Overlay Stack Management
When using multiple overlays simultaneously, you need to manage which are visible and how they layer on screen.
Overlay stacking order
Overlays render in slot order — slot 1’s overlay draws first (bottom), and higher slot numbers draw on top. If two overlays overlap, the higher-numbered slot’s overlay appears in front.
Overlays go straight to air
An overlay tile is one tap to program. There’s no preview step — tapping it puts it on air.
The grid tile says so: an overlayable source carries an amber OVL plate at rest, which lights to a solid OVL LIVE while it’s on air. If you can see OVL on a tile, tapping it changes what your audience sees.
Toggling individual overlays
Each overlay can be toggled independently:
- Show an overlay to make it visible on program output
- Hide an overlay to remove it without deleting the source
This is the primary way to manage overlays during a production — prepare all your overlays in advance, then show/hide them as needed.
Global overlay toggle
The master overlay toggle shows or hides all overlays at once:
- Toggle off to instantly clear the screen of all overlays
- Toggle on to restore all previously-visible overlays
This is useful for quickly cleaning up the output (e.g., during a transition or break).
Clear all overlays
The clear all action hides every overlay and resets their visibility state. Unlike the master toggle, clear all doesn’t remember which overlays were previously visible.
Editing an overlay that’s already on air
Change an overlay’s text or position while it’s live and tap Apply, and the overlay updates in place. It doesn’t replay its entrance animation — a corrected name spelling doesn’t slide in again from the side.
Overlays follow their slot
An overlay is tied to the source in its slot, not to the order you created things in. Delete a slot, or drop a different source into it, and the overlay stack keeps up: the removed overlay comes off program rather than being left behind pointing at nothing.
The stack also refuses overlays the compositor would silently drop, so what the stack says is on air is what’s on air.
Workflow tips
Pre-show setup
- Create all overlays you’ll need (lower thirds for each speaker, logos, countdowns)
- Position and style each one
- Keep them all hidden until showtime
During the show
- Toggle overlays on/off as needed (e.g., show a lower third when a new speaker starts)
- Use OSC or voice commands for hands-free overlay control
- Use the master toggle to quickly clear all overlays between segments
Multiple lower thirds
For a multi-person show, prepare a lower third in a different slot for each person. Toggle the appropriate one on when they’re speaking and off when they’re done.
OSC control
| Address | Args | Description |
|---|---|---|
/streamit/overlay/{n}/toggle |
— | Toggle overlay for slot n |
/streamit/overlay/enabled |
int 0/1 | Set global overlay visibility |
/streamit/overlay/clear |
— | Clear all overlays |
Automation tools like TouchOSC or Companion can trigger overlay changes with a single button press — see OSC Remote Control.