Add a lower third by placing a graphic layer over your live video, then cueing it on and off during the broadcast. In OBS Studio, add a transparent PNG as an Image source—or use a Browser source for a dynamic graphic—position it over the camera or screen layer, and rehearse the visibility control before going live. StreamYard, Vimeo’s browser production tool, and vMix provide other workflows for different production setups.
What a lower third does
A lower third is an on-screen overlay, usually near the bottom of the frame, that identifies a speaker or labels a segment. It can include a name, role, show title, or short announcement. The video remains visible through transparent parts of the graphic.
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The simplest choice is a static transparent image if the wording will not change. If names need to change during a broadcast, use a browser-based graphic or a studio feature with editable fields so you do not have to export a new image for every speaker.
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Add a lower third in OBS Studio
- Create or select the scene. Choose the scene that contains the camera, screen capture, or other video you want to label.
- Add the graphic. In Sources, select +, then choose Image for a prepared static graphic or Browser for a web-based graphic. For a Browser source, enter the URL supplied by the graphic provider and follow its documented dimensions and setup requirements.
- Choose the asset. For an Image source, select your transparent PNG file. Confirm that transparency was preserved when you exported it; an opaque background will cover the video rather than overlay it.
- Set its size and position. Adjust the graphic in the OBS preview so it sits near the bottom without obscuring a face, captions, or important screen content.
- Set the layer order. In the Sources list, move the lower-third source above the camera or video source. OBS renders higher sources over lower ones.
- Preview at the actual output size. Check that the text remains legible at the resolution you will stream, and make sure the graphic is not cropped or covering essential content.
- Rehearse the cue. Practice showing and hiding the source before the event. For a static image, use its visibility control in the scene; for a Browser source, check whether the provider supplies a separate control page or on-air controls.
StreamYard’s OBS guide documents this Image-or-Browser-source approach, including positioning the source and changing its order in the scene: How to add overlays in OBS.
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Prepare a clear graphic
Match the production canvas
Build the graphic at the same resolution as your production output. Keep the canvas transparent except for the nameplate or title treatment, and export as a PNG with transparency enabled. StreamYard’s guide uses 1280×720 as a baseline for a 720p workflow; that is not a universal requirement. Use the dimensions appropriate to your own output. StreamSlayers, for example, documents a 1920×1080 Browser source for its own setup, not as a general OBS rule.
StreamYard’s lower-third guidance covers transparent overlay assets and platform-specific dimensions and limits: How to use lower thirds. Check the current documentation for the specific service or graphic you use because file limits and supported formats can change.
Keep the text readable
- Use a short name, role, or segment label rather than a sentence.
- Choose strong contrast between the lettering and the nameplate background.
- Keep the graphic clear of faces and details viewers need to see on a shared screen.
- Use animation sparingly, and preview the result in motion as well as when it is still.
These are practical design recommendations, not a formal safe-area specification. Check your own program preview before the broadcast.
Choose another workflow when it fits better
| Workflow | Where it runs | Changing text during the show | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static image source | Desktop scene software such as OBS | Replace or edit the asset, or pair it with another text workflow | Prepare the image and layer it correctly in the scene |
| Browser-source graphic | OBS or another tool that accepts browser sources | Often controlled through an external page; features depend on the provider | Provider URL, source dimensions, and any separate control workflow |
| Built-in browser-studio graphics | The service’s browser production studio | May offer editable banners or speaker fields | Studio mode, plan, and feature access can apply |
| vMix GT title | vMix desktop production environment | Title input can be edited; confirm the workflow for the chosen template | Create a title template and cue it through an overlay channel |
StreamYard
StreamYard’s studio workflow uses its overlays panel to upload and toggle assets while live. Its lower-third guidance also describes using live banners for text that changes from speaker to speaker, rather than exporting a separate static image for each name. Consult the current official instructions for applicable dimensions, file formats, and limits: OBS overlay guide and lower-thirds guide.
Vimeo browser production tool
Vimeo’s Help Center says lower thirds are available when producing through its in-browser studio using “Stream through your browser.” Its documented workflow is to create graphics, add them to scenes, edit speaker name and title fields, then choose Show or Hide on the stage. The article states that access requires an Advanced or Premium plan, or an Enterprise plan with the Events feature added; confirm current availability before relying on those entitlements. See Vimeo’s lower-thirds instructions.
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The vMix User Guide describes creating title and lower-third templates with GT Designer, adding a template through Add Input → Title, and using overlay-channel buttons to transition it in and out. The guide says animation support is available in the 4K and Pro editions, except included built-in GT templates, which work in all editions. Check the current edition details and template workflow in the vMix User Guide.
Browser-source services and optional controls
StreamSlayers documents adding its graphic as a Browser source at 1920×1080 and controlling it through its interface. It describes a Stream Deck plugin as optional: a physical control surface can cue graphics, but it is not needed to create a lower third or use the basic OBS Image-source method. See StreamSlayers’ OBS browser-source guide.
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Test and troubleshoot before going live
- The graphic is hidden behind the video: Move its source above the camera or video source in the OBS Sources list.
- The graphic has a solid box instead of a transparent background: Check that you selected a PNG exported with transparency enabled and that the file itself has transparent areas.
- The lower third is cropped or misplaced: Reposition and resize it in the preview, then check against the actual output resolution. Do not assume dimensions documented for one service apply to another.
- The text is hard to read: Shorten it, increase contrast, and preview it at the final stream size.
- The name does not update when the speaker changes: A static image will not update by itself. Replace or edit the asset, use a separate text workflow, or choose a graphic feature with live-editable fields.
- You cannot find the graphic’s on-air control: Determine whether the workflow uses OBS source visibility, a provider’s control page, a studio overlay panel, or a vMix overlay channel, then rehearse that exact action.
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