Streaming On Twitch vs YouTube – What’s Best?

The streaming platform that you decide to broadcast on can have a HUGE impact on your success. Streaming on Twitch vs YouTube might be the difference between you hitting the big leagues instead of never being able to break through. Streamers that live stream on Twitch might have a vastly different experience to those streaming similar content on YouTube. Content creators have been flocking to both platforms in search of the high viewer numbers that both sites can generate. But what’s best for you?

Choosing a suitable platform is often the first step new streamers make before they launch into creating a Twitch channel or YouTube channel. However, some people are a bit sceptical about setting up their creative endeavours on a platform that’s going to take a chunk of your earnings. But there’s a reason that you don’t see new streamers streaming from an independent site.

If the downfall of Microsoft’s Mixer platform has taught us anything it’s that you can’t simply set up a new streaming platform and let the content creators and streamers do the rest. Although there are a few platforms out there, including Facebook Gaming, the two main guns at this point in time are Twitch TV and YouTube.

Let’s dive into streaming on Twitch vs YouTube to find out which platform could potentially catapult you to success.

Streaming on Twitch

One of the main reasons that people often consider Twitch over other live streaming services is that they’ve proven they can bring many eyeballs to your content. Unfortunately, platforms like Facebook Gaming just don’t have the same live streaming audience that Twitch has, particularly for video game streams.

Thanks to the intuitive and easy to use interface, setting up your stream on Twitch can be done in a couple of hours. But before you rush in and set up a new channel, you should keep in mind that Twitch focuses on video games. A quick look at the home page on Twitch TV will tell you that the leading Twitch streams are primarily gaming-focused.

That’s not to say that you can’t create a new channel where you live stream your baking creations. But you might not see the success that you were hoping for.

Streaming on Youtube Vs Twitch

Bringing in Viewer Numbers

One of the most popular ways that people find new streamers to watch (apart from the featured homepage streamers) is through searching through popular games that they want to see gameplay of. So chances are if you’re streaming a particular game that has garnered a lot of interest, there’s probably a large number of people playing the same game.

That’s the catch. The allure of more potential viewers often makes people forget that you’ll have intense competition too. Whereas, if you stream a relatively unknown game, the average number of viewers will be lower, but your chances of being the top streamer for that game are much higher. It’s all about finding that sweet spot in streaming the content that you’re interested in as well as what other Twitch users want to see.

Streaming on YouTube

Although there is a YouTube Gaming section, the platform itself is more encouraging of all types of content (not just video games). Having said that, live streams of popular games are still some of the most-watched channels on the platform. YouTube Gaming used to have its own separate app, but it now lives on the main platform itself, making it easier for the millions of people watching YouTube to find your live stream.

One benefit over Twitch is that the complex algorithm of YouTube can help in showcasing your live stream to different people on the platform. However, much like Twitch, it can be difficult to gain attention when you’re just starting out. Another option that YouTube offers is that you have the ability to create regular videos instead of just live streaming every day (unlike Twitch users.)

Although you might like live streaming, you can mix up your content and offer new ways of attracting viewers, by posting regular videos on your channel. Or you might have some old pre-recorded videos that are sitting on your hard drive that you’d like to get some use out of. YouTube channels offer creators to post more dynamic content in comparison to Twitch, so keep this in mind

Can You Stream on Both YouTube and Twitch?

Some people have attempted to stream on multiple platforms at once, including others such as Microsoft’s Mixer (now non-existent) and Facebook Gaming. It is possible to stream on YouTube and Twitch at the same time through a number of different external applications. Once you have everything set up in OBS then you can stream to multiple platforms at once through something like restream.io for example.

Note: Once you surpass Twitch’s affiliate program and move on to become a Twitch partner, you won’t be able to stream on multiple platforms as part of the partner program agreement.

youtube stream overlays

Let’s Talk Money – How much can you really make on both platforms?

Here are the juicy bits. Most people want to know exactly how much money you can potentially earn on each platform. Where the money goes, people will follow (and vice versa). Streaming on Twitch vs YouTube can result in varying levels of income. The good news is that both Twitch and YouTube can be quite lucrative when it comes to making ad revenue from your live streams. But there are different ways that streamers can make money from their live streams on each platform.

Twitch Streamers typically make more money on the platform when compared to YouTube or Facebook Gaming as Twitch users are more open to donate and subscribe to live streams on the platform. Whereas on YouTube, content creators have noticed that their Super Chat donations aren’t as frequent. Plus with YouTube taking a hefty 30% of these donations, many streamers are keen to set up a new channel on Twitch where they pocket their earnings from the donation systems they implement.

If you are struggling to see the growth you’re hoping for, check out our guide on how to grow a Twitch channel.

What about ad revenue?

Although donations are the best way to support creators, with many Twitch streamers and those streaming on YouTube live raking in a healthy paycheck each month, another primary revenue stream is through ad revenue. The equation is simple here. The more viewers you have, the more ad revenue you’re going to make. Many streamers find that with this numbers game, they’ll see their income increase exponentially as their stream attracts new viewers and has a higher average number of concurrent viewers.

Making the Right Choice For Your Live Stream

Don’t feel the need to rush in and start streaming straight away. Streaming on Twitch vs YouTube will be different depending on what type of streamer you are. Take the time to understand each platform before you decide on the right choice for your channel.

  1. Examine what types of content you want to be streaming and who would be interested in it.
  2. Understand where your ideal audience spends their time.
  3. Formulate a strategy around the exact value that you’re going to be providing to these viewers.

Once you’ve given all of these aspects a proper analysis, you’re ready to take the next step! If you are just starting out, make sure to check out our guide on how to start streaming.

Don’t Forget Your Overlays!

One of the most important aspects of the overall look and feel of your stream is the overlays and sounds that you have on your channel. Take a look at the range of premade overlays that we have at Streamplay Graphics, and if you’re looking for something a little more specialised, we can help you with your custom Twitch overlays too.

If you are just starting out in the world of streaming, we’d recommend that you get your hands on our Twitch Stream Packages, which have all the essentials for your stream in one affordable package.

How to Get Affiliate on Twitch – Fast Ways to Break Through

Some days it can seem like a never-ending battle to see any kind of growth in your Twitch channel. As you keep pressing to meet Affiliate status, your overall motivation may begin to dwindle. If you’re getting to that point, stop yourself right there. First, ask yourself “Am I in this for the long haul?” and “Do I actually love being a Twitch streamer?” If you answered yes to both of these, then your perseverance will serve you well. If no, well you might want to ask yourself what you’re doing streaming in the first place.

However, even if you have a passion for streaming, looking for great ways on how to grow a Twitch channel and how to get Affiliate on Twitch fast are both reasonable pathways to explore. So if you’re ready to buckle down and break through the noise of Twitch to become a successful Affiliate on your way to becoming a Twitch partner, you’ve come to the right place.

Watch out world. Twitch has got a new superstar on their hands.

Prerequisites for the Twitch Affiliate Program

Not every streamer can become an Affiliate on Twitch. Hell, you might not even want to! But if you’ve come this far, we’re going to assume that you’re looking for some kind of advice on the matter.

If you’re wanting to join the Twitch Affiliate program, you’re going to have to meet a few different prerequisites first. From a strictly analytical point of view, these are the numbers you need to be hitting before Twitch shoots through an email which that shiny invitation to the Affiliate program:

  • Acquire at least 50 followers on your channel
  • Stream for a minimum of 8 hours cumulatively
  • Stream on 7 unique days
  • Maintain an average of at least 3 concurrent viewers on your stream

Now, these might not seem like huge numbers, but there’s an extra kicker to meet before you join the other qualified streamers. These stats must all be met at the same time across the last 30 days. If you’re not sure where exactly you stand on the path to Twitch Affiliate status, you can always have a quick look by heading to your Creator Dashboard. From here you select Insights, then Achievements to see your progress on this.

If you’ve been struggling on getting these numbers up or have been finding it difficult to maintain over a 30 day period, the following tips could be worth delving into.

Building Your Brand

Building a solid brand on Twitch will mean that you can grow your community of viewers as your name becomes known on the platform. Something like this doesn’t happen overnight, but you need to set the foundations right from the start to make sure you have a focused direction you’re heading towards.

The main assets you should create as part of building your brand on the road to becoming a Twitch Affiliate are:

  1. Your name – This is a CRUCIAL first step in building a recognisable brand. Don’t just choose the first thing that pops into your head like PancakeLover56, but don’t dwell too much on this as some people get hung up for days on end trying to find the “perfect name”.
  2. Your logo – Think about what logo can help to showcase both your name and the brand that you’re hoping to portray? E.g. if you solely play horror video games on Twitch, you might want to think about using a creepy font or effect as a great way to show off your vibe and type of content.
  3. Social media accounts – These accounts will be where your viewers and potential new audience members can find you. Setting up an Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are all great places to start. Or you might have set up your own website or blog where you post regular updates and clips! You’ll be able to add updates, special clips from your live streams and post interesting content that will bring more viewers to your channel.
  4. Twitch bio – Don’t neglect your Twitch account bio and make sure to fill it out as comprehensively as you can. Include links to your social media accounts and make sure to keep it interesting, so people are always wanting to come back to your channel.

NOTE:

If you’re just starting out, take a look at our guide on how to start streaming before reading any further.

Choosing Your Stream Schedule

One of the key parts of the Twitch Affiliate prerequisites that many streamers find hard to achieve is the average of 3 concurrent viewers in the last 30 days. Making sure that you have a consistent stream schedule that you’ve communicated properly with your audience can help to ensure that you get those numbers on your channel on a consistent basis. Finding the time to get this right can make all the difference.

If possible, adjust your schedule based on peak viewing times and keep an eye on when you get the most viewers on your stream. Having a consistent schedule will also allow you to easily hit the “stream on 7 unique days” prerequisite too.

Professional Graphics For Your Stream

Twitch is very much a visual platform. Although the subject of your stream or the video games that you’re playing are both super important, the overall production quality matters just as much. This doesn’t mean you have to create crazy custom animated sequences to fit into every stream you do (although that’s not a bad idea), but you should think about what graphics you can add.

For example, implementing animated Twitch overlays that align with the game that you’re playing can be a big addition. Not only will this look immersive and on-brand with the game and your channel, but you’ll also be giving more people a reason to watch your stream or click through to your channel when they see a thumbnail pop up on Twitch.

Benefits of Becoming an Affiliate

The major benefit of reaching Twitch affiliate status is that you’ll be able to start getting some cash rolling through from streaming. By adding advertisements to your channel, you’ll join the ranks of other qualified streamers who are getting ad revenue from their live streams. You’ll also have the ability to gain bits and channel subscriptions, all your hard work can finally start seeing some money.

As a bonus, you’ll also be able to add a max of 5 emotes to your channel as those subscriptions start coming through. This is a great way to show your community just how much they mean to you. The people that visit your live stream are what create growth for you, so don’t forget to always be providing value to the people that support you.

Level Up With Streamplay

Looking for how to get Affiliate on Twitch fast doesn’t have to be a long and strenuous process. Now that you know your gameplan as a streamer, you can move forward with purpose and before long you’ll be close to becoming a Twitch Partner!!

If you’re wanting to get started on your journey, or perhaps hit the refresh button on your channel, take a look at the range of animated stream overlays, Twitch panels, Twitch alert sounds and the rest of the top quality assets that Streamplay has on offer.

Trust us when we say, you’ll be smashing your streaming goals before you know it. More and more people will be coming to your Twitch account to see a rising star in action!

Do You Really Need A Streaming PC?

do you need a streaming pc

A top of the line PC can be a real game-changer. From those who constantly have 10 CPU hungry applications open at once, to those hardcore gamers who want to max out the graphics on their PC, everyone can benefit from an efficient PC. For those that are in the Twitch streaming space and truly value quality every time they click that broadcast button, then the question of “do you need a streaming PC” becomes glaringly obvious. But let’s face it, not everyone has the cash flow to justify buying a dedicated streaming PC. 

So that leaves the question, is it going to be a worthwhile investment for you, or are you simply throwing your money at the wall? 

What platform are you gaming on?

Now of course not every stream is gaming-oriented, but we’re going to assume that the vast majority of people reading this are streaming gameplay of some form or another. If not, let us know! We promise to make it up to you with our free Twitch overlays, which you can flaunt on your next live stream. 

Consoles

The first thing to consider is what platform you’re gaming on. Are you a console gamer, playing on Xbox, Playstation or Nintendo Switch? If you are streaming off one of these platforms and want full control to your stream, including the ability to add custom Twitch overlays to your stream, then you 100% need a streaming PC.

Streaming internally from your console is possible, but if you’re wanting to take your stream up a notch, you’ll be significantly limiting yourself by doing so. However, if you’re not wanting to really push your stream, then don’t waste your time and money. Continue on the path that leaves you happy! 

PC

If you’re already gaming on your PC, the choice is a little more complicated. Although you won’t necessarily need another dedicated PC, it will almost certainly be beneficial to help the quality of your stream. But if you’re already rocking a top-quality gaming computer that doesn’t give you any issues, then you’re set!

Now if you’re still picturing yourself basking in the glory of a new dedicated streaming PC and are rubbing your hands together at the possibilities, then let’s keep going. Otherwise, if you’re happy with your current PC setup, skip ahead to the section of prioritising the look and feel of your stream.

Reaping the benefits of a dedicated streaming PC

So if you’re still tossing up whether or not it’s worth you splashing out the cash for a dual PC setup, let’s look at some of the benefits that it can create for your stream. 

