How to Setup Overlays in Ecamm Live (MAC Only)

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. Learn more!

In this tutorial, I'll be explaining to you how to add overlays to Ecamm to make your stream look more professional. 

Getting Started

The first thing we're going to do is add scenes for our live stream. To do this, you'll select the plus sign icon under scenes. 

Add Scenes Icon

Let's name this first one 'Starting Soon'. Now, let's add another and name it 'Countdown Timer'. You'll also want to create scenes for 'Be Right Back', 'Just Chatting', 'Gameplay', and 'Ending'. 

With all of these scenes created, we can now begin to add in our overlays. 

Selecting Your Overlays

Today, I'll be utilizing overlays from Stream Designz. There are lots of options for animated overlays that match different aesthetics, styles, games, and even holidays. Aside from the overlay packages, you can also get matching countdown timers, stinger transitions, and sub badges. 

For this tutorial, I'll be using the 'Zen Zone' animated overlay package

Zen Zone Animated Overlay Package- Stream Designz

This is going to include everything that I need to set up all of my scenes. 

Everything included in the Zen Zone Package

The countdown timer is sold separately, but there is a matching countdown timer for this overlay package. 

Zen Zone Countdown Timer

If you purchased your overlays from Stream Designz, these will download in a zip file. To unzip this, all you need to do is double-click the file and it will create a new folder with all of your overlays in it. 

Once you have your overlays, you can head back over to Ecamm. 

Adding Your Overlays

Let's start with the 'Starting Soon' scene. You'll click on the scene and then on your menu bar, you'll go to 'Source' and select 'Blank'. Now, you'll want to see a black screen like the one below. 

Blank Screen on Ecamm

Next, we'll look at the 'Overlays' tab. If you're not seeing this, go to 'Window' on the menu bar and select 'Overlays'. 

You'll click the second icon from the left on the top row. 

Add Overlays Icon

This is going to bring you to the point where you'll need to find your animated overlay package files. Once you do, go to the folder that says 'Overlay Screens' and select 'Starting Soon'. Press 'Open' and then select 'Add Animated Overlay'. Now you can size this up so that it fills the screen. 

Next, at the bottom of the overlay, you'll find a dropdown menu.

Dropdown Menu

Click on this and select 'Loop'. Now, go back to 'Overlays' and lock the 'Starting Soon' scene. 

The next thing that we're going to add will be the countdown timer. 

You'll start by going to 'Sources' and selecting the 'Countdown Timer'. Again, go to the menu bar, select 'Sources', and then press 'Blank'.

Now, go to the 'Overlay' tab, press the animated overlay icon, and find the file for your countdown timer. Select 'Open' and then click 'Add Animated Overlay'. 

You'll want to size this up to fill the screen. Then, go to the dropdown menu and make sure it's not set to 'Loop' so that you can move on to the next scene when the timer is up. Once this is done, you can lock the 'Countdown Timer' scene. 

Countdown Timer Added

Now, let's move on to the 'Be Right Back' scene. 

Select this scene and then in the menu bar go to 'Sources' and press 'Blank'. Then, go to 'Overlays', press the add animated overlay icon, and find the 'Be Right Back' file. Select 'Open' and then press 'Add Animated Overlay'. 

Adjust the size so that it fills the screen, go to the dropdown menu and select 'Loop', and then you're good to lock this in place. 

Be Right Back Added

Next, let's go to the 'Stream Ending' scene. 

You'll, again, select this scene, go to 'Sources' on the menu bar, and then select 'Blank'. Go over to 'Overlays', press the add button, and find the 'Stream Ending' file. Press 'Open' and then select 'Add Animated Overlay'. 

You'll adjust the size so that this fills the screen and then go to the dropdown menu and select 'Loop'. Now, you can lock this one in place. 

Ending Soon Added

Once you go out of demo mode, you'll be able to see these overlays and their animations looping. 

The next thing that we'll look at is the 'Just Chatting' scene. This is going to be the scene that you go to during an intermission, between games, or when you're just starting your stream.

This is going to have your chat box, your gameplay webcam, your camera, and some stream labels there as well. 

To add this, you'll follow the same steps as before under the 'Just Chatting' scene, and then you'll have the window that you can see below. 

Just Chatting Overlay Added

This is also going to need to be set to 'Loop'. 

To finish setting up your 'Just Chatting' scene, click here and check out this video that will walk you through all of the steps to do so. It will explain to you how to add your stream labels, chat box, gameplay, and webcam overlays. 

Back to blog

Animated Stream Overlays