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How to Use Custom Layouts in a Live Stream

Build a viewer-facing live stream layout by creating scenes, adding sources, and arranging their position and layering. Learn when Streamlabs Layout Editor changes only the software workspace.
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To create a custom layout that viewers see, arrange scenes and sources in streaming software such as OBS Studio: add the game, camera, images, text, or other elements you need, then position and layer them in the preview. One naming distinction matters: Streamlabs Desktop’s Layout Editor changes the arrangement of panels in the software workspace; it does not, by itself, compose the broadcast viewers see.

What “custom layout” means in streaming software

A viewer-facing layout is the composition of elements in your stream: for example, gameplay with a webcam inset, a title card, or a break screen. In OBS Studio, a scene is an arrangement of sources. A source is an item in that arrangement, such as a game capture, webcam, image, text, or browser overlay.

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Streamlabs Desktop uses similar scene and source concepts for broadcast content, but its Layout Editor serves a different purpose: it rearranges components of the application workspace for the operator. Choose the editor that matches what you want to change.

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Goal What to use
Change what viewers see Build or edit broadcast scenes and their sources.
Change where controls and panels appear in Streamlabs Desktop Use Editor > Layout Editor. This changes the software workspace, not the broadcast composition.

Build a viewer-facing layout in OBS Studio

1. Create a scene for each distinct segment

In OBS, create a scene for each arrangement you need—for example, a welcome screen, gameplay, a break, or an ending. Give each scene a clear name so you can identify it quickly while streaming. A scene is a useful way to switch between complete arrangements without rebuilding the composition each time.

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2. Add the sources that belong in the scene

Select the scene, then use the plus (+) button in the Sources dock to add items. OBS’s source guide lists audio, browser, display, game, image, media, text, video capture, and window capture sources. The available capture sources depend in part on your operating system, so a particular capture option may not appear or work the same way on every computer.

For a gameplay scene with a camera inset, for example, add a game capture source and a video capture source for the webcam. Add only the elements needed for that scene; you can use a separate scene for a title card or break screen.

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3. Position, resize, and layer the elements

Use the preview to arrange sources. Drag a source to move it, and drag its bounding box to resize it. The order of sources in the list controls their layering: a source higher in the list appears in front of sources below it, and may cover them. To put a webcam over gameplay, place the webcam above the game source in the list.

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Use a source’s visibility control to hide or show it when needed. If you need to crop a source, the OBS overview describes holding Alt while dragging an edge of its bounding box. Shortcuts can vary by version or interface changes; if Alt-drag does not behave as expected, check the current OBS interface and documentation.

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4. Prepare changes safely with Studio Mode

Studio Mode separates the scene you are editing from the scene currently on the live output. Prepare the next arrangement in Preview, then use the transition control to send it to the live view. This lets you adjust or switch scenes without immediately changing what viewers see.

5. Test the full scene and stream flow

Before your first broadcast, check that each scene contains the right sources, that important elements are visible and layered correctly, and that switching scenes behaves as intended. OBS’s Overview Guide strongly recommends testing everything as thoroughly as possible before starting a first live stream. This is a recommendation from its documentation, not a claim that any particular setup has been tested here.

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Use Streamlabs Desktop for overlays or workspace changes

To build broadcast scenes and add an overlay

Streamlabs’ overlay instructions describe creating a scene collection, adding the scenes you need—examples include Starting Soon, Live, and BRB—and adding image files under Sources as overlay elements. Streamlabs also documents installing overlays with its OBS plugin or importing a Streamlabs scene collection into OBS. Plugin behavior and interface details can change, so check the current Streamlabs support instructions for your installed version before following a plugin or import workflow.

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To rearrange the Streamlabs Desktop workspace

  1. Open Editor > Layout Editor.
  2. Add or select a layout, then choose a style.
  3. Drag components into position and resize sections as needed.
  4. Save the layout.

These steps reorganize the application’s panels and components. They do not add or reposition elements in the viewer-facing scene.

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Choose the workflow for your setup

  • You want to compose the broadcast: work with scenes and sources, then arrange and layer them in the preview.
  • You need specific capture sources: check which capture types your operating system and software version support.
  • You want to preview a scene before it appears live: use OBS Studio Mode to prepare it in Preview and then transition it to the live output.
  • You only want a more convenient Streamlabs workspace: use Layout Editor; it changes the operator’s interface rather than the stream.

The official documentation reviewed explains these workflows but does not establish a general performance, quality, or ease-of-use winner between OBS Studio and Streamlabs Desktop.

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Quick Recap

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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