  • One of the more obvious benefits is that the CPU on your current PC won’t be constantly overloaded. Instead of running all of the applications and windows needed to stream from one PC, you can alleviate the load from your gaming PC.
  • Video encoding takes its toll on your CPU, so having that dedicated PC for encoding will see your video quality increase on stream.
  • Having a standalone PC helps to distinguish between your console or gaming PC, allowing you to fully optimise it for its needs. This way you can focus on making that gaming PC fully set up to play all of the different games that you’re interested in playing and streaming. 
  • On the other hand, your dedicated streaming PC will be where your streaming software (such as OBS or XSplit) will live. You can have this fully set up to easily go live within a few clicks. 
  • You’ll also be able to achieve a higher image quality output to your Twitch channel or wherever you’re streaming. 

How much does a streaming PC cost?

This is another difficult question to answer as it really depends on how much money you’re willing to spend. If you’ve got a decent PC already, then you might need to put as much cash into your other dedicated streaming PC. You also should decide whether you want to build your PC from scratch or buy a fully kitted PC ready to go straight out of the box. 

Building a PC

Building a world-class PC from scratch could see the price tag jump up to as much as $4,000 (with the inclusion of a high-end intel core, incredible graphics card etc.). But, if you don’t think you’ll make full use of the potential of those top-end beasts, you could spend around $1,500 for still quite a high-quality PC build.

Again, you need to consider what you’ll be using the PC for. If you’re wanting to play the latest games with maxed out settings, you’re going to need a PC that can match your dreams and not sputter along at a snail’s pace. 

Prebuilt Gaming PC   

Prebuilt gaming PCs are obviously more convenient in a number of ways. If you’re not super technically savvy and want to be able to jump into using your PC as soon as you get it, then a prebuilt gaming PC is the way to go. 

If you are on a tight budget and are looking for more of an entry-level PC, there are a few decent options to check out, which will set you back around $1,250 – $1,500. The problem with going under $1,000 is that you’ll want to be upgrading before long. So you may as well fork out the extra money to make the investment in your prebuilt gaming PC worthwhile. 

Prioritising the look and feel of your stream

Before you think about buying a standalone PC, think about what you can be doing to boost the look and feel of your stream. If you’re wanting to add in custom overlays and you’re currently streaming from your console, then of course you’ll need to get yourself a streaming PC. 

But if you’re searching for ways to improve the quality of your stream and your current PC can keep up, then look at your stream setup itself. Does it look appealing and on-brand to what you’re hoping to achieve with your channel? Be honest with yourself. If you stumbled across your channel in Twitch, would you click on your stream and watch it?

Buying a dedicated PC might be a priority of yours, or it might be something that you consider investing in a few years time. Whatever your choice is, make sure that you’re doing all you can to provide your viewers with the best possible experience. The big decisions you make shouldn’t be entirely about money, as this will come later. Always keep your viewer preferences in mind and remain consistent with your stream.

Explore Streamplay

Streamplay offers a huge range of Twitch overlays, Twitch alerts and alert sounds, to help give your stream the professional look and feel that you’re searching for. If you’re looking for something to give you the edge in the streaming space and want a custom made solution, we also offer custom Twitch overlays.

All of these overlays and graphics are able to be directly added to your stream quite easily, thanks to software such as OBS. This is where that dedicated streaming PC comes in handy, particularly if you’re wanting to go all-in on your streaming career. 

Twitch Image Sizes

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Twitch Graphic Sizes Guide

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In this guide we’ll tell you all the sizes for every type of graphic you can use on your Twitch channel. Includes image sizes for your panels, offline banner, profile pic, VOD thumbnail, and profile banner!

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Twitch Offline Banner Size (Video Player Banner)

Your Twitch offline banner should be sized at 1920 x 1080 pixels. A 16:9 ratio is recommended for the video player banner for the best resolution.

Maximum file size is 10MB. And the offline banner can be in the following formats; GIF, JPEG, or PNG.

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Twitch Panel Size

Our recommended dimensions for your Twitch panel images are 320 x 100 pixels.

The maximum size you can have for your info panels is 320px wide and 300px high. Once you go larger than that, Twitch will automatically downsize to those dimensions.

Twitch panels must also be under 2.9 MB in size for each image.

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Twitch Profile Picture Size (Avatar)

For your Twitch profile pic size your dimensions should be 256 x 256 pixels.

Anything larger than that for your Twitch avatar and it’ll likely be rejected.

On one of Twitch’s older resources they say your profile picture should be a minimum of 200 x 200 pixels to ensure the highest quality, so keep that in mind when uploading an icon.

Max file size: 10MB
File types: JPEG, PNG, GIF

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Twitch Profile Banner Size (Cover Image)

Twitch recommends 1200 x 380 pixels for your profile banner size, which is also known as your Twitch cover image or Twitch header.

For their new UI update rolling out this Fall 2018, Twitch is changing the recommended size for your profile banner to 600 x 200 pixels.

Max file size: 10MB
File types: JPEG, PNG, GIF

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Twitch Thumbnail Size

When uploading a thumbnail to one of your Twitch VOD’s the thumbnail needs to be 16:9 ratio and has a maximum size of 1280 x 720 pixels.

thumbnail size for Twitch VODs[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1594964044165{padding-top: 45px !important;}”]Follow these graphic size guidelines above, and branding your Twitch channel will not only be easy but you’ll have it looking super clean in no time!

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Stuck on 3 Viewers? Here’s How to Grow A Twitch Channel in Style

As streaming content becomes more competitive, the potential to grow your Twitch stream gets a little more difficult each day. But it’s not impossible. Here’s how. 

Once you’ve set up your Twitch stream and have everything humming along nicely, the next thing you’ll want to see is that viewer counter start to tick up. The important point to remember from the start is that like growth on other platforms such as YouTube, success won’t happen overnight! Meaningful growth requires consistent work in combination with the helpful tactics that we’ll be discussing below. 

So if you’re wanting to move beyond those usual 3 viewers on every stream you broadcast, buckle up and get ready to shoot for the moon. Here’s how to grow a Twitch channel in style.

What are you bringing to the table on Twitch?

Think you can start growing your stream by just playing the same game as everyone else with a crappy webcam, terrible audio quality and projecting ZERO personality? You literally have a snowball’s chance in hell. 

Start with the basics. What are you looking to achieve on Twitch, and what type of streamer are you hoping to become? So many streamers are doing the exact same thing, so what’s your point of difference on the platform? It may sound obvious, but countless streamers forget this all-important step and wonder why they aren’t seeing any growth. 

Are you going to be known for your hardcore gameplay thanks to your amazing skills as a first-person shooter gamer? Or are you going to showcase your personality through engaging and entertaining conversation streams? Whatever it is you’re hoping for, you need to hone in on exactly who you are in order to start growing your stream.

If you’re still stuck scratching your head, just stick to these 4 simple words: 

CONTENT THAT PROVIDES VALUE

Got it? Good. Now let’s jump into the juicy bits.

twitch streamer

Once you’ve got your head around the type of streamer you want to become and the sorts of high-quality content that’s going to provide value to your audience, you’ll want to follow these strategies to set you up on your path to success. 

Take note that you don’t need to throw everything at the wall at once, but you won’t get very far if you’re just doing one of these tactics. The phrase “many hands make light work” rings true here, and you’ll eventually need to be across all of these strategies to see consistent results for your Twitch stream.

Harness The Power of Social Media 

It’s hard to grow your stream if no one knows you exist. Sure, someone might be able to find you if they scroll far enough down the page of broadcasters on Twitch, but what about people that aren’t even on the platform?

Promoting your channel on other social media platforms is key to building awareness of your stream and bringing new eyeballs to your content. Think about the places that your ideal viewers hang out in. Is it Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook or a combination of them all?

Each of these platforms provides a unique space to start sharing parts of your content to new people. When in doubt, try and cover the main bases and set up a profile on each of them. You can provide links back to your Twitch channel on these sites, so you’re directing them to where you hang out most of the time. 

twitch graphics growth

YouTube 

YouTube is a platform that you should pay particularly close attention to, as this goes hand in hand with the video content that you’re broadcasting on Twitch. 

One great feature to take advantage of is the export to YouTube function on Twitch. This makes it super easy to share out some interesting highlights or memorable moments from your latest stream straight to YouTube. From this, you’ll be making the best parts of your stream available to a much wider audience. Not to mention that many potential viewers spend hours on YouTube and you’d be shooting yourself in the foot not putting out content on this platform too. 

Making Clips 

Another element to use in Twitch is the clips feature where you can pull out certain moments from your stream. In addition to YouTube, you should spend the time to make a few quick little clips and share them across Instagram and Twitter as the raw video. This is because these platforms always prefer native video over you placing a link and sending the viewer elsewhere. 

Telling Twitch Algorithms What You’re About 

Although these complex algorithms are getting smarter over time, you often have to give them a helping hand to understand exactly what your content is about. You can do this by using relevant metadata with accurate descriptions of your video and including relevant keywords. 

This makes it easier for Twitch to move you into categories and feature your content. Don’t forget to use relevant tags for your content too. For example, if there’s an intriguing new game that you’ve been playing and think people could be searching for it, you need to include some tags around the game for your stream. 

twitch overlays stream algorithm

Listen, React & ENGAGE

Your audience is made up of valuable individuals that can help boost your stream in unimaginable ways. Listening is half the battle. Whenever you have a spare moment, you should be engaging with as many messages or encounters with your audience as possible. 

Remember that your audience isn’t passive. When they leave a comment (especially if you’ve got a relatively low number of viewers) they expect that you would directly respond to it. Interact with your audience and give them the chance to influence the direction of your stream.

Obviously, this becomes a bit harder to do as your audience grows, but you need to make the effort to show that you genuinely care about them being there and interacting with your stream. 

Upgrade Your Equipment

Although this shouldn’t be a huge priority at the beginning (as it can be a little costly) upgrading your equipment from that little webcam and old headset can result in a big boost to your stream. Buying a new HD webcam or DSLR could be a great way to up the production quality of your stream and give your stream a professional look that looks attractive to new and existing viewers alike. 

The same goes for your audio quality. Changing from a crackling old microphone attached to a headset to a professional quality microphone gives your audience better sound quality and greater clarity when listening to you speak. 

As discussed, this all depends on the budget you’re working with and you may want to wait until you have all other tactics finalised before making the investment in new equipment.

Consistency. Consistency. Consistency. 

Did we mention consistency? We cannot stress this point enough. If you’re only broadcasting on a whim every now and again, you probably won’t see your stream taking off anytime soon. Having a consistent schedule set in place where your audience knows exactly when you’ll be streaming is crucial. 

It also creates a regular group of viewers who can come back and engage with your stream consistently. Utilise the panels on Twitch to your advantage, setting our a schedule panel which you can regularly update to suit your lifestyle. However, try and commit to one specific schedule for a while as that’ll keep everyone happy. 

Likewise, if you need to take a day off, or there are certain days of the week where you only play specific video games, let your audience know.

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Add Professional Overlays & Graphics

Take a look at the home page of Twitch. Choose a few different streams at random. See any similarities between these top performers? Chances are they all use overlays for streaming, custom graphics, sound alerts and all sorts of other tantalizing elements on their stream. 

Take a moment to consider your brand and choose a Twitch overlays template to suit it. If your Twitch brand is more on the retro wave side of things, think about implementing some cool neon overlays to match. Or if you solely play a specific game, like PUBG for example, you could go for PUBG stream overlays or a military stream overlay package.

Whatever you’re wanting for your stream, take a look at the range of custom Twitch overlays and alert sounds that Streamplay Graphics & Sounds provide. Feel free to reach out to us in regards to a custom solution to perfectly match your stream and help you create a professional and polished Twitch channel. 

All good things take time. 

We hope that these little tips will help you as you look to grow your Twitch channel. Remember that all good things take time and will need some serious effort from your behalf. Work on growing your Twitch stream authentically, and don’t compromise on your vision just to get a few more eyeballs on your content. Let your personality shine through and watch those viewers start to trickle in as you implement these tactics for your stream. 

Happy streaming!

Everything You Need To Know To Start Streaming in 2021!

What is Streaming?

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Have you ever wanted to earn a living playing video games while sharing your experiences with a community? Ever wondered how many other people have the same passion for gaming that you do? Through the power of live streaming you can share your gaming and entertainment with the world. Streaming might seem hard at first, but it’s a lot easier to get into than you might think. Today, we’re going to break down exactly what it takes to start streaming in 2021

Streaming is a relatively new concept, as it’s only been in the last decade or so that the technology and internet speeds required have become widely available. While it might not be old, streaming is already huge – and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down.

In the short time since its inception, streaming has surged ahead to become one of the most hotly consumed entertainment mediums, with top platforms such as Twitch claiming a huge stake of online entertainment with over 55 million monthly active users – and there’s more than just Twitch. 

If you have a passion to create entertaining content and have a dream to play games for a living then live streaming is for you. It’s never been easier to get into the game either, with global events sparking a shift towards people looking for content online, and turning to video games more and more, both the playing and watching. 

What Platform Should You Stream On?

The world of streaming has been gaining traction incredibly quickly since it first began, but recently that’s seriously escalated. A number of big companies, such as Amazon, Google and Facebook have all thrown their hat into the ring with platforms such as Twitch, YouTube Live & Facebook Gaming. 

But with all these players getting involved, there’s chaos in the streaming industry. Platforms are starting and growing, then shutting down, leaving millions of fans displaced from their usual platform of choice and hungry for new creators to follow and watch. 

Most Popular Streaming Platforms in 2021

So you’re ready, you’re raring to go. The first thing to do is pick a platform, download the necessary software and get going right? Well, you‘ve gotta think about which streaming platform you’re going to focus on. There are a variety of options to choose from and each has its own benefits. 

Right now, the most dominant platforms are Twitch, owned by Amazon, YouTube, owned by Google, Facebook Gaming, owned by… Facebook, and a relative newcomer to the scene, DLive. 

Facebook Gaming

facebook stream overlaysConsidering its premier position as one of the biggest social networks on the internet, and of the modern world’s internet giants, it’s no surprise that Facebook would eventually unveil a streaming platform of its own. However, Facebook Gaming came with a huge inherent advantage, a monstrous platform and tried and tested web-environment, with billions of monthly active users. 

