Time Overlay guide
To add a timer overlay to OBS, export a transparent countdown from Time Overlay and add the file as a source. Use WebM with alpha as a Media Source for the simplest OBS timer overlay, or use a PNG sequence as an Image Slideshow Source when you want frame-accurate loops. Both routes keep the background already cut out, so you do not need chroma key or a green screen.
Recommended Time Overlay export: WebM (with alpha) for most OBS scenes. PNG sequence when you want frame-accurate loops or maximum quality.
Step 01
Open the Time Overlay generator, pick a duration that matches your starting soon, break, or challenge scene, then set the canvas to the same resolution OBS is recording or streaming at.
Step 02
Choose a corner or lower-third placement that avoids your webcam, chat box, captions, and game UI. Simple digits with strong contrast are easier to read after stream compression.
Step 03
Choose 'WebM (with alpha)' from the export panel. The output is a transparent VP8 WebM file that OBS can read directly as a Media Source with the background already removed.
Step 04
In OBS, add a Media Source, browse to the downloaded .webm, and enable Loop if the timer should repeat. Resize the source on the OBS canvas until it reads clearly without covering the main action.
Step 05
If your OBS setup stutters on WebM playback, export a PNG sequence instead and load it through an Image Slideshow Source. This keeps the same transparency but shifts the work from video decoding to image playback.
Step 06
Start a local OBS recording for 10 to 20 seconds. Confirm the timer composites cleanly over the scene, stays readable at stream bitrate, and restarts at the moment you expect.
WebM with alpha is the best first choice for OBS because it is a single transparent video file that works as a Media Source. Use a PNG sequence when WebM playback stutters, when you need frame-accurate loops, or when maximum visual quality matters more than convenience.
Export the timer from Time Overlay with a transparent background, then add the WebM file as a Media Source or the PNG sequence as an Image Slideshow Source. The alpha channel is already in the export, so OBS does not need chroma key, luma key, or a green-screen color.
Use a browser source when you need a live, remote-controlled timer that changes during the stream. Use a media source when you want a designed transparent countdown asset that is predictable, local, and easy to reuse across scenes.
Yes. Add the exported WebM as a Media Source and enable Loop if the countdown should repeat. For scene-based countdowns, also test when the source starts so the first visible frame lines up with your stream transition.
For most creators, the honest choice is WebM first and PNG sequence second. WebM is easier because it is one transparent video file. PNG sequence is better when you need exact frame control, want to avoid codec issues, or plan to reuse the countdown as a high-quality transparent asset outside OBS.
Not sure which export format to pick? Compare every transparent overlay format by editor and browser support.