How to Add Images and Overlays in OBS Studio

Learn how to add images, logos and overlays in OBS, control source stacking order, group items and create a professional splash screen.

Adding images to OBS is simple. The useful part is learning how to position, layer and group them so your workshop or video looks organised rather than cluttered.

If you've worked through the previous tutorials, you've already got the difficult setup out of the way.

Your camera is connected.

Your audio is routed.

Your files are organised.

And you understand OBS scenes and sources.

Now we can start making the presentation look like yours.

This is where OBS gets a lot more fun.

Quick answer: How to Add Images and Overlays in OBS Studio explains how to add images, logos and overlays in OBS, control source stacking order, group items and create a professional splash screen.

What Can You Add as an Image in OBS?

An OBS Image source can be used for much more than putting a photograph on screen.

You can use images for:

• splash screens
• logos
• name graphics
• workshop branding
• frames
• callouts
• icons
• background graphics
• transparent overlays

The important thing is that every image becomes another source inside the scene.

That means you can resize it, position it and decide whether it appears in front of or behind your other sources.

Once you understand that, you have a surprising amount of control.

Start With an OBS Splash Screen

Let's begin with the Splash Screen scene we created earlier.

A splash screen is the image I can show before the live presentation actually starts.

Instead of your audience arriving and immediately seeing you moving windows around, checking your microphone or sorting something out, they see a prepared screen explaining what the session is about.

Much cleaner.

If you haven't created one yet, go back to OBS Scenes and Sources: A Beginner's Guide first.

Then come back here.

How to Add a Splash Screen Image to OBS

Select your Splash Screen scene.

Then go to the Sources panel and click:

+ → Image

Choose to add a new image source.

Browse to the permanent folder where you've stored your OBS assets.

This is exactly why we sorted out how to organise your OBS files and assets before getting to this stage.

Select your splash screen image and add it.

The image now appears on your canvas.

If it isn't the right size, don't panic.

You can resize it.

Resize an Image to Fit the OBS Canvas

Click the image source in the preview.

You'll see handles around it.

Grab the handles and drag the image until it fits your canvas.

For the main workshop setup, we're using a 1920 × 1080 canvas.

A properly prepared 1920 × 1080 splash screen should fit nicely, but you can still resize an image when needed.

Now you can switch between:

Splash Screen → Main Camera

and immediately see how the presentation begins to come together.

You aren't building the screen live.

It's already waiting for you.

Use Scene Transitions Between Your OBS Screens

While you're switching between the Splash Screen and Main Camera, have a look at the Scene Transitions panel.

In the workshop, I start with a Fade transition.

You can change how long that fade takes.

For example, increasing the duration makes the change slower and more noticeable.

Reducing it makes the switch much quicker.

I demonstrate a longer 900 millisecond fade and then shorten it. A setting around 500 milliseconds works nicely for the example.

You can also use a Cut if you want an immediate change.

There isn't one magic transition speed.

Look at it.

Does it feel smooth?

Good.

Move on.

Don't spend three hours perfecting a fade when the actual workshop still isn't prepared.

How to Add a Logo to OBS

Now let's move back into the Main Camera scene.

You've already got your camera there.

Go to Sources again:

+ → Image

Add a new image and browse to your logo.

Click OK.

The logo appears on screen.

It may be huge.

Again, that doesn't matter.

Resize it and drag it into position.

A corner usually works well for a simple logo.

And you can do this without a green screen.

That's worth pointing out because people sometimes think OBS branding only works once they've removed their background.

It doesn't.

You can have your normal office background, your camera and your company logo all in the same scene.

Transparent PNG Images Make Better OBS Overlays

If you want the graphic to sit over your camera cleanly, a transparent image is extremely useful.

In the workshop, I use a graphic with a transparent background.

Instead of seeing a large rectangular box around the graphic, only the visible parts of the design appear.

That's how you can create things such as:

• logos
• lower-thirds
• corner graphics
• frames
• floating icons
• branded overlays

A transparent PNG is normally a good format for this type of image.

If you're creating the graphic in software such as Canva or Photoshop, export it with transparency where appropriate.

Then bring that PNG into OBS as an Image source.

What Is an OBS Overlay?

An overlay is simply a visual element placed over another source.

Your camera is showing.

Then a transparent logo sits over the camera.

That's an overlay.

A frame could sit around you.

A name graphic could sit near the bottom.

A small workshop title could appear in a corner.

OBS isn't doing anything mysterious here.

It's layering sources.

And that brings us to one of the most important parts of this tutorial.

How OBS Stack Order Works

Look at the Sources panel.

The order matters.

In the workshop, I drag the logo below the camera source.

What happens?

The logo appears to disappear.

But it hasn't disappeared at all.

The camera is covering it.

Think of OBS sources like sheets of paper stacked on a desk.

A source higher in the list can sit in front of a source lower in the list.