But is it a good streaming platform?

It’s a great choice if you have a large friend group on Facebook, as that free advertising is your main advantage with this choice and can be enough to give your streaming career a head start. Facebook is primarily full of users that check their newsfeed, notifications and pop-ups regularly. Most of these people are on mobile, and Facebook Gaming is still more suited to mobile gaming. However, this means that friends, family and everyone else on your list will get a relevant notification- and curiosity gets the better of us all, so you’ll gain a small audience interested in what you’re doing, which in turn will attract more people!

Youtube Gaming/Live

youtube stream overlaysYouTube gaming was the first of the big giants to get into the gaming live streaming contest, with their official service launching in 2015. Similar to Facebook, YouTube entered the game with a significant advantage, that being an already established footing and internet presence, a solid, tried and tested web-environment and a veritable army of creators and viewers. 

YouTube gaming blurs the line between streaming and static content, allowing viewers to easily transition between the two, and consume both forms of content as they choose. With previous streams staying available and a comprehensive account system alerting viewers of when you’re scheduled to go live, there are many great arguments to choose YouTube gaming. 

What makes YouTube an even more enticing choice is that after you finish your stream, you can still gain revenue by having your live stream posted to your Youtube channel. Top this off with streamlined Google Ads integrations and channel monetisation and you’re looking at a seriously achievable way to take gaming full-time. 

Twitch.TV

twitch stream overlaysTwitch is easily the most famous live streaming website currently on the internet. The first and the greatest, it grew from the original streaming platform Justin.tv in the early 2010s. The benefits of Twitch are pretty obvious, with the biggest names in streaming and the highest viewership counts, it’s hard to look past. However, the competition on Twitch is fierce, as for many streamers, making the front page on Twitch is considered ‘making it’. 

Acquired by Amazon in 2014 for just shy of a billion USD, Twitch has become synonymous with streaming, and remains firmly at the top of the streaming ladder. Not just live gaming anymore either, Twitch has evolved to host virtually every form of video content available, with the category ‘Just Chatting’ often claiming one of the highest viewership counts on the platform. 

Short of becoming renowned as a professional esports player on an established team, popularity on Twitch is one of the best ways to start growing a name in the live gaming scene, but it can also be hard without a solid strategy and the right tools. 

DLive

dlive stream overlaysThe newest, and one of the most interesting streaming platforms around. DLive is being personally backed by a few very popular internet influencers, such as Pewdiepie. DLive is one of the best chances to gain popularity in the current landscape, as there’s a solid chance of this platform really taking off soon. Coupled with the shutdown of Mixer, the birth of DLive and their recent signing of big names means there’s a golden opportunity for creators willing to seize it. People are curious, and there are huge, displaced audiences looking for their next favourite streamer. 

DLive as a blockchain platform

On an interesting note, and definitely something to consider, is DLive’s technical side. The software itself is built on blockchain technology, with both the servers and systems operating (as of July 2020) on the TRON network. Both creators and viewers are rewarded with TRON’s coin, TRX. This blockchain basis is part of DLive’s strong brand promise of giving all the revenue generated to creators and viewers.

While what that means for the future of gaming, and the future of live streaming isn’t clear, it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.  

But how do you actually earn a living playing video games and streaming?

With each of the streaming platforms we’ve mentioned here, there are a few different ways to earn a living. The most obvious is an advertising partnership with the platform itself. Once you’ve amassed a certain number of followers and racked up viewing time that clears the requirements, you can partner with the platform. This will allow you to monetize your content, through advertising revenue but also through donations and subscriptions from your audience. 

But advertising and donations, while the majority of your income, aren’t the only ways to monetize your entertainment value. Affiliate marketing is also hugely profitable, partner with companies like Amazon and G-Fuel to name a few, and earn a commission every time one of your followers makes a purchase using your affiliate link or discount code. 

Maybe the hardest to attain, yet most lucrative, is an exclusivity deal with one of the platforms themself. If you’re a high profile streamer with a massive fanbase, many platforms will approach you with an exclusivity deal. Meaning, you agree to only stream on their platform in exchange for an often ridiculous cash package. 

What hardware do I need to stream in 2021?

gaming console pc set up

Outside of the gaming console or PC of your choice, to stream your games and run an overlay, you need a strong CPU, decent internet and a good graphics card. That’s the basic rundown, but let’s go a little more in depth. When streaming your screen, as well as other important features like overlays, your CPU is your main driving force that keeps everything running smoothly. If your CPU is old or just isn’t strong enough, your whole livestream could end up suffering, with problems like frame drops, thermal throttling or even just straight up crashes. 

When looking for a good cpu, you need something with great rendering capabilities. Some big CPU manufacturers that deliver this are Intel and AMD. AMD’s Ryzen 5 series with 6+ cores would be the most affordable choice to keep your stream running without any problems. 

Some broadcasting softwares, like Streamlabs OBS, allow for GPU acceleration- meaning that some of the rendering is passed over to your graphics card.

If your computer might be a bit slow or really old, don’t despair just yet; there is another potential workaround. As long as your current computer or console can handle all the gaming, you can set up another computer and essentially ‘outsource’ the streaming. This is both a perfect option if you’re tight on cash, or just want to play really intensive games. For advanced streaming on consoles you can use a video capture card which is able to take the video from a console and send it to your computer in order to livestream with greater control.

Broadcasting software options

Now it’s time to talk about the software that’s going to stream your gaming experience to the whole world. When it comes to broadcasting software there are 2 powerhouse options available. What’s amazing about both software is that they are totally free, and are great for newcomers, veterans and full-time professionals users. Which is the best software for you? Let’s take a look. 

Streamlabs OBS

obs stream overlaysStreamlabs OBS is the most popular broadcasting software and it has earned that title for a good reason. What this program excels at is allowing you to customise your stream to your heart’s content. Most of the additions that would be hard for other programs to implement can be accomplished with just a few clicks while also giving you the option to change the designs. Just like most broadcasting software, this program is completely free and is great for people who are starting out. Streamlabs is different from most broadcasting software as it gives you the option to stream to multiple platforms.

XSplit

xsplit stream overlaysXSplit has had its foot in the broadcasting software department for a long time and has gained a fan-base. XSplit is like Streamlabs with a large amount of customisation but steps away from Streamlabs by the use of innovation. Something to note about XSplit is that there is an upgrade option which costs money but there is also a free variant so it’s still a good option. XSplit is full of great utility and extra features that are unique to it. For example, a part of the XSplit program can use AI to remove the background around you without you needing the use of a greenscreen.

Building your brand with stream overlays

In the streaming world, being a great, entertaining streaming with a talent for video games is no longer enough. Gone are the days of raw, amateur streaming that got fans excited and eventually grew into multi-million dollar entertainment brands. Now, you have to start with a brand. Fans need to feel like you’re the real deal, and a big part of that is perception. If an audience sees your stream with clean, professional graphics and a defined brand, next to an uninteresting, ‘homemade’ streamer’s preview, guess who they’ll choose to watch? 

Enter Streaming Overlays, or  Twitch overlays as they’re so often referred to. Overlays, a major part of the streaming business, have helped many different professional streamers gain the audience they needed so that they could quit their job and switch to streaming full-time. So what is an overlay?

An overlay is as the name suggests, an overlaying design that is a combination of static and dynamic graphics that act as unique borders and animations for your stream. They’re used to transform the game’s HUD, make your webcam more than a floating head and provide you with attractive images to use for events like donations, new followers and more. The best stream overlay packages will also include custom sounds to signal and amplify stream events. 

These overlays don’t appear directly on your screen, but instead are only visible on your viewers screens as well as your broadcasting software. So how will overlays help enhance your streaming experience and seperate yourself from the others? 

Stand out from the crowd with Stream Overlays

When streaming, there is a good chance that other people are already streaming the same game that you are playing. The trick to separate yourself from other streamers is to have eye-catching visuals that will reel them in, and a personality that will make them want to stay. A person that is browsing a streaming platform is given many different thumbnails that are just still images of the stream. Having an overlay that sits on the front of your stream and is eye-catching, different from others constantly displayed will make your live stream their most likely choice.

On top of just drawing people in and creating your own brand of online entertainment, stream overlays and stream sounds will also keep your viewers and community engaged. It turns the stream from just live-action gameplay to an interactive, fun environment and community. Delivering both entertainment and a sense of community will keep your viewers coming back time and time again. 

Your overlay is the foundation of your brand

The streaming journey starts with a brand and can play a huge part in your success. Ninja wasn’t signed by Mixer, then YouTube purely because of his gameplay, but because of his brand. There’s a reason some of the biggest names in streaming aren’t pro players, it’s not their skill that matters. Ninja’s blue hair? That’s not just a fashion choice, but a constantly evolving of his unique entertainment brand. Your brand is very important in the streaming community as it shows what kind of person you are, what kind of impression you want to give and defines the experience you deliver. And of course, the bigger the community you have the more you’ll get noticed by streaming platforms and the greater your chance of signing a ridiculous deal and making it in the online entertainment world. 

When you have a large enough brand plus a large committed following, the streaming platform companies will give you a partnership deal. Some companies have requirements laid out while others might hide the information, so it’s important to pick the platform that’s best for you. When you are partnered you can start playing ads- one of the main methods of earning revenue. Most platforms offer other ways of earning revenue like donations, subscriptions, and once you grow a large community it’s likely this will be a great source of income. Creating your brand and a dedicated community all starts with an overlay.

Custom Overlays vs Premade Overlays

Now comes the important question that you should ask yourself, do you go with a premade overlay or a custom one? Both are fantastic options, but they’re definitely suited for different stages in your streaming journey. If you’re ready to commit all the way, and know what sort of brand you’re trying to create, a custom overlay is the best choice. But for new streamers, and streamers that are more focussed on just getting in and creating content, a premium premade overlay is just the ticket. 

Premade overlays can be a lifesaver for those who want to start fast. Creating a custom overlay takes time, and when you consider that the earlier you start streaming, the faster you can grow an audience and get paid- there’s no time to waste. Often, a well-built premade overlay package will do everything you need it to, and be perfectly capable of meeting your demands. Most premade overlays are top-shelf designs, tweaked and analyzed to attract and retain an audience. A great stream overlay designer will generally be more than happy to include minor customizations and tweaks to make the premade overlay suit you perfectly. 

Custom overlays are the go-to option if you really want to create your own individual brand, and have complete control over every aspect. Custom stream overlays really do give you complete freedom to build exactly the brand you want to, and tweak every part so it’s just right. A custom overlay package can also really set you apart from the crowd, and once you’re growing and starting to gain real traction it’s definitely a worthy investment. 

Get active in the community

One thing that the internet does well is it allows people with similar interests to create a community where they can chat, collaborate and discuss popular topics. Streaming has its own amazing community full of people who are ready to help fix problems or know some tricks about how you can boost your stream quality and entertainment value. These groups can be found in many different places but some of the best are Reddit, Facebook and Discord, but don’t be quick to discount YouTube’s community and turn to ready videos to answer problems and quick tips. 

Gaming has been on the rise for decades and shows no signs of stopping with an ever-evolving competitive scene and a huge community.  People want to watch gamers who are funny, helpful and good at the games they play, and that’s an audience of millions. If you’re serious about climbing the ranks you need to get serious, because that audience of millions has attracted an equally huge number of hopeful streamers. There’s no better time than the present to finally take the plunge into professional live streaming. 

Streaming of both video games and other interests is a past-time and an entertainment of choice for millions of people and is still on the take-over. With the potential to earn large amounts of money while gaming with people who share your passion, there is no reason you shouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity. 

All it takes is choosing a game, platform and broadcasting software, picking an overlay package and getting started. What are you waiting for?

See How This Streamer Grew Their Twitch Stream With Custom Overlays

Growing your Twitch stream from those first lonely days of 0 viewers to a broad and engaged audience is not as simple as getting behind a webcam and playing the most popular game on the market. Just like how up and coming YouTubers struggle to break through the sea of content that is constantly expanding on the platform, new Twitch streamers need to be doing all they can to draw attention to their stream. The top streamers on Twitch take up the majority of the viewers who flock to the platform, so how do you get eyeballs on YOUR content?

One such way that can immediately add value to your stream is by adding in custom overlays, other added graphics and Twitch alert sounds. In the case of CJPAT (an Australian Twitch streamer), this was a natural progression for his stream. The big plus was that he saw some seriously positive results once he jumped on his next stream with all the bells and whistles now in place.

Here’s how Cjpat grew his stream and is now just a whisker away from becoming an affiliate on Twitch. 

The rise of a Twitch streamer 

Starting out as most people do, Chris Paterniti (or CJPAT as he’s known on Twitch) had a love for video games and decided to give the world of streaming a crack. Having only been streaming for 4 months now, Cjpat started streaming internally through his Playstation. But as time progressed, he realised that if he was going to give himself the best chance on Twitch, he’d need to make the switch to a streaming PC to get everything set up on.

Although the Twitch platform tends to be dominated by US streamers, CJPAT found that it’s actually a nice environment being an Aussie on Twitch. He’s found that other Australians tend to help each other out and there seems to be a tightknit community that has embraced him.

This is definitely an important part of finding your path through the scary and unpredictable world of Twitch, as having a support group and community can make all the difference in those initial few months. 

CJPat stream overlay

Deciding on the right game 

There’s no “right” answer for deciding on what game to stream, as there’s not one game that will skyrocket you to success. CJPAT exclusively plays the Warzone game mode of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, having been a long term fan and player of the global juggernaut COD series since COD 3. 

It’s no surprise that he was hooked on Warzone from the first time he played it, with the streaming industry being dominated by battle royale game types. It was a happy marriage of CJPAT’s interests and a game that happened to be very popular amongst the viewers and top streamers on Twitch. 

