How to Create a Cool Twitch Layout in Photoshop

Making your own Twitch overlay is a fast way to level up your stream

Updated on February 11, 2021

What to Know

In Photoshop, create a 1920 x 1080 canvas and fill background. Add layers and use Marquee tool to create space for a webcam stream.
Fill marquee, create new layer, and use marquee tool again to create a new box for game footage. Save as a Photoshop (.psd) file.
Also needed: A computer, capture card, webcam, and broadcasting software like OBS Studio or Streamlabs OBS to customize layout.

A Twitch layout, also called a Twitch stream overlay, is a graphic design that appears during your Twitch broadcast. Here's a look at how to make a Twitch overlay with Photoshop, and how to add your background image to OBS Studio.

How to Make a Twitch Overlay With Photoshop

Photoshop is one of the best tools for creating a Twitch overlay. Follow these steps to make a basic Twitch layout, and then experiment with adding more features and personality to your broadcast. This tutorial uses Photoshop 2020, but instructions should be similar in other versions.

If you don't have Photoshop, try a free alternative, such as Paint 3D in Windows 10 or the online graphics editor Canva to create a Twitch overlay.

Open Photoshop and select File > New from the top menu.
In the Let's Start Something New box, set the width to 1920 pixels and the height to 1080 pixels, and then select Create.

These measurements match the full size of your stream layout, which fills a TV monitor when viewed. Using this size helps you better visualize the result and plan accordingly.
From the top menu, select Edit > Fill.
Next to Contents, select Color from the drop-down menu.
Choose a color for the background, and then select OK.

You can repeat this step until you find a color you like.
Select OK to exit the Fill box.
From the top menu, select Layer > New > Layer.
In the New Layer pop-up box, select OK. You now have an invisible layer on top of the background, allowing you to draw and edit your design without affecting the background color.

Both the new layer and the original background layer should be visible in the Layers box in the lower-right corner of the screen.
In the Layers box, select the new layer.

If the Layers window isn't open, select Layers under the Window menu.
From the toolbox on the left, select the Rectangular Marquee Tool. It's a dotted-line square icon in the upper-left corner of the toolbox.
Move the mouse to the workspace and click and drag the tool to create a square or rectangle shape where you want your webcam to be during your stream.
When you have the shape you want, go to the top menu and select Edit > Fill.
Choose the color you want the box to be and select OK. Select OK again to exit the Fill box.
Repeating the previous steps, create a new layer, make a box for your video game footage, and add a Fill color.

Do the same for the other content you want to frame, such as a chatbox or new subscriber list.
With each box on its own layer, move boxes and edit boxes individually by selecting their layer from the Layers box and choosing the Move Tool arrow icon from the toolbox.
Once you have everything the way you want, go to File > Save to save your project as a Photoshop (.psd) file. You'll use this file to edit the project in the future.
Go to File again and select Save As. From the Format drop-down menu, choose JPEG, give the file a name, and select Save. You're done!

How to Add Your Background Image to OBS Studio

Add your custom-made image to OBS Studio the same way as any other media source.

Click the Plus sign in the Sources window of OBS.
Select Image.
Ensure the Create Layer option is active and name the new layer. "Background" is a good idea for the layer name, as it's easily identifiable. Click OK to save the name.
Select Browse, find your saved JPEG image on your computer, then select OK.
Your background image should now appear in OBS Studio. Due to its size, it may cover other content, so make sure to locate it in the Sources box at the bottom of the screen and drag it to the bottom of the list.
Add other media sources, such as your webcam, video game footage, and alerts.

Make sure these new additions are above the background in the Sources list so that they're visible.
You now have a basic custom Twitch layout! You can change the background image at any time by opening and editing your saved .psd file in Photoshop.

Sample Twitch layout created in Photoshop featuring Twitch streamer, Naysy_

Tips on Creating Your Twitch Overlay

When you get more of a feel for creating a Twitch overlay, keep these tips in mind:

If you want to draw directly on or edit the background layer (to change its color, for example), select it in the Layers box.
Switch between all layers at any time via the Layers box.
You can also use a large image for the background or use the Gradient Tool for a more creative option.

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