Overlay

Overlay


What is an overlay?

An overlay is a special video layer that sits above all others and allows you to show transparent sources on top of other media. Overlay is typically used to display 'bugs' or 'lower thirds/supers' temporarily during your event. Joinin has a single overlay layer (also known as a Downstream Key or DSK) on which sources can be displayed.

Example 'lower third' or 'super'



Example 'bug'




What sources can be displayed

Only some source types can be used as an overlay.
  1. Media
    1. Images
    2. Presentations (PowerPoint/Keynote/PDF)
  2. External Streams
  3. Webpages

How to use Overlays

General

Overlays are shown on the Next and On Air displays simultaneously and displayed immediately upon selection. Overlays cannot be previewed before being taken On Air.

If your source does not contain transparency it will cover all other video layers.


Adding

  1. Click the 'Overlay' button on the source card to enabled the overlay
  2. When enabled the overlay button will display in blue
  3. A notice will show at the top of the Studio page to alert you that an overlay is in use. "Overlay ON - remove"







Removing

Source card

  1. Click the 'Overlay' button on the source card to disable the overlay
  2. When disabled the overlay button will display in grey

Overlay alert

Any active overlay can quickly be removed by clicking the "remove" button beside the "Overlay ON" notification. This method is often faster and easier than locating the individual source and disabling the overlay.


Changing

Only one source can be the active overlay at a time. Selecting a new overlay source whilst an overlay is active will immediately change the overlay source.


Remove background/chroma key

Some sources are not natively transparent, for example PowerPoint presentations or external streams, and an extra step is needed to use them as overlays. You can utilise the 'remove background colour' feature to remove the green background from a source and make it transparent. This is similar to how a 'green screen' works in movies.


    • Related Articles

    • Video layers

      Video streams created in the Studio are made up of multiple layers. Layers allow for content to be placed on top of other content to create visually interesting designs.  Layers There are 4 layers in total. Layers with a higher number will be shown ...

    • Sources

      Live events can utilise several different types of content sources: Introduction Sources are the live elements of your event that can be shown to your audience. Source types Media Media can can be uploaded to your event and displayed on demand: ...

    • Remove background colour (chroma key)

      Overview You can utilise the 'remove background colour' feature to remove the green background from a source and make it transparent. This is known as a Chroma Key and is similar to how a 'green screen' works in movies. This allows the source to be ...

    • Idle event closure

      Overview Our systems detect and automatically close down idle events to prevent misuse and resource wastage. If your event is idle for an extended period of time it may be shut down automatically.  Events being actively operated will never be ...

    • Scenes

      A scene is a snapshot of the current Studio state. Using scenes Scenes can be used to assist operators in two primary ways. 1. Program a linear event A scripted show can be programmed in full during Rehearsal so operation is simplified when Live. For ...