Adding graphics and sounds to the stream 

Once he’d been streaming Warzone gameplay for a little while, the move to a streaming PC opened up a world of possibilities for CJPAT. He could now experiment with interesting overlays, alert sounds and more creative assets for his stream. Here’s how to add an overlay in OBS.

Here are the Streamplay products that CJPAT has added to his stream with great effect:

One of the big praises that CJPAT had for Streamplay was how easy and affordable the one-off purchases of these products were. Platforms such as Streamlabs OBS charge you on a subscription basis, so having Streamplay’s one-off purchases is a much-needed resource for up and coming streamers looking to stay thrifty with their money. 

CJPAT noticed almost a significant improvement in the growth of his stream almost immediately after implementing the overlays and alert sounds. Previously his stream was receiving a few followers here and there, with a couple of people popping in and out. Now he’s been seeing consistent growth, resulting in him doubling his followers in a few weeks. The stream production quality has had a massive boost and he’s now happy that he’s set up with what he needs to start really growing his stream. 

Check out the additions CJPAT made to his stream with the help of Streamplay Graphics & Sounds. 

Becoming an affiliate on Twitch 

With CJPAT literally days away from becoming an affiliate (most likely has already hit the requirements since this blog has been posted!) let’s have a look at what you need to do to become an affiliate on Twitch. 

The road to becoming an affiliate can be filled with lots of potholes and roundabouts, so it’s important to stay patient and focused as you make your way up the ranks. Quite simply the minimum requirements to achieve the Twitch affiliate status are: 

  1. Broadcast at least 500 total minutes in the past 30 days. 
  2. Stream on 7 unique broadcast days in the past 30 days. 
  3. Achieve an average of at least 3 concurrent viewers in the past 30 days. 
  4. Reach at least 50 followers. 

CJPAT explained that by far the most difficult criteria to fulfil is reaching at least 3 concurrent viewers in the past 30 days. So what becomes even more important is once you’ve attracted the audience, how do you get them to stay? This is where your overall personality, gameplay and production quality of the stream all come into play and will influence whether someone deems your stream as entertaining or not.

Advice to up and coming streamers

Still considered a toddler finding his feet on the platform, CJPAT recommends that other up and coming streamers always engage with their audience. As the key to building a true community, you’ll want to show yourself on camera, interact with your viewers and make them feel welcome if they start watching your stream. 

Cjpat encourages others who are looking to get into streaming and offers this bit of advice: 

“Don’t spend a bunch of money if you don’t need to, but get yourself a decent setup and build up slowly from there. As long as your intentions for streaming are pure and you aren’t just looking for a quick money grab, you’ll be laying the foundations for a solid stream.”
See our guide on how to start streaming for everything you need to know to get involved in the streaming space. If you’re already set up and ready to grow your Twitch stream today, have a look through our diverse selection of affordable Twitch overlays, graphics and sounds. Trust us, you’re gonna find something that matches your stream, and if you don’t, we’re happy to customise some to suit your needs!

How to Use a Green Screen to Take your Streaming to the Next Level

Content creation is always changing. We started with 480p videos on YouTube of just gameplay. Now, we have 4K livestreams of gameplay with animated and dynamic overlays, elaborate gaming setups, and full-on green screen productions that take the creator to a whole new world. People like Dr. DisRespect and PayMoneyWubby have evolved what can be done with a green screen streaming setup. Doc can make you feel like you are driving along next to his Lamborghini Aventador on your way to the Arena. PayMoneyWubby uses green screens to meme and change his scenery on every stream.

webaround green screen

Many people think that green screens are a hassle to set up, but just like the evolution of content, green screens have also evolved. You aren’t forced to give up space for a bulky green screen setup or iron out the sheet after every use. There are green screen streaming products that attach to the back of any chair. Adding a green screen to your content has never been easier. It can exponentially improve the quality of your stream by allowing you to create worlds you can enter, or even just providing some additional space for the gameplay to show. We are going to show you exactly how to get started with a green screen in your streaming setup and how to take your streams to the next level. Let’s jump right into it!

Why Use a Green Screen?

Creators like TimTheTatman, Cloakzy, Ninja, and Dr. Lupo don’t use green screens and are insanely popular. So why should you bother using a green screen in your setup if they don’t? The answer is simple. Those creators started at a time where content was new. They were able to carve out an audience when content creation was more simplistic. Therefore, they don’t need to stand out amongst the crowd because they already have. However, as a new creator, you have to find a way to be unique when every other creator is doing the same thing. Using a green screen in your content is a way to set yourself out amongst the thousands of other creators on the platform.

If your goal is to grow on Twitch, you need to do everything possible to be as unique as you can. Having quality stream overlays is a great start. But you need to also find ways to stand out from the rest of the 3 million active monthly creators. If you aren’t, you’ll be lost in the noise. That isn’t to say that you can’t grow on Twitch with your personality alone, because you can. But being unique is a much easier approach.

(Full display of green screen capabilities)

People see webcam overlays and camera views all the time, so they will probably click off your streams or content if they know they are getting the same old content. However, you’d be hard pressed to find a creator who is utilizing a green screen setup in a unique way that is engaging to the audience. It’s new and exciting, which provides the viewer a new experience they can’t get anywhere else. Therefore, it gives you that slight edge when a new viewer comes in to potentially grab them and turn them into a follower. 

What Green Screen Should I Buy?

Picking out the correct green screen for your stream depends on the look of your stream, the limitations of your setup, and your budget. The Twitch overlay size you are using is a good start in figuring out the size of the green screen you’ll need for your setup. If the overlay you are using is small, you won’t need a gigantic setup. If you don’t have a lot of room, you’ll probably want to focus on green screen streaming tools like The Webaround green screen. The Webaround is a portable green screen streaming solution that attaches to the back of almost any chair. The setup and takedown takes just 5 seconds and you are good to go. 

webaround green screen

Green screen setups like this are nice for creators who are limited in the overall streaming space they have. You are able to implement a green screen into your setup with little intrusion to your overall setup. From that point, you are able to easily chroma key your background out and place yourself anywhere. With this type of setup, you’d be limited to camera views of you sitting down or from the torso and up, so keep in mind the type of content you want to do within your green screen streaming setup.

If you have room to move around within your streaming setup, a permanent green screen solution might be just what you need, especially if you want to do more complex green screen techniques. Larger green screen setups allow you to take your production value up even more. While they do take a little more time and space to work correctly, you are able to show your entire body and perform more movement. This further drives home the illusion that you are somewhere that you actually aren’t.

Green screen streaming setups can be pricey, especially for the permanent or semi-permanent structures. That is why it is critical to look at budget and space to decide what is right for you. Individuals like Dr.DisRespect have a room dedicated to a green screen so he can show himself working out in the Arena gym without him clipping out and breaking the illusion. Creators like PayMoneyWubby are doing simplistic background changes, so he doesn’t necessarily need a huge setup. Take a look at the content you are wanting to create with a green screen and that will help guide you to the size and budget you’ll need.

How to Use a Green Screen

The best part about a green screen streaming setup is that the sky’s the limit for what you can do with it. The games that you play and the content you produce are going to be factors into how to best use the green screen in your streaming setup. However, the main key is immersion. You want the audience to feel that you are somewhere, when you are obviously just at your desk. We have created a couple ideas for different genres that will help kickstart the creative juices and give you some framework to use when thinking about your own content.

green screen setup

First Person Shooters

Watching an FPS title is fun, until the lobby comes and the creator is just talking for 2 minutes while it loads the next map with the same static images. Instead of just keeping the stream in the lobby, consider creating a scene that is an armory. With the help of some toy guns for added immersion, you can discuss the previous maps results like you are an army general. Or walk around the armory and decide what weapon you are going to use in the next map. The audience will enjoy the entertaining commentary and the lobby will fly by in a breeze getting you right back into the gameplay.

MMORPG

Games like World of Warcraft are great because of the extensive lore and storylines that exist within that universe. You could create a livestream that goes over those storylines and use the green screen setup to enhance the delivery of that. Create a scene where you are around a fire and you can use edited video and images to talk about the specific storyline or lore piece that you want. You will immerse your audience much more into that story than if you were just jumping around the main city on your horse and talking about it.

Racing / Flight / Simulator Games

Racing, Flight, and Simulator games are one of the easiest ways to implement a green screen because you don’t have to do much. For example, on a Flight simulator game, create a scene that shows you in the cockpit or maybe create a small video that shows you as a passenger. It’d be hilarious to secretly flip to that scene and the audience sees you sitting in a seat as you shift to the cabin view. This is a great example of using your green screen setup to create video content that can enhance your streams as well.

Just Chatting

If you are frequently in the Just Chatting section, you have a lot of opportunities to use your green screen to engage with your audience. The goal of Just Chatting is to talk directly with your viewers about topics or things that are on your mind. Rather than just having your plain old background showing, use a green screen to put yourself in a new place. Better yet, you can have your audience vote on where you are “traveling” today and put a video or picture behind you when talking to them. You can also use a green screen to put video/images up in the background that visually represent the topic you are discussing. It can help with context or understanding. 

green screen just chatting
Credit: The Loadout

General Games

While it’s impossible to go over every genre of game and talk about how to integrate a green screen streaming setup into it, there are some general ideas you can use for just about any game. Create a scene that is in that specific world. For example, if you play Phasmophobia a lot, you can create a scene where the background is the surveillance truck and you are sitting in the chair there. You can use the green screen and that scene while you are waiting for another game to start. Or if you play GTA, maybe have a background of Los Santos and talk about what you are going to do in the city that stream. The possibilities for any game are endless, you just need to use your imagination and keep immersion as your goal!

As you can see, there are a ton of amazing things that you can do with a green screen streaming setup. Not only is it fun to use, but you significantly increase the quality of your stream in the process. You took a pretty general idea of live streaming video games while talking about it and made it an actual show. Green screens provide an engaging experience for your audience and keep them coming back wanting to see what you’ll do next with it. If you want to grow on any platform and create a unique experience for any viewer, take a look at adding a green screen to your streaming setup. You won’t regret it.

How to Stream your PS4 on Twitch with Overlays and Stream Graphics

If you have an inspiration to stream, own a PS4, and want to do it right, then everything you need to know will be covered below. Thankfully for those dedicated to their consoles and want to stream PS4 on twitch with overlay, there is an easy workaround that costs nothing at all and takes little to no time to set up. If you are unsure about all of the information surrounding other parts of setting up your stream, be sure to check out our how to start streaming so that you can combine its knowledge with what you have learnt here.

twitch stream graphics overlay

Streaming Directly From The PS4 Limits Your Potential

Streaming directly from your PS4 isn’t an option you should consider thanks to its inability to provide an amazing viewing experience. When you attempt to stream directly from your PlayStation 4 you are only given a few options to choose through, when you are trying to create an immersive streaming experience this just isn’t enough. You can get away with 720p 60fps but you really aren’t living up to your potential, and no overlays is going to seriously restrict your growth. What you can do instead is take the feed of your PS4 and transfer it to the computer so that can be streamed. Not only can you expect a better streaming experience playing-wise but it will also let you stream PS4 on twitch with overlay enabled.

The Impact A Good Overlay Can Do For You

A good overlay is pretty crucial to upgrading the stream experience your viewers receive. Capable of showcasing your brand, a compilation of nice designs that will appeal to anyone watching, as well as give back to those viewers who are really dedicated through alerts are the reasons why an overlay is almost essential! Streaming with an overlay extends to more than the viewing experience as it also directly impacts how a browsing viewer notices you through an eye-catching design in the streaming platform. Something to note is that streaming your PS4 to your computer allows you to have more options for when you are considering going beyond just streaming.

Recording Your PS4 Stream Through OBS

If you plan to eventually branch away from just live streams or want to have a backup of streams for reliability, connecting your PS4 to your PC is the best option. Broadcasting software like OBS/Streamlabs and others allow you to not just live stream but also record it making it a great multitool all around. The settings that you have set for your live stream can be immediately used when recording allowing for a seamless transition. By having recordings of your Playstation 4 on your computer you can then use it to upload your streams to a platform like Youtube so that people can rewatch it whenever. Otherwise, you can use the recording in another planned project if you want to take that area more seriously.

What are the options for making it work?

How you go about setting up your PS4 to link to your PC is pretty simple, there’s basically only two options to consider. The first is free, easily set up and definitely the most painless way to go about it, and that’s using Playstations Remote Play software. Essentially, you can install an official app onto your computer that receives the video and audio feed from the Playstation through ethernet or wifi. You can control the Playstation through a regular Dualshock 2 controller connected to your computer via USB or bluetooth. 

The other option is a capture card, which is a physical unit that essentially allows you to split the HDMI signal between external devices, and allows a computer to read the signal as a video feed input, like a webcam. While significantly more expensive than the free of the remote play option, there are some significant advantages. 

Capture Card vs Remote Play

Primarily, a capture card allows much higher gaming quality, with zero latency between the PS4 and the TV that you’re playing on- which is critical for reaction speed based games such as online shooters. From a streaming perspective, it also enables a cleaner gaming experience, as the PS4 output is native and uncluttered. 

Using the Remote Play app can be almost impossible for high levels of reaction based gameplay, due to significant latency between the PS4 and the computer you’re viewing and recording from. It can also suffer from graphics inconsistencies and glitches, like broken pixels and the occasional stutter/freeze. While it is a fantastic option for getting into streaming with a PS4, and a great way to start using twitch overlays sooner, for competitive gameplay it’s probably best to stick with native streaming from the PS4.

Make your Stream the best it can be!

Whichever option you choose, take it seriously and leverage the power of free broadcasting software and an awesome free stream overlay to deliver the greatest experience to your viewers. If you can’t decide which streaming software to use, check out our article on the best streaming software to use in 2020

What are you waiting for? Start streaming today!