So if you have:

Logo

Camera

the logo can appear over the camera.

But if you change it to:

Camera

Logo

the full camera image may cover the logo underneath.

That is stacking order.

Understanding this one idea will save you a lot of confusion.

Why Has My OBS Image Disappeared?

If you add an image and suddenly can't see it, don't immediately delete it and start again.

Look at the source order first.

Ask yourself:

Is another source sitting on top of it?

Turn off the eye icon beside the source above it temporarily.

If your missing image suddenly appears, you've found the problem.

Move the image source higher in the stack.

Simple.

Stack Order Becomes Even More Important With Green Screen

Right now, with a normal camera background, most graphics will naturally sit in front of you.

Later, once we use a green screen in OBS, things get more interesting.

When your background has been removed, you can place yourself in front of some elements and behind others.

For example:

Foreground graphic

Your keyed camera

Background image

Now you've built layers.

Your background sits behind you.

You sit in the middle.

A logo or foreground design can sit in front.

This is one of the reasons green screen and stacking order work so well together.

We'll deal with that properly in the green screen tutorial.

For now, get comfortable moving sources up and down.

Name Your Image Sources

Don't leave everything called:

Image

Image 2

Image 3

You might know what they are today.

You won't once the scene gets bigger.

In the workshop, I rename the logo source to something that actually tells me what it is.

Do the same.

You could use names such as:

Learn OBS Logo

Workshop Splash

Company Logo

Corner Graphic

Lower Third

It takes a few seconds.

And it makes the Sources panel far easier to work with.

Keep Your OBS Sources Organised

A simple Main Camera scene can quickly start filling up.

You might have:

• camera
• microphone
• logo
• background
• another graphic
• animation
• additional audio

That list gets long.

OBS allows you to group related sources together.

This helps you keep the scene cleaner without removing anything.

How to Group Sources in OBS

In the workshop, I group the camera and microphone.

Select the sources you want to group.

You can use Shift or Ctrl while selecting multiple items.

Then right-click and choose:

Group Selected Items

Give the group a useful name.

For example:

Camera and Mic

Now the camera and microphone sit inside one group.

You can collapse the group when you don't need to see everything inside it.

That's a small thing.

But once a scene gets busy, it's very useful.

What Should You Group in OBS?

There isn't a fixed rule.

Group sources that logically belong together.

For example:

Camera Setup

• camera
• microphone

Branding

• logo
• name graphic
• corner overlay

Background

• background image
• decorative graphic

Don't over-organise a scene with three sources.

You don't need folders inside folders inside folders.

Use groups when they make the interface easier to understand.

Organise Your Scenes in Presentation Order Too

Stack order applies to sources, but I also like organising the Scenes panel in a sensible order.

For a basic workshop, that might be:

1. Splash Screen
2. Main Camera
3. Screen Share

Later, as we add video, you might have more scenes in the run order.

This makes it easier to work through a live presentation because your scenes aren't scattered randomly.

You're building a workflow.

That becomes especially useful in the next tutorial when we start adding video directly into OBS.

A Simple Branded OBS Scene Example

Let's say you're a coach running a live workshop.

Your Main Camera scene could contain:

Workshop Title Graphic
Company Logo
Camera
Microphone

The visual sources at the top appear over the camera.

The microphone is audio, so you don't see it in the picture.

You could then group:

Camera + Microphone

and leave the two branding graphics above the group.

The Sources panel stays tidy.

Your audience sees a clean camera shot with a logo and workshop branding.

You don't need complicated graphics for this to look better.

A small amount of consistent branding goes a long way.

Don't Cover Your Own Face With the Overlay

Sounds obvious.

It happens.

You add a nice big graphic.

You put it on screen.

And half the graphic sits directly over your face.

Move it.

When you're placing a logo or overlay, look at where you're positioned.

Leave room around:

• your face
• important hand movements
• presentation text
• anything else the audience actually needs to see

This becomes even easier once you've built repeatable scenes because the graphics stay in the position you've already chosen.

You don't have to place them again every time.

You Can Turn Sources On and Off

Each visual source has an eye icon.

Use it.

You don't need to delete an image just because you don't want to see it at this moment.

Turn its visibility off.

Then turn it back on when you need it.

That allows you to test different versions of a scene.

You might have two backgrounds loaded and simply switch the visibility between them.

Or keep an optional graphic ready without showing it all the time.

That's much faster than repeatedly deleting and recreating sources.

Keep Your Graphics in Their Permanent Folder

One reminder from the OBS file organisation tutorial.

Once the logo or overlay is in OBS, don't casually move the source file somewhere else on your computer.

OBS needs to know where that file is.

So your workflow should still be:

Create graphic → Name it → Move it to permanent OBS folder → Add it to OBS

Not:

Add it from Downloads → Clean Downloads → Wonder where the graphic went

Keep your eyes open on this one.

