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How to Use Custom Layouts in a Live Stream

Create a viewer-facing live stream layout by arranging scenes and sources in OBS Studio, or customize the Streamlabs Desktop workspace separately.

By VGSources Team 4 min read
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To create a custom layout that viewers see, arrange scenes and sources in streaming software such as OBS Studio. A scene is a collection of items—such as gameplay, a webcam, text, and artwork—and the order of its sources determines what appears in front. “Layout” can also mean the arrangement of panels in the streaming app itself; Streamlabs Desktop’s Layout Editor changes that workspace, not the broadcast.

Choose the kind of layout you want to change

First decide whether you mean the viewer-facing stream or the software workspace you operate while streaming. In OBS Studio, scenes and sources make up the broadcast composition. In Streamlabs Desktop, its Layout Editor rearranges panels and components in the application. For an on-screen overlay in Streamlabs, use scenes and image sources instead.

  • Broadcast layout: compose the picture and audio viewers receive with scenes and sources.
  • Workspace layout: rearrange the controls and panels in your streaming application.

Build a viewer-facing layout in OBS Studio

1. Create a scene for each distinct segment

In OBS, create a scene for each arrangement you need—for example, a welcome screen, gameplay, a break, or an end screen. Give each scene a clear name so you can select the right one during a live show. A scene is an arrangement of sources; it is not itself a graphic template.

2. Add the sources for that scene

Select the scene, then click the plus button in the Sources dock. Choose only the items needed for that composition. OBS’s documented source types include audio input and output, browser, display capture, game capture, image, media, text, video capture, and window capture. Available capture options can vary by operating system.

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For a game stream, a common arrangement is game capture as the main image, with a video capture source for a webcam and image or text sources for supporting artwork and labels. A browser source can display a web overlay. A webcam is optional, not a requirement.

3. Position and layer the sources

Arrange the selected scene in the preview. Drag a source to move it; use its bounding box to resize it. The order in the Sources list controls layering: a source higher in the list appears in front of sources below it and can cover them. For example, put the webcam above gameplay if you want the camera inset visible over the game. Use the visibility control to hide a source without removing it from the scene.

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To crop a source using the workflow described in OBS’s overview, hold Alt while dragging an edge of its bounding box. Shortcuts can vary with software versions; if Alt-drag does not crop in your current version, consult the current OBS interface and documentation.

4. Prepare a scene change safely with Studio Mode

Studio Mode separates the scene you are editing from the scene currently sent to the live output. Prepare the next arrangement in Preview, then use a transition to send it live. This is useful when changing from gameplay to a break screen without exposing the edits as you make them.

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5. Check the complete show before going live

Visit every scene and check that sources are visible, correctly layered, and positioned as intended. Test the stream and its settings before your first broadcast. The OBS Studio Overview Guide says, “It’s strongly recommended that you test everything as best as you can before starting your first live stream.”

Make an overlay or change the Streamlabs Desktop workspace

For an overlay viewers see

In Streamlabs Desktop, create a scene collection and add scenes for the parts of your broadcast—for example, Starting Soon, Live, and BRB. In each scene, add image files under Sources as overlay elements, then arrange them for that scene. Streamlabs documentation also describes installing overlays with the Streamlabs OBS plugin or importing a Streamlabs scene collection into OBS. Plugin and interface behavior can change, so check the current support instructions for your version.

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For the operator’s app layout

  1. Open Editor > Layout Editor in Streamlabs Desktop.
  2. Add or select a layout and choose a style.
  3. Drag components into position and resize sections to suit your workspace.
  4. Save the layout.

These steps rearrange the Streamlabs application workspace. They do not, by themselves, change what viewers see in the broadcast.

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Pick the workflow that matches your setup

Need What to use What to check
Compose the viewer-facing broadcast OBS scenes and sources, or scenes and image sources in Streamlabs Desktop Source types, ordering, visibility, and position in each scene
Rearrange your Streamlabs controls Streamlabs Desktop Layout Editor Remember this changes the workspace, not the broadcast output
Capture a game, window, or display The relevant capture source Capture-source support differs by operating system
Change scenes without showing edits immediately OBS Studio Mode Prepare in Preview, then transition to the live output

The documented workflows establish what each editor changes; they do not establish a general performance, quality, or ease-of-use winner between OBS and Streamlabs.

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Or let it run in the cloud

If your goal is an always-on YouTube stream of uploaded videos rather than a live camera or gameplay layout, StreamNeo is a different option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.

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