How to Decide What Game to Stream in 2020, in 5 minutes or less

Unsure of what game you should stream but are serious about a good choice? Then you’re in the right place. There are many ways to bring down the seemingly endless amount of games into a few solid options through the use of statistics and basic understanding. Here we have compiled the best tips for narrowing down which game is a perfect choice for you.

What Makes a Game a Good Choice?

If you are looking to get results when streaming then you can’t go and stream any odd game. To trim down the selection you need to look at basic factors that affect the potential viewership that the game can bring. Viewers aren’t going to be looking for any random or old game that doesn’t already have a following so we can take this understanding and use it. Narrow the selection down towards games that currently are popular or have a dedicated audience to give yourself the best chance at growing an audience. Most of the factors follow this same line of logic; age required games will cut out potential viewers who are younger, old broken games don’t see much attention, etc. The most important statistic you should take note of is to find a game that has a good following but isn’t completely full of people trying to stream it as your name will be lost in the sea of names. Next, we will be looking at your skill level- instead of the games themselves.

Can You Play The Game At A Competitive Level?

When you browse games that have a large current view rate, most often you will find a game that has a strong competitive side. So why do these games do so well? Humans are always trying to improve in whatever they love, from hobbies to competitive games, this means they will be looking for information. One of the best ways to improve in a game is to analyze people who are already good at the said game and see how they play. If there is a game you can play at a high competitive level then you should absolutely take the opportunity and choose that as the game you should stream.

What Games You Should Avoid!

When looking for what games to stream there are a few that you should avoid considering. We discussed earlier the sort of game that is perfect, but some of these might still not be quite the best bet. You might think “why don’t I just play games that have large amounts of viewers?”. Going down this route is a very popular trap. All the games with large amounts of viewers have a supply and demand problem where there are too many trying to take advantage of the viewers, ultimately saturating the category. Unless its a game you already have an advantage in to gain viewers, like skill or exclusivity then you should look to other categories.

Compromise Between Enjoyment And Potential

Here’s the thing about choosing a game that looks to be perfect for you. If you don’t enjoy playing it then the viewers won’t enjoy it either. Your emotions towards a game affect how you act during your stream. If you are not having fun then you will come off as someone people won’t want to watch. Instead what you should do is find a game that falls into the ballpark of what is a good choice and pick the game that you enjoy the most, this way you can have fun while playing and have the best chance at growing your viewer base.

Get out and get it!

Choosing a game for yourself should not be a daunting choice with little to no compromise. You as the streamer are the most important factor. Making sure that you have a solid grasp on the basics of how to start streaming as well as dedication are going to be your best chances of making a name for yourself in the streaming community. If you consider everything stated above in your decision then you won’t go wrong with your choice. Remember to keep your attitude up and be consistent with your streaming schedule.

For more tips, and everything you need to know to start streaming in 2020, check out our other articles. If you’re ready to take your stream to the next level, then you need stream overlays! Here at Streamplay we’ve carefully designed a range of eye catching, gorgeous twitch overlay graphics and other streaming visual assets. Check out our free, custom and premium premade twitch overlays.

How To Install A Stream Overlay On OBS [2020]

So you got your new overlay, your broadcasting software and your determination, but you are stuck on how to combine them together. If you haven’t heard, Streamlabs OBS is OBS’s dedicated software to streamers that gives you in-depth customisable options while keeping it flashy. For a lot of people, especially new streamers, this software can be quite daunting with its compact design built for professionals who know the tools of the trade. That’s why we included all the basics on how to install an OBS stream overlay so you can get to streaming immediately.

If you haven’t read the “how to start streaming” article we have then you should after this. It teaches you everything you need to understand about getting into the streaming environment as knowing the software is just one ingredient in the cake. 

Adding Scenes

First things first, before you can get to adding everything from your overlay you need to set up your scenes. Scenes are like folders that hold specific parts like images, gifs, widgets, etc and are perfect if you easily add in your different overlays for when starting soon or having an intermission. When you first start there will automatically be one there but if you want to add extra just click the plus button.

adding scenes to OBS

Sources Are Your Best Friend

Sources are going to be your go-to place when customising your stream in pretty much every way that isn’t mechanical. Here is where you will find all the areas that your overlay will relate to, from importing images to alerts. For most areas, you can just click the plus button and then choose what you need but for certain additions, it can be done in an easier way.

OBS sources

Drag And Drop

Drag and drop is an option that everyone loves as it makes it much easier to design and add images/gifs/mp4s thanks to its efficient design and understandable method. Just like you expect, images, mp4s and gifs can be directly pulled into the application. Also, by holding the CTRL key you can resize it at a consistent rate.

drag and drop - overlay for OBS

Widgets

Where Streamplay OBS excels is its customizability to give you full control of all your alerts, also known as widgets. By clicking the plus button in sources you will be presented with all the different widgets such as displaying followers, event list, viewer count, tips, etc. After adding one you can right-click it -> properties and apply your overlay package designs.

OBS widgets

Standard

The standard follows the same rules as the widgets but is more like the essentials than nice accents to your stream. Using these will allow you to show your screen, games, webcams and more. The same process as widgets, add it in -> right-click -> properties and apply your overlay design.

OBS sources properties

Is Steamlabs OBS Your Choice?

Streamlabs OBS is easily considered one of the best choices for broadcasting software. With the motivated team constantly working on it and giving it updates, that won’t change anytime soon. Taking in new updates, features and additions they have kept the traction ball rolling. The only question is with their main competitor having just as dedicated a team over at XSplit, is their throne being challenged? Read about which one reigns supreme and figure out which of the two options you should choose. Until then you should install a stream overlay on OBS and become a streamer today.

How To Install A Stream Overlay On XSplit [2020]

Are you looking to install your brand new overlay into XSplit but need a bit of guidance for this powerhouse of an application? Luckily for you, we have everything you need to know to get your overlay up and running so that you can start streaming the games you love. Even people with experience have trouble with this software so pay close attention and you soon will be able to install a stream overlay on XSplit.

If you haven’t read the “how to start streaming” article we have, then read it after this. It teaches you everything you need to understand about getting into the streaming environment and going live, as knowing the software is only one aspect to putting it all into practice. 

The Quick Drag And Drop

First off let’s discuss the easy drag and drop method that gives everyone the option of pulling in files without going through any menus. What is simpler than literally just dragging and dropping the image, mp4, gif or other material into the scene and having them appear instantly!

drag and drop
drag and drop method XSplit

Importing Videos, Images

Dragging and dropping is cool and all but it isn’t an end-all for specific files. Sometimes, like with scenes, you need to add them differently. At the bottom of your XSplit software, under the scene box, is an Add Source clickable button, going through this will let you add anything you want into the scene, from HTML links and of course media files. Going through media files will let you add the overlay images and animations saved as gifs or custom mp4s.

importing videos and images

Understanding The Sequence

Stated before is the scene box and it is very important when setting up a stream overlay. Practically how this operates is that the list is a hierarchy of what lays over what. Meaning when something is placed at the top of the list it overrides all others and is presented front and centre- then going back as it moves down the list.

scene box overlay

Scene Quick Swap

Some overlay packages also include scenes for intermission, starting soon and ending soon so we will go over that. XSplit understood that it really isn’t efficient or user friendly to recreate different scenes whenever you need them, and instead added the option to have them saved for quick access. Click on each one when you want to switch over and in doing so you will have access to its specific scene box.

scene quick swap

Using Streamlabs To Import Seamless Widgets

You may have noticed your overlay also includes designs for alerts, but sadly XSplit isn’t the best in this area. Luckily there is a workaround. If you do have Streamlabs OBS installed you can add you overlay-designed alerts as well as other additions like chat display into that software. Then, you copy the HTML link it provides. Add an HTML source into XSplit and link it to the previous link and you’re all set.

XSplit software

One Of The Go-To Broadcasting Software

XSplit is a well-known broadcasting software that has received love and dedication from an experienced team working tirelessly on improving its performance. Having awesome changes and additions appearing often and improvements being made of its multiple co-buddy software, the XSplit Gamecast and the XSplit VCam. 

With these updates does it take the throne from Streamlabs OBS or does it need to aim even higher?

Seeing how these two broadcasting software stack up is something you should consider reading so that you can hone in on which is best for you. For now, use this knowledge on how to install a stream overlay on XSplit and take your first major step into becoming a streamer!

XSplit vs OBS – The Best Broadcasting Software in 2020

It’s time to start setting up your stream, you’ve picked your streaming platform of choice, but now you have to consider which broadcasting software to use. Live streaming has become a dominant part of this new age broadcasting concept where you are capable to watch anything you want to form an almost seemingly infinite selection. Its ability to allow the streamer to interact with the viewers has caused this video type to rise faster than other viewing platforms. Joining in sooner than later is something you should consider but make sure to do it right.

This concept has gained the interest of many looking to involve themselves in the action, from business and software developers alike. This means that quite a few broadcasting software have been developed. Even though many companies have tried to create broadcasting software, there are two that stand above the rest. OBS’s Streamlabs and XSplit have reigned supreme, so let’s figure out which one is the better option for you.

If you are looking to make your stream pop and give yourself an edge over others consider Streamplay’s homepage as the best place to go to for overlays for streaming.

Streamlabs OBS

Streamlabs OBS software

Streamlabs OBS is the most well-known broadcasting software on the market and there are very clear reasons why. The team behind OBS created the Streamlabs OBS software to give streamers a broadcasting software full of the tools they need to make the perfect live streaming environment. For the sake of ease, during the rest of the writing when OBS is mentioned it’s referring to Streamlabs OBS.

Where OBS Excels

OBS has so many great qualities but to list them all will take pages and that would be a nightmare to read, instead, we will be focusing on the main distinct benefits it offers you. This software has an amazing user interface filled with clean designs that can make navigation easy as the thought process with icons has made it simple to grasp. The in-depth customisation that is available is easily at a professional level with the ability to change any feature or sound. Also included are the many widgets available straight off the start. Widgets refer to the extras like chat display and donation goals that can be displayed to the stream.

streamplay OBS streaming software

Being both free and having amazing customisation features are some of the main reasons why this program is so highly revered in the streaming community. 

Does OBS Have Downsides?

Because of its reputation that OBS has gained, there have been a few downsides developed over time. With so much demand and requests being made to Streamlabs OBS, there have been large amounts of options included in the base variant. This has over time started cluttering up the interface and can make it a bit daunting for new users who just want to stream casually. There are also upgrades available with OBS prime but with the base version, you are receiving everything you would need to stream at a professional level.

XSplit

XSplit broadcasting software

XSplit is well known amongst the streaming community as being a great broadcasting software available for free. Having years of development behind its design as well as a dedicated community, this software is great for anyone looking to stream. So what about it makes it different from OBS and why should you choose it?

broadcasting software XSplit for streaming

What Makes XSplit A Great Choice

XSplit is an amazing broadcasting software for both new and old streamers with its large variety of benefits. What separates this program from OBS is how innovative this company is and how they are striving to create additions that others won’t. With additions available like offering green screen quality of cut-out without needing a green screen at all. XSplit also has a very easy interface that is simple on the eyes and is great for users trying to set a live stream up fast for the first time.

Is XSplit The Perfect Option?

create your own XSplit software for streamers

XSplit has earned its place of being one of the best broadcasting software available, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Although this software is free there can be a lot of paid upgrades to be made and some of the important additions like not allowing you to change the design/layout of the stream after you have gone live. XSplit isn’t perfect but it won’t do you wrong and is still one of the best options available for a broadcasting tool.

Which One Is Better At Different Levels Of Experience

Taking on a new broadcasting software is daunting and straight-up confusing but XSplit and OBS were designed by an experienced team who new what new user experience is. They aren’t exact duplicates of one another and one is more friendly for a new user and the other has advantages for the users who mastered it. Knowing this, here is how it breaks down. 

Hold up, before you move on and start drawing a conclusion do you know what your broadcasting software does? If not then you should visit our blog on how to start streaming to understand why this well-crafted software helps you share your experience with viewers(old blog link here :D).

If you are a beginner and want to get into streaming and don’t want to read a book on how to use these tools, then XSplit should be your choice. What XSplit does better than OBS is having a more minimalistic and clean interface. To be fair you will still probably have to fiddle around to learn how to use it but overall XSplit is a lot more straightforward compared to Streamlabs OBS.

When it comes to which software can give the user more detail and flexibility then Streamlabs OBS takes the crown. Allowing for individual areas to be manipulated, like donation icons and even the sound they make, can help you personalise your stream to fit your brand. If taken advantage of, this program is going to be perfect for creating an immersive experience for your viewers.

Which Is Best For You?

Both XSplit and Streamlabs OBS are fully equipped with the tools to build your perfect stream experience. It overall comes down to your choice and the experience you have had with each. If you can’t decide here is what we suggest you should consider.

If you have spent the time with XSplit and don’t care too much about the Streamlabs OBS benefits then don’t take the unnecessary struggle of switching over. XSplit has its benefits like VCam that can make it stand out. For a large majority of users though it seems that Streamlabs OBS is a go-to option. Putting in the extra effort early to understand can help you decide what you want your stream to be. No matter what you choose the next steps are to choose a streaming platform and create your brand through a well-designed overlay.

Which Streaming Platform Should I Use?

After spending the time planning and preparing an awesome streaming experience, finding graphics, visual elements and bringing everything together, you might be left with the question of “which streaming platform should you use”? What started out as a niche space with only one major player has quickly evolved into a monstrous industry, with many different options. Here at Streamplay, we like to think we’re pretty all over the different players, and the advantages they may have over each other. We’ve tried, tested and broken a whole bunch of software and graphics configurations. To help make the decision of which one to use to start your streaming journey, we’ve evaluated the key options for usability and potential- how hard is it to make it? How big’s the pie? Let’s find out.

