that the viewer sees at one moment, and a source is one element inside it, such as a game capture, a webcam, an image, or a text label. Only one scene is live at a time, but a scene can contain many sources.
How do I add an overlay to OBS?
Choose a scene, click the plus button in Sources, and choose Image, Text, or Browser, depending on the overlay. Give it a name, select the file or type the text, then drag it to position it and resize it by dragging a corner handle.
How many scenes should I have in OBS?
Start with the smallest set that covers your session, often four: starting, main, break, and ending. Add more only when you find yourself switching awkwardly, and keep the same overlay style across all of them.
Why is my overlay not showing in OBS?
The source may be hidden, below another source in the list, or outside the canvas area. Check the eye icon, drag it higher in the Sources list, and check its position in the preview.
Can I use the same overlay in more than one scene?
Yes. You can reuse the same source in several scenes, so a change to it updates everywhere. Give it a clear name, and check each scene after you change it to make sure it still looks right.
Conclusion
Overlays and scenes in OBS are simple once you remember the structure: sources are the elements, scenes are the layouts, and overlays are the sources that add information on top. Plan a small set of scenes, use clear names, keep the layout aligned and uncluttered, and test every scene before a real session. Back up your scene collection and its image files, and reuse overlays instead of rebuilding them. That careful approach will give you a consistent, professional-looking result without slowing down your computer or distracting your viewers.