Once your collection of OBS assets starts growing, good file habits matter.

Do You Need a Green Screen for OBS Overlays?

No.

You can add logos and transparent graphics to your normal camera view right now.

That's exactly what we're doing at this stage of the workshop.

What a green screen changes is how much layering control you have.

Without removing your background, a foreground graphic can sit over the camera.

With the background keyed out, your camera itself can become another transparent layer.

Then you can build a virtual environment around yourself.

But don't rush.

Get comfortable with normal image sources and stack order first.

Common OBS Image and Overlay Problems

My image is too big

Select it and resize it using the handles in the preview.

My image has disappeared

Check its position in the Sources stack. Another source may be covering it.

My logo has a solid box around it

If you want only the logo itself visible, use an image with a transparent background, such as a suitable PNG.

I moved my image file and OBS can't find it

OBS may still be pointing to the old location. Keep your source assets in a permanent project folder.

My Sources panel is getting messy

Rename sources and use groups for related items.

My overlay covers my face

Resize it or move it somewhere that doesn't interfere with the main subject.

My transition feels too slow

Reduce the transition duration or use a Cut if you want an instant scene change.

OBS Images and Overlays Checklist

Before moving into video, make sure you can do these:

• Add an Image source to an OBS scene
• Add a full-screen splash image
• Resize an image to fit the canvas
• Add a logo to the Main Camera scene
• Use a transparent PNG as an overlay
• Move an image around the canvas
• Rename image sources clearly
• Move sources up and down in the stack
• Understand why a lower source may be hidden
• Turn sources on and off with the eye icon
• Group related sources
• Move scenes into a sensible presentation order
• Test your transition between scenes

If you can do those things, you've got the basic visual workflow.

And from this point, the same ideas start applying to much more than static images.

Learn OBS With Me in the Free Workshop

This is much easier to understand when you can actually watch an image move above and below the camera in the Sources panel.

That's exactly what we do in the free Learn OBS Workshop.

You'll see how the scenes, graphics, camera and audio work together rather than treating each OBS feature as a separate technical problem.

Learn OBS Workshop | Present, Stream & Record Better

You can also return to the complete Learn OBS beginner's guide whenever you want the full cluster overview.

FAQ About Adding Images and Overlays in OBS

How do I add an image to OBS?

Select the scene where you want the image, click the + button under Sources and choose Image. Browse to the file, add it and then resize or position it on the OBS canvas.

How do I add my logo to OBS?

Add the logo as an Image source in your camera scene. A transparent PNG works particularly well because the background around the logo can remain transparent.

What is an overlay in OBS?

An overlay is a graphic placed over another visual source, such as a logo or name graphic positioned over your camera feed.

Why is my OBS image hidden behind my camera?

OBS uses source stacking order. If the image sits below a full-screen camera source, the camera may cover it. Move the image higher in the Sources list.

Does the order of OBS sources matter?

Yes. Sources are layered according to their order. Moving sources up or down changes which visual elements appear in front of others.

Can I use transparent PNG files in OBS?

Yes. Transparent PNGs are useful for logos, frames and other overlays because the transparent areas allow the sources underneath to remain visible.

How do I group sources in OBS?

Select multiple sources using the appropriate multi-select keys, right-click and choose Group Selected Items. Give the group a clear name so you can keep related sources organised.

Can I create a splash screen in OBS?

Yes. Create a dedicated scene and add a full-screen image as an Image source. You can then switch from the Splash Screen scene to your Main Camera when the presentation begins.

Can I add OBS overlays without a green screen?

Yes. Logos and other graphics can sit over your normal camera feed. A green screen simply gives you more control later because your camera can become a cut-out layer too.

What To Do Next

You've now moved beyond the basic OBS setup.

Your workshop can have a proper opening screen.

Your logo can stay on your camera view.

Your sources are organised.

And you understand stacking order.

The next logical step is video.

Continue with How to Add Video to OBS and Control Playback.

We'll bring pre-recorded media directly into OBS, create video scenes, control whether clips restart or continue, route the video audio through OBS and show you how to talk over your media.

That's where your OBS setup starts turning into a proper presentation system.

Join the free Learn OBS Workshop and build it with me step by step.

FAQ

Who is How to Add Images and Overlays in OBS Studio for?

How to Add Images and Overlays in OBS Studio is for course creators, coaches and educators who want a clearer OBS setup for recording lessons, streaming sessions or creating better video content for their online business.

How does this OBS workflow connect with New Zenler?

Creators can use OBS to improve video and live-session production, then use New Zenler to host courses, deliver memberships, run live sessions, build funnels and manage learners in one platform.

What should creators check before recording or streaming with OBS?

Check the scene layout, microphone input, audio filters, camera framing, recording settings, internet connection and where the finished lesson or live replay will be delivered in New Zenler.

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