Is one platform King?

With such a large variety of streaming platforms available, is there an option that reigns triumphant? While Twitch is often crowned as the king of streaming, there are many upstarts that threaten to take that throne. In fact, while Twitch really did begin the whole thing, it’s not even the biggest player. Google and Facebook both offer streaming, and are far and away the biggest giants in the digital content space. But are they capable of beating out Twitch for streaming preeminence?

The answer isn’t quite so simple, each platform is different and has its pros and cons, and have become suited for different streamers and different strategies. Each one is more than capable of delivering an income that will let you go full time, and each one has the tools to go big.

Twitch

twitch streaming overlay

Benefits

There are many benefits to choosing Twitch as your streaming platform, its entirely focused on providing streaming-only content and has no plans to change that anytime soon. The main benefit of choosing Twitch is an audience of viewers that are ready to commit to a stream, which helps separate this platform from the rest. Twitch is positioned to enable you to create an audience of dedicated stream-watchers, and is more geared towards the hardcore/more serious gamer. Another feature of Twitch that makes the grind more predictable and the road to glory easier to see is the ranking method. While Facebook & Google/YouTube have advanced search and organic reach algorithms that rank the available content, matching people with the content most suited to them, Twitch keeps it old school. Ranking is based purely on viewer count, number 1 spot is held by whoever’s got the most viewers. While this can make it seem biased- really it means the best snowball as hard as they should. Gaining traction is linear, and can blow up when you finally get that magic mixture right.

Cons

Part of what makes Twitch great, it’s positioning as a streaming platform first and foremost, is also one of its major weaknesses. YouTube and Facebook both allow for the creation of ‘static’ content, videos and replays that you can edit and upload. Twitch only allows for short snippets, replays, from your previous streams. This means that when you’re offline, you’re not engaging with your audience or driving revenue.

Twitch is also a behemoth, old and firmly entrenched. The key players have been in the game for a long time and they’re veterans of thousands of hours. Taking the down to claim a spot is going to be hard, and take more than just dedication. It’ll take study and trialling of different styles, streaming times, graphics and more. It’s a tough road, but the prize is worth it!


Youtube

youtube streaming overlay

Benefits

In the world of video hosting, there is no one standing close to the Goliath that is Youtube. YouTube pretty much shaped the internet we know today. It was the first great video hosting site, and has reigned supreme since then. Even more than that, it’s a Google product. Which means seamless integration for Google users, and the world’s greatest marketing power driving traffic to it every moment of the day. This means that the viewership potential is phenomenal, and if you can make it on YouTube, you’ve really made it. One of Twitch’s greatest weaknesses is also one of YouTube’s greatest strengths. As a static video first platform, it’s best suited to content creators and people that aim to create well crafted videos and entertainment. YouTube is also child friendly, and has relevant tools to enable you to reach that younger audience with appropriate content.

Cons

As Youtube is mostly focused around static video and has only recently has adopted the live streaming side there are some downsides. Unlike Twitch, Youtube’s viewers might not be as dedicated to watching a lengthy live stream when there thousands of fast-paced videos available. More so, the platform itself doesn’t cater to live streaming, especially of gaming, as well as Twitch does. The menu layouts are different, and the streaming is almost a sub-category, that isn’t easily stumbled upon. That doesn’t mean the streaming tech isn’t brilliant though, and the integrations and premiering options are world class.

Facebook

facebook streaming overlay

Benefits

The first and probably the strongest benefit of live streaming on Facebook is the constant traffic the platform gets. Social media is, for many people, only a step away from a full-blown addiction, and this makes Facebook gaming a gold mine if you can capture people’s interest. Facebook has millions of people constantly dropping in for a quick look, and their attention is ready to be grabbed. With live streams still being relatively new for Facebook viewers, when it appears on their page it can quickly pique viewer’s interest as something different and out of the norm. It’s the always fast environment and social interaction that Facebook has that separates it from the other platforms. The blend of social media and video also enables you to reach a new audience much easier than Twitch or YouTube, with viral clips and highlight reels.

Cons

One of the major cons about Facebook is the same thing a lot of other social media sites face when trying to incorporate streaming. Being known as a social media platform, Facebook’s users spend a majority of their time adding updates to their page, talking to friends, or viewing what other people have posted. Where this is disadvantageous is that a decent amount of the community isn’t prepared to spend the next few hours or even minutes watching a stream, so they end up skipping over live streams they come by. Facebook is great for posting your social interaction and updates but falls flat on grabbing a dedicated audience. Having said that though, it is growing, and growing fast- Microsoft has recently partnered with Facebook to close Mixer, and move the audience to Facebook.

DLive

dlive streaming overlay

Benefits

DLive has only recently stepped into the streaming platform ring, but unlike most new platforms DLive has come incredibly well prepared and equipped. Thanks to DLive being a streaming platform backed by famous influencers, there is a need for streamers to make a name on the site. A large majority of popular streamers gained their fans by being one of the only options when the platform was starting, so taking advantage of this now could be a major advantage.

Cons

Because this site is so new there are small downsides to choosing this as your main live streaming platform. With an audience that is smaller in comparison to the other options, choosing DLive has a much higher risk, but a higher payoff compared to the rest. If you are considering this platform be ready because it will take dedication and time to gain that starting viewer count.

What To Take Away

Choose a streaming platform that matches what you want. Look over what each one has to offer and decide which one is the best for you, and if you want to you can use a combination to get the best outcome what you were aiming for. Do you want to focus solely on gaming streaming? Consider Twitch. If you want to transition into a well rounded content creator, YouTube might be your best bet. Facebook is ideal for social media gurus and people looking to be an influencer, or are more focussed on transient audiences and casual gamers. DLive if you like a challenge and a gamble! Remember, it’s planning and preparation that’ll make the difference, study your platform of choice, your competitors and prepare your tools. For more information on how to start streaming in 2020, we’ve put together an article that might just get you started.

Twitch BRB Screens to Help Your Stream

Graphics that you use on your stream are part of its “face”, or rather what you are presenting to the viewer. And when it comes to the graphics that you use for your stream, it’s important to present a united and consistent front.

Having consistent branding across your entire Twitch stream makes a better, more memorable impression on a first-time visitor. On top of that, it can make your stream look quite a lot more professional, which is important if you want to take your streaming career (or hobby!) seriously.

All streamers, whether new or experienced, have some sort of idea of what they want for their stream. This is also true when it comes to how they might want their channel to look.

What may vary is just what exactly streamers want to use in their interfaces and their productions. For example, some streamers may want “stream starting” graphics or videos. Others like having ending screens as well. And then, you have streamers who like having a BRB screen for intermissions – and for good reason.

Twitch BRB screens are useful for many reasons. Let’s take a look at them today.

Why Use a BRB Screen?

There are a number of reasons why BRB screens should be a part of your stream production. Here are some of them:

  • You can step away from your computer without worrying what people will see in the background.
  • It helps to make your stream look more professional while you take a quick break.
  • You can put announcements on the BRB screen if you want, by adding a text overlay on OBS
  • A good intermission screen can tell new visitors who you are and what your stream is about

As you can see, there are many ways in which a BRB screen can help you. And if you’re looking for a BRB screen to round your stream out, we’ve got quite a few!

Animated Intermission/BRB Screen

If you need to quickly go AFK or if you want to step away, you can try using this Animated Intermission/BRB Screen. This screen is simple, clean, and can be customized with your Twitch username. The screen is a light sky blue with a lens flare, making it look like you’re looking up at the sky. It’s a fantastic choice if you want a screen to help lighten the mood a bit.

The first text that appears on the screen is “Intermission”, and then it will transition to “Be Right Back” with your username on top. It’s an ideal choice for people who just want a simple BRB screen, given that it’s simple and can fit practically any theme.

This screen can be purchased as is. You will also get an editable file If you want to change some of the features included. Otherwise, you can simply pay a small extra fee to have us customize everything just how you want it.

Pulse Animated Stream Scenes

pulse green animated twitch scene

Next up, you have the Pulse Animated Scene package. If green is your color of choice, you’ll love what this pack has to offer. With your purchase you get a “stream starting” screen, a “be right back” screen, and a “stream ending” screen. Each can have some custom text at the bottom if you please. This set is perfect if you’re looking to add something interesting to your stream while simultaneously making your channel look a lot more professional.

You can purchase this set as is, with editable files in case you want to customize the text at the bottom. Or, you can pay a small extra fee to have it customized for you.

For this set of graphics, you will have to add your own music if you want some intermission audio in the background.

Glitch Animated Stream Scenes

Glitch Animated Stream Scene Package

Last but certainly not the least is the Glitch Animated Stream Pack. Like the above pack, this one also includes three screens: starting, be right back, and ending. However, what makes this pack different is it looks a lot more modern, and it has a unique style that can really impress your viewers.

It has a glitchy effect on the text, accompanied by a sound effect in the background. However, you can mute the sound effects if you don’t want them going off while the screens are up.

These screens are a perfect way to unify your stream’s graphics. Coupled with a similarly themed overlay, your stream will end up looking incredibly professional.

This pack can be purchased as is, including editable files so you can customize the text. Or, you can pay a small fee to get everything done for you.

Get Overlay Packages

If you’d rather purchase a full overlay package so that literally everything you have will match, you certainly can. Overlay packages come with everything you need from Twitch BRB screens to webcam frames to alerts and – you guessed it, even your stream’s panels. You can check out some overlay packages below:

Final Thoughts

A good Twitch BRB screen that goes well with your stream’s branding can really make you look like a professional. This will allow people to take you more seriously as they can see the amount of work you put into your stream’s production value. Plus hey, BRB screens are just really convenient, too!

Regardless of whether you use an intermission screen on its own or if you use one that comes in an overlay pack, you’ll surely enjoy the benefits of having one. It’s extremely easy to set up so you can go AFK with no worries!

How to Setup Your Twitch Chat Overlay

Streamers are nothing without their viewers. While it seems pretty obvious, your role as an entertainer, teacher and expert are supported entirely by the people who enjoy spending time in your stream.

Twitch chat is the best way to interact with a streamer, which means keeping up with your chat is essential to having a successful stream! Displaying Twitch chat has been a common extension on streams since the beginning of streaming. But how do we set up said chat, and what are the purposes for doing so?

There are really only two ways to display Twitch chat in a way that isn’t just on Twitch.

Show Twitch Chat On Stream

You can display chat on your stream, allowing everyone to see it, including you! This method is great for creating a bigger community feeling while also giving you an easy route to keep up with chat.

Twitch Chat for Single Monitors

The other way involves displaying chat in a separate window so that only you can see it. This is the perfect way to see chat if you have a single-monitor setup! You can easily interact with your chat without alt-tabbing back and forth or using your phone.

In this article, you’ll learn an easy and optimal way to set-up both of these methods of displaying Twitch chat!

How to Display Twitch Chat on your Stream Using Streamlabs OBS

After the merging of Streamlabs and OBS, setting up Twitch chat has never been easier. Along with many features, plenty of source code and links are integrated into the software so that you no longer need additional resources in order to set-up whatever you need!

For this set-up, we’ll assume that you have your Streamlabs connected with your Twitch account and are on at least a beginner-level understanding of your stream.

The primary way of setting up additional features on Streamlabs is through widgets. The line between what is and isn’t a widget is becoming more blurred, but it’s basically extra code in a software to give or take features!

This is the bottom half of Streamlabs in its newest update as of this article! There was a pretty big change in regards to setting up widgets, so you might need to revisit some things if you’re used to the previous method of widget-ing.

In ancient times, you would need source code to add any widget to your stream. Since the merging of Streamlabs and OBS, features became widgets that could be added with the click of a button. The only thing that really changed was the placement of said widgets.

If you click on the “+” next to Sources, you’ll come to this pop-up window. Before, you wouldn’t see the widgets tab here. Now, all of your additional features are in one comfy box!

After admiring all of the extra things you can add to spice up your stream, click on the Chatbox and Add Source under widgets and another window will pop up, asking you to name the source.

After adding source, you’ll be met with a window filled with plenty of options. At this point, your chat box is already integrated into your stream! However, let’s go over the features you can edit to customize your stream.

Under Visual Settings, you’ll mostly find things involving what actually shows up in your chat box. The default features are great, as they allow your viewers to show off their flair and badges. If you don’t want so much in your chat, you can disable this.

There’s a Theme setting that shows off a few default customization options for the chat. If you see one you like, great! If not, no worries. There is a wide array of options in the widget shop, but more on that later.

Under that is the Extra emotes tab, which is an essential thing to add to your stream! All of the most recent emotes created by the community are added here, so if you see someone spamming “KEKW” in your stream, you’ll understand what all the hype is about.

The Background color is nice to change to match your stream. The default is transparent, which we find to be the ideal background unless you have something special in mind.

A nice feature to filter your chat is the Always show messages section at the very bottom. You’ll be able to change how many messages show up at once, meaning you can avoid clutter and allow for a comfortable limit based on how active your chat is!

The next section are the Font settings. This place doesn’t have much aside from font size and style. I’d avoid going overboard with changing font, since many viewers are used to the default font from Twitch.

The Chatter section lets you avoid showing automated messages that might show up from bots, including commands. We suggest checking this off, as no one really cares about your chat bots!

The final section is titled Source, and we suggest avoiding messing with it unless you’re familiar with CSS and HTML. You can customize everything in the code if you wish here, so tinker away if you have the knowledge!

And that’s it for setting up your chat box within Streamlabs! As a bonus, let’s look at the Widget themes inside the Streamlabs shop. Here, you can ways to customize all of your widgets, chat box included!

Under the second tab at the top left, you’ll find multitudes of themes and overlays that are working with Streamlabs. We’ve checked off the Chatbox under widgets to show themes that include chat boxes! Explore some of these themes, and if you find one you like, you can incorporate it into your stream.

How to Display Twitch Chat for Personal View using Restream

While displaying your Twitch Chat on stream is useful, it doesn’t really help with a problem that many starting streamers come across; How do I see chat without alt-tabbing? 

Not everyone has the money or space for two monitors, making it difficult to view your chat in games that require a lot of your CPU usage. Plus, if you’re playing on full screen, you’ll have long wait times when moving between screens.

Luckily, there are ways to see your chat in-game and only for you!

Restream is a great piece of software that will allow you to display any chat, including Twitch Chat, in a separate window. Let’s take a look at how to set it up!

First things first, you’ll need to sign up and create an account with Restream. After that, you’ll be able to sign into the software. Make sure you download the correct version from the site!

Here’s what you’ll see once you’ve successfully signed in with both your Restream account and your Twitch account. Our next steps are figuring out how to pop out Twitch chat. Click on the gear in the top right to open the settings.

Right now, our goal is to create a window that is transparent and appear over every other window. The second part is really important! We need to make sure that the chat window shows up no matter what we’re playing so we can avoid switching tabs.

In the settings menu, the Appearance tab is where we’ll work our magic. Just check off the very first box with “Window always on top” and we’re golden.

The rest of the appearance tab has a bunch of customizable options. Most of the are similar to Streamlabs or are intuitive, so it is best to mess with the settings until you’re at a comfortable place.

For reference, here is what your chat appearance can look like. The opacity section is rather important for making sure our chat window isn’t in the way of our gameplay, so make sure it is exactly how you like it!

Closing thoughts

We’ve gone over two easy and optimized ways for setting up Twitch chat on your stream! If you have two monitors, using the default Streamlabs chat box is the best way to incorporate your viewers into a community experience.

If you’re struggling with reading your chat consistently because of your set up, Restream is an awesome answer that solved many problems. It’s hard to pass up on it, even as a streamer with two monitors!

No matter the method, who doesn’t love to see their name pop up on stream in a highlight video? Look into incorporating your chat into your stream and you’ll have plenty of things to share with everyone.

Simple Twitch Overlays for Your Stream

Finding the right overlay and graphics for your stream is never easy. Popular streamers reach both ends of the spectrum; completely decked out to hardly anything but a camera.

So what is the best option? How can you be sure that the decision you make is right?

Like most things in life, there isn’t really a best decision. However, experimenting with simple overlays is the best way to understand what you’re looking for in your stream’s design. Do you want something with a modern feel? What about a retro aesthetic?

Whatever you’re looking for, here are a few awesome overlay ideas that are on the simpler side and perfect for as both a starting design and a primary one!

Simple Blue Overlay Package

preview of the blue stream overlay graphics

This blue stream package is a popular one, and for good reason. It comes with a clear and professional blue aesthetic, one fit for anyone that is focusing on their stream’s gameplay.

If you’re looking for a clear and concise brand, one that doesn’t try to flaunt too much, you’re looking at the right overlay. Simple designs allow for more freedom in terms of stream branding and sponsorships.

With less visual clutter you’re able to include additional elements, like an extra image or two, without ruining the aesthetic. This package also comes with multiple screens for different moments of the stream, like an offline banner and away screen.

The best part? If this color isn’t exactly what you’re looking for it can be easily customized to a different beautiful version. You can also pick and choose whatever elements you want! As long as you keep a cohesive appearance, the flexibility with this package is there.

Ascension Overlays

twitch streamer overlay package

If you’re looking for sleek and focused, the ascension stream package is the perfect choice for you. This simple package takes advantage of the strong red shades to create a vibrant and powerful stream that will capture anyone’s attention!

Like the blue stream package, the ascension package has a focus on gameplay and professional appearance, and even has a section to add your streams chat overlay to the intermission screen. The simplicity in design means you can keep your viewers focused on the stream without having too much visual clutter.

This style of overlay also comes with an animated display, showing off just enough flare without going overboard! Animation in overlays is a great add-on, just make sure not to go too far with it when working on a design.

If you’re looking to tune-up and and add complexity to this overlay, dark blacks and red fit great into the already warm aesthetic. You can also consider adding other orange or light brown elements if you want something warm instead of hot!

Automatic Motion Stream Overlays

stream overlay package

This automatic motion stream package is excellent for being the middle ground between a simpler and complex overlay. It has a metallic, futuristic aesthetic with plenty of animated screens and aspects for someone trying to spice up their stream!

If you’ve decided to experiment with more complex features than the previous two packages, this is the perfect fit for you. The pairing of an advanced, mechanical aesthetic with animated features reminds viewers about how far the streaming world has come!

Like most packages, placement and feature selection is entirely customizable to your own preferences. You should feel encouraged to test out everything until you find what fits your stream the best.

Making the step into animated overlays isn’t necessary. However, it is important to be open and dabble in different versions and variations of overlays in order to figure out what exactly fits you.

While the standard color scheme is interesting, other cool colors like green may be an alternative if you’re trying to distinguish yourself even more.

Deadlock Stream Package

The last overlay package on our list is the deadlock stream package. It’s the ultimate package, boasting the most individual features and assets to add to your overlay.

If you’re torn between a certain display style for your donations or subscribers, this package offers options to cover different bases for different streamers. Plus, it comes with beautifully animated features for a diverse array of graphics.

Like the ascension stream package, this aesthetic and color scheme fit a serious and focused stream for gameplay and professional vibes. The dark reds and blacks feel like you’re watching a serious gamer!

It’s hard to match the customization of a package like this. With every feature being optional, the range of possibilities really encompasses a simple or complex set-up. If you aren’t feeling the dark reds, try replacing them with another intense color like dark blue or purple.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! Four diverse and interesting overlay designs that range from simple to complex. Each of these packages are completely customizable, with removable features and changeable colors to match any stream.

If you’re having trouble choosing, we’ve got you covered. We suggest looking into the deadlock stream package simply because it has the most versatility out of the list. Tons of different options means you’ll have the best array of tools to make your overlay.

Moving forward, don’t worry too much about perfection immediately. You’ll be able to get feedback from your viewers while testing everything out!

Simple overlays don’t have to mean that you’re lazy or don’t want to put the time and effort into a stream design. Simplicity and minimalist design highlight your personality and gameplay without distracting the viewer. As long as you work on the core of your stream, a simple overlay can go a long way.

4 Twitch Overlay Makers for Streamers

Whether you’re a streamer or just starting to think about becoming a streamer, overlays and graphics are usually the first thing on your mind when you stream.

It can be off putting and scary to not only set up your stream but include graphics that pop.

Luckily, there are resources that can help you design your own overlay and help with the large task that is organizing your stream in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Making an Overlay for Your Twitch Stream

Creating an overlay with tools is the perfect middle ground for someone on the fence about purchasing premium overlays.

Plus designing an overlay will help you figure out exactly what it is you like about graphics in general.

Do you like a certain color palette? A certain animation style? If you take the time to seriously work through the design process, you’ll come out with a lot of useful information!

We’re going to share a few different overlay makers and highlight some of the features that come with the maker.

Along the way will be some tips and general overlay ideas that can help you figure out exactly what you want from your stream’s design.

OvrStream

Taken straight from their website, OvrStream is a great resource for people just getting started with designing graphics for overlays.

They take a lot of the common features, like graphics sizing and attributes such as colors or graphics, and make them easily accessible and workable.

A big part of learning design elements is learning what works with what. With a simple UI and simple parameters for customizing elements of stream overlays, you can test out hundreds of different element combinations in order to find what works best for you.

OvrStream has the cleanest and swiftest pace of working, with all of the options outlined for you. It can be a little daunting at first, but after a bit you’ll have total control of these features, meaning you’ll be ahead of the pack on creating an overlay that sets you apart from other streamers.

Strmaker

Something that Strmaker aims to help with is avoiding clutter and confusion of design by working on different elements separately.

This style of design is perfect for someone looking to take creating a minimalist overlay one step at a time. Want to work on your panels and test them out for a week? Strmaker can make it happen!

While some might argue that aesthetic and coercion of different elements is difficult unless you work on all of them at the same time, taking a separate approach has benefits as well.

Strmaker is the best way to create a step-by-step explanation of your ideal overlay to a potential artist or graphic designer. If you show an expert three distinct designs for three different elements, all of which is easily done with Strmaker, then they’ll have an easy time understanding what you like.

Overlayr

Overlayr is a widget-based overlay design engine that lets you work with already created widgets and customize them to what you like.

It is arguably the easiest overlay creator to work with, meaning it is a beginner-friendly resource for new streamers! Work quickly and easily with Overlayr to come up with plenty of simple overlays.

The best part about being able to make something so fast is that there is potential to work with consultants around your design. In most industries you’d need a few days or a week to come up with designs to show someone, but with Overlayr you can make any design you want with their widget system without much effort.

More importantly, a simple system like Overlayr helps you answer an important question. What do I not like in this design?

If a widget doesn’t have a certain feature, you’re one step closer to understanding that you want a specific feature or design. From there, you can find overlays that fit your wants and customize those overlays on your own!

Nerd or Die’s Overlay Maker

Nerd or Die’s overlay maker is a download-free designer that takes the least hassle out of any of these makers to get started on. Above are a few of the options, although there are as you scroll down the page and mess with the different bars and colors.

Despite the flexibility of being download-free, this also means that features can’t be completely fleshed out. This maker is a great tool for brainstorming and outlining a basic design that you want to work further with in a different application.

You’ll want to use this maker in combination with another maker mentioned above to get full potential out of your overlay!

What’s Next?

The first step to growing your stream is tackling the tough parts like nailing an aesthetic and designing your own overlay.

If you work with these makers, you’re sure to find an overlay that works great for you and has enough personality to set you apart from the crowd!

However, your streaming design journey doesn’t end here. As you grow, so will your stream.

Eventually, it might be worth it to link up with a professional graphics designer or overlay creator and see if they could make your overlay even cleaner. Reaching out to the person who worked on your favorite streamer’s overlay is an awesome way to find a design perfect for you.

Like everything in a career or hobby, constant adaptation and reinventing yourself is a must if you want to grow in an industry. Don’t be afraid to take the step of making your own overlay, there are plenty of tools for you!

Minimalist Twitch Overlays

If you’ve been working your way down the list of the best ways to grow your Twitch following, you’ve probably come across improving your stream overlays as one of them.

All of the most popular Twitch streamers have managed to use overlays to great effect, and there are a number of ways they can increase the quality of your stream.

Having an overlay that looks professional shows that you mean business, and an audience is more likely to stick around for someone who they can tell cares about their stream.

Why You Should Think About A Minimalist Overlay for Your Stream

An overlay is also the best way to keep your stream layout organised.

You can create defined sections for alerts, audience chat, the stream feed, your webcam, and any other features important to your channel – without an overlay, the screen can get messy and cluttered which might put off some viewers.

Coming up with the right overlay ideas for your stream requires some careful thought, and there are a few things you need to consider when searching for the perfect one.

An Extension of Your Streamer Persona

Firstly, viewers are drawn to your channel for your personality, so should think of an overlay as an extension of that. When considering styles for your Twitch branding, make sure it fits with all of your content.

There are tons of overlay sources online, but you should have a good idea of what will work and what won’t before you start looking.

Think about what your audience likes most about your channel, and the theme of the games you play.

It’s Something Worth Paying For

Unless you’re a graphic design whiz, you’ll want to purchase a premade overlay or commission a custom overlay from a pro designer, or try an overlay maker.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. A second-rate design will put viewers off and detract from your stream.

Fortunately, not only do we have a huge range of stunning premium Twitch overlays to suit a variety of themes, we’re here to help you figure out the best style for your broadcast.

Top Streamers Keep it Minimal

What do Pokimane, Ninja, and Dr. DisRespect’s overlays all have in common? They’re minimalist – clean and simple with a few personal touches.

There’s a reason most of the pros pick minimalist twitch overlays – they’re pleasing on the eye and help keep the viewer’s focus on the stream.

When streamers try and add to many features and graphics, the results are rarely positive.

If you’re unconvinced, just take a look at this hilarious Twitter account that showcases some of Twitch’s worst examples – while some may be in tongue-in-cheek, there are plenty that aren’t.

We also like minimalist designs for their versatility – they’re ideal if you’re someone who likes to play different games regularly as they can suit plenty of different video game styles.

Below, we’ve listed our three favorite minimalist Twitch overlays on Streamplay Graphics.

Metatron Stream Overlay

Our Metatron Stream Overlay is hugely popular – it’s stylish and subdued and lets you put your content front and center.

There’s also a neat section in the corner to display any recent subscribers, followers, and donations.

As we mentioned above, this overlay is extremely versatile and suitable for pretty much anything you want to stream – shooters, RPGs, MMORPGs, sports – you name it.

It’s also ideal if you’re just starting out and on a budget, but need a professional-looking stream overlay. This Metatron Stream Overlay package comes with the .png and .psd files so if you have the skills you can tweak the design yourself to fit your needs.

If this isn’t your area of expertise, for just one extra dollar we’ll customize the colors and text to your specifications so you can spend more time focusing on what you do best – playing video games.

Minimalist Stream Package

If you love the concept of the Metatron overlay but want more features for your stream, you can’t go wrong with the Minimalist package.

Not only will you have the labels for recent followers, donations, and subscribers, but you’ll also get “thank you” alerts included. The package also features a subtle yet stylish webcam overlay.

Below, you’ll have space to include links to any relevant accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and Twitter, which makes it easier for you to increase your followers across all of your channels.

Once again, if you want the package customized so it better fits with your style, we’re happy to help make it perfect.

Bright Moments Stream Overlay Package

purple stream overlay package

We’re particularly proud of this one – it’s ideal for keeping your screen free of clutter while still being able to display your viewers’ support and social media accounts.

Once again, you’ll get matching alerts and a crisp webcam overlay with a custom message. Every part of this package is completely customizable so we can help create the perfect theme for your channel.

The most popular feature of this package is its animated “stream starting soon” video to let your viewers know you’re just getting set up and ready to launch.

The clean and bright animation will help you stand out and give you the professional edge over the competition.

The Takeaway

A minimalist Twitch overlay is the ideal style for the majority of streams, as showcased by plenty of the biggest names in the industry.

In the future, you may want to opt for something more complex once you’re stream is more established, but when you’re starting out, simple stream overlays are always better.

You can still add your own personal touch to stripped-down overlays and display the core information needed to please your viewers and grow your channel.

Remember, we love working with streamers to craft the perfect graphics for their broadcasts, so feel free to get in touch if you have something in mind!

Twitch Overlay Ideas to Use for Your Stream

Figuring out your streaming setup can be a lot of work, especially if you’re unfamiliar with design and creating a general aesthetic for something. Your stream overlay is part of a viewer’s first impression when they first come across your stream.

Luckily, Twitch has been around for a long time, just enough for us to find some common practices when it comes to overlays!

Learning from other successful streamers is a huge part of making your own stream grow. The layout of your graphics and content creates a distinct channel and flow for the viewer.

We’re going to look at a few examples of different overlay designs and find out what elements an overlay might highlight best.

Beautiful Graphics and Design

The nice thing about streaming is that it is a collaborative effort. From the beginning, a stream is nothing without its viewers. There is no shame in reaching out for help when it comes to designing a stream overlay.

Artists and graphic designers have seen hundreds of potential overlays, so why not have them help?

Generally, a graphic artist is going to create a nicer looking overlay than you. If you are aiming for a sleek, modern design with plenty of character for your Twitch branding, here’s an example of an overlay that you can either use yourself or draw inspiration from:

Being able to include all aspects of your stream on a standard screen capture is great for streamers with a lot of information. This overlay package comes with overlays for in-game as well!

Most importantly, a sleek design like this is malleable enough to be personalized by you. Don’t like the color scheme? The overlay itself is completely editable, meaning you can pick and choose whatever aspects you find to be the best.

Along with being customizable, finding your own graphics artist or designer to help work with you during the process is irreplaceable. There’s a big difference between just choosing something that looks nice and understanding what makes something look nice.

For example, if you’re a League of Legends streamer, there is a lot of downtime in between matches. Viewers are going to be spending time in queue with the streamer, meaning there are about 5-10 minutes of alternative stream overlay after every game.

twitch intermission overlay

This is the best situation for an overlay like the one above, with easily digested information displayed beautifully. Most importantly, this overlay isn’t quickly transitioned between and doesn’t feel forced onto the viewers.

Dynamic Graphics and Transitions

So, what if you want a little more than a well designed overlay? There are ways to customize your stream to match every moment with motion and dynamic overlays.

Dynamic overlays are perfect for high-energy and characterized streams. High quality transitions and personalized events on stream make for a truly ingrained streaming experience!

When it comes to the infamous DrDisrespect, one could argue that part of his success came from his dynamic stream. It’s hard to not feel hyped up and ready for gameplay when you join his intense and retro aesthetic. He has an overlay for almost every situation, in game and out of game.

Along with having multiple overlays, DrDisrespect has moving and changing overlays that do unique things based off of what happens. This sometimes goes further than his overlays, changing his voice settings and sound along with a change in scenery.

Most importantly, the effort that DrDisrespect puts into his stream’s feel is completely dictated by his overlays. One second you’re in a G Fuel locker room and the next you’re playing Call of Duty. The spontaneity and expressive design is perfect for his personality.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go as far as DrDisrespect to make a dynamic stream work!

This overlay package comes with a dynamic motion intermission screen, perfect for getting into the world of changing overlays. The best part? It’s simple and effective. You don’t need to have moving buildings in your overlay to have an awesome stream.

Start off by testing the waters with one or two dynamic overlays if it’s your first time using them. It can be cluttering and confusing for viewers if you’re switching overlays non-stop, so make sure you do so with purpose and planning.

Minimalistic Graphics and Simplicity

Arguably the most common form of stream overlay is little to no overlay at all! Some call it lazy, but the minimalist overlay approach to design takes grace and consistency as well.

A minimalistic design is perfect for personality-focused and gameplay-oriented streamers.

Highlighting the stream itself is what a simple Twitch overlay does best. You can’t divert attention anywhere other than the few extra details, so how does this overlay style work for streamers?

xQc is one of the most popular streamers on Twitch as of this article’s publication. If you watch his stream, you’ll notice almost nothing in terms of overlay.

He uses some unique donation and alert overlays, but otherwise his stream is nothing but himself and whatever he’s doing.

The beauty of this style is that people clearly come to your stream and experience the streamer. If you’re a variety streamer or just someone that loves interacting with chat, leaving out the complications of overlays can be a big win.

It also opens up the opportunity to use something simple like a Twitch overlay maker if you’re on a budget and wanting something simple.

xQc is very animated and genuine with his stream which shines perfectly with a minimalist style!

The other side of a simpler overlay design is that it can heavily emphasize and highlight gameplay. Looking at a streamer like dizzy or Gosu’s history is filled with overlay-less highlight reels of insane plays.

If you’re really good at what you stream, you might be hindering yourself by incorporating a heavy-handed overlay package.

As mentioned earlier, the nice part about a simpler approach is that you probably won’t need to invest much time or money into designing an overlay.

As long as the basics of donations and subscribers, and maybe even a Twitch chat overlay are shown, you really don’t need much else.

The minimalistic approach is also great for absorbing aspects of graphic design and dynamic overlays. With a blank slate, anything you like can easily fit without feeling too clustered or out of place.

Check out our other guide on Twitch panel ideas here.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, three distinct styles and ideas that you can use as influence for your own stream overlay. Keep in mind that there is never a right or wrong when it comes to how you want to express yourself, including your stream overlay.

However, it never hurts to get a second opinion on a color palette or shimmering effect to an intermission overlay. As long as you don’t go through your overlay design blind, you’re on the right track.

The best place to start for any streamer, new or more seasoned, is to figure out your goals and purpose for streaming. Your overlay, along with the rest of your stream’s presentation, is an extension of that purpose.

Want a stream that looks professional, pleasing potential sponsors and viewers? A personally designed overlay is perfect.

Focused on the gameplay? Stick to minimalistic design. A good idea is to outline different styles of overlays and figure out which you like best.

There also aren’t any rules against using aspects of these styles together. If there’s something you like about theme or color scheme, incorporate it into your Twitch bio or wherever you see fit!

Twitch Branding Guide

Whether you’re new to streaming or just trying to figure out the best way to grow as a streamer, branding is an essential part of your journey.

Its impossible to ignore branding because it is, in some respects, something you cannot control. But what does that mean anyway?

First off, branding isn’t easy. No matter how much effort and time you put into creating your ideal brand, there will always been a person who doesn’t like the designs or alert noises that you do.

Luckily, streamers know this feeling well. Understanding your target audience and meeting goals that you set yourself will lead to a healthy stream, brand included.

Here’s a few tips that’ll help anyone looking to improve their Twitch brand:

Figure Out Your Brand Goals

What kind of audience am I trying to attract? Am I streaming full-time or part-time? What kind of sponsorships am I aiming for? These are the kind of questions you’ll want to ask yourself when determining your stream and branding goals.

The audience that primarily views your streams is the most important resource and aspect of your stream. Your viewers are what make you rise and fall as a streamer, so understanding them is necessary to your brand.

If my viewers are teenagers and young adults, like for Ninja or Tfue, what kind of language should I use on stream? Should I avoid cursing? Should I try to curse more to appear young and rebellious?

There aren’t completely right or wrong answers to any of these questions. Learning what kind of person you want to present yourself as is a major goal to figure out during the branding process.

Staying different and unique is also an important part of keeping a brand. Being able to stay relatable while distinguishing yourself from others is key to growth and success.

Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy way to figure out or set this goal for yourself. Taking feedback from viewers and friends while trying new approaches to streaming are the best way to find the best fit for you.

Sponsors are also looking at your audience, probably more than you are. There’s a reason that most streamers are sponsored by video game franchises and energy drinks rather than metalworking or vacuum cleaners.

No matter what sponsor you’re aiming for, being presentable and consistent is sought after from anyone working with you.

Keep in Mind Your Presentability and Online Presence

Speaking of being presentable, what does it mean to be presentable online? Everybody who uses the internet leaves traces of themselves in the ways they interact with the community, especially regarding social media.

During the hiring process, potential employees sometimes disable or privatize their social media accounts to avoid awkward conversations of feelings from an employer. In a sense, the same thing happens with your stream, but in a reversed way!

Unlike an accounting or law firm, streamers are expected to have a sense of self and personality that reflects in their social media.

People want to see you interacting with other people on Twitter, especially if you’re bringing parts of your stream into your online presence! Don’t be afraid to meme and tweet about random things.

But at the same time, don’t go overboard. If you’re growing consistently as a streamer its better to avoid controversial topics and debates unless that’s the basis of your stream.

Generally, making major statements might have a positive response from your audience while having a negative response from potential sponsors.

It’s easier for partners to advertise on a streamer focused on streaming instead of having a large social impact.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t say what you want! As long as you stay aware of how you’re voicing and presenting yourself, you’re in the clear.

Heavily Consider your Stream’s Appearance and Graphics

The aesthetic and design of your stream is crucial to nail down early on. Too much re-branding and graphical changes to your stream can leave viewers frustrated and confused.

If you started streaming with fun, doodle-y art in your Twitch and Twitter bio, or you used something basic from one of those overlay makers, you could certainly consider an upgrade to professionally done art.

Check out our overlay ideas guide here.

The best part about working with a talented graphic artist is that they can sometimes help you figure out your aesthetic before you do!

Let’s take a look at two different Twitch bios:

Aphromoo

This is Aphromoo’s Twitch bio. He’s a player for 100 Thieves and carries much of their aesthetic and overall appearance.

This is made even more clear by the professionally designed panels. However, he doesn’t put many words or descriptions for his channel.

So, what can we assume from this? As a viewer and potential consumer, you can guess that Aphromoo is streaming as a part of a team.

This is obvious to fans since they know his status, but we can also assume that he focuses more on gameplay and high-level play rather than an entertainment experience.

Sodapoppin

This is part of Sodapoppin’s Twitch bio. There’s more, but this more or less encompasses the idea and theme of the stream.

The differences between the two streamers and their overall approach is clearly different!

As a viewer, we can assume that Soda is not only more transparent with his audience but wants a close connection with his viewers.

If you spend an hour in both of these streamers’ chat, you’ll notice just how much more Soda interacts with his viewers.

So, Soda is the clear winner for better graphics and appearance, right? Well, not exactly.

Both of these streamers have minimal designed graphics and an appearance that mirrors their intent and purpose for streaming.

People who watch Soda aren’t always there to see him destroy players (unless he’s playing WoW PVP, in which case he is definitely destroying players).

They’re watching so that they can be a part of a larger community. The warm mascot and heavily information-based bio make this apparent.

Aphromoo isn’t as worried about creating a unique streaming community with his stream. He already has a fanbase among the League of Legends community and his team.

The clear and concise minimalist twitch panels is commonly seen among intense, game-focused streamers who aim to show their skill and stream personal practice.

Most Importantly, Stay True and Consistent

Amazing graphics and a professional, morally gray Twitter aren’t going to make your stream magically pop-off in viewers.

However, constantly aligning yourself with a set of brand goals will make you think about your image and presence. That’s what matters the most!

If you’re unsure of what’s best for you, start from the beginning. Once you understand your own goals when it comes to streaming, the branding goals are just another way to reinforce those goals.

Keep in mind that there never is going to be a right or better way to stream. The field is diverse and huge, meaning that creativity and distinguishing yourself matter more than a sponsorship for a newer streamer.

If you can find a niche for yourself, aligning with your brand goals comes second.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you’ve learned a bit about stream branding and how you fit into that world!

As long as you’re thinking about how your stream is being perceived, you’re on the right track to branding yourself.

If you can figure out one completely unique factor for your stream, be it a donation noise or art style, you’ll be that much closer to your dream sponsorship.

 

How To Add An Overlay To OBS

Hey, you over there… are you looking for the best guide on how to add an overlay to OBS?

Of course you are. Read on and let’s get that cool lookin’ Twitch overlay showing up on your channel for all your viewers to see.

My goal is to make this as simple as possible for you to understand, so you don’t have to waste hours trying to figure out how to overlay-ify your Twitch stream – or maybe you’re using hitbox or YouTube.

Either way, enough chit-chat, here’s how to add your overlay image to your stream using OBS in 3 simple steps.

Continue reading “How To Add An Overlay To OBS”

How To Set Up TwitchAlerts with OBS

If you’ve ever wondered how streamers get those fancy Twitch alerts to pop up whenever one of their viewers, donates, follows, or subscribes, then wonder no more!

In this easy-as-pie tutorial, I’ll be showing you how to get those same alerts showing up on your stream using TwitchAlerts, and OBS.

TwitchAlerts isn’t the only way to get your new follower, donator, or subscriber notifications to show up during your stream, but it’s one of the easiest, and most popular methods. But if for whatever reason you don’t want to or can’t use TwitchAlerts I’ll be creating tutorials on how to accomplish the same effect using the other apps like TeeBoard, TNotifier and more.

So stay tuned for those (or just contact me directly and I’ll help you out)

Anyways, let’s begin this guide on how to set up TwitchAlerts with OBS.

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7 Twitch Panel Ideas to Help Your Stream Stand Out

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking for some inspiration on how you might want your Twitch panels to look?

Since your panels are always visible, even while you’re not streaming, and one of the first things your viewers see when they visit your channel, it’s important to have a nice design to give off a nice first impression.

Continue reading “7 Twitch Panel Ideas to Help Your Stream Stand Out”