Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most creators, the simplest way to build a “lower third tool” is to use StreamYard’s overlays plus built‑in banners and tickers so you can add names, titles, and calls‑to‑action live from your browser. If you already design graphics in tools like Canva or Photoshop, you can upload transparent PNG or GIF overlays into StreamYard and control them like a dedicated lower‑third system.

Summary

• Lower thirds are the name and title graphics that sit in the bottom area of your video; you can build them in StreamYard with overlays, banners, and tickers.
• StreamYard accepts transparent PNG/GIF overlays at 1280×720, with simple upload‑and‑toggle controls in a browser‑based studio. (StreamYard Help Center)
• You can upload up to 100 overlays per brand folder and show one overlay at a time, which keeps your lower‑third workflow organized and predictable. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Paid plans unlock custom overlays and advanced branding, so you can keep everything—design, names, and animations—inside one production tool instead of juggling multiple apps. (StreamYard Blog)

What is a lower third tool, really?

When people in the U.S. search for a “lower third tool,” they’re usually looking for an easy way to add on‑screen name bars and titles without learning broadcast software.

In practical terms, a lower third tool does three things:

1. Displays graphics in the lower part of the frame (usually above your video).
2. Lets you show and hide those graphics live.
3. Keeps text and branding consistent across your show.

In StreamYard, that “tool” is a combination of overlays (for designed graphics) and banners/tickers (for live‑editable text). Because everything runs in the browser, you avoid installing extra software or wiring separate graphics systems into your setup. (StreamYard)

How does StreamYard handle lower thirds by default?

At StreamYard, we built lower‑third‑style graphics around a branding panel on the right side of your studio. Within a show’s brand folder, you can:

• Upload overlay images (PNGs or GIFs) that contain your lower‑third designs.
• Create static text banners for simple nameplates or headlines.
• Add scrolling tickers for announcements and calls‑to‑action. (StreamYard Help Center)

On live shows, you just click an overlay or banner to put it on screen. No scene building, no hotkeys, no external graphics machine.

For many creators and small teams, that combination covers the full “lower third tool” use case:

• A reusable template overlay with your show’s look.
• Text elements you can type or change on the fly.
• One control surface that anyone on your team can learn in minutes.

How do you create transparent lower thirds for StreamYard?

If you like to design in Canva, Photoshop, or Figma, you can build polished lower thirds and bring them into StreamYard as overlays.

A simple workflow:

1. Set your canvas size to 1280×720 pixels so your overlay lines up with a 720p stream. (StreamYard Help Center)
2. Design only the graphical strip in the lower part of the canvas—keep the rest fully transparent.
3. Export as a PNG with transparency enabled. (You can also use a GIF if you need lightweight animation.)
4. In StreamYard, open your studio, go to Brand → Overlays, and upload the file.
5. During your show, click the overlay to toggle the lower third on and off.

Because StreamYard renders overlays in the cloud instead of on your computer, you don’t need a heavy GPU or encoder box to get smooth graphics; our servers handle the transitions and compositing. (StreamYard Blog)

For many people, this is enough: you design once, upload to your brand folder, and re‑use the same lower third every episode.

Can you animate lower thirds in StreamYard?

Yes—with some healthy guardrails.

Animated lower thirds in StreamYard typically rely on animated GIF overlays. To keep streams stable and responsive:

• Overlays can be JPG, PNG, or GIF.
• GIF overlays should stay under 3 MB and under 108 frames.
• In general, overlay files should be under 20 MB each. (StreamYard Help Center)

This means you can build tasteful motion—sliding name bars, subtle fades, a small shimmer—without turning your show into an effects demo or overloading your viewers’ bandwidth.

A practical tip: treat animation as an accent, not the main event. Most audiences care more about who is speaking and what they are saying than how aggressively the lower third bounces onto the screen.

How many overlays can you upload and show live?

If you’re producing multi‑segment shows, events with many speakers, or recurring series, capacity matters.

In StreamYard:

• You can upload up to 100 overlays per brand folder.
• You can display only one overlay at a time on stream. (StreamYard Help Center)

That “one overlay at a time” rule keeps your graphics stack from becoming an unreadable pile of elements. It also encourages a clean workflow:

• One base lower‑third overlay per show style.
• Occasional special overlays (sponsor tags, event‑specific branding) that you swap in as needed.

If you need per‑speaker name changes, you can leave the graphic shell in the overlay and use banners for the names and roles. That way you don’t have to upload a new overlay for every guest.

Can you edit lower‑third text live in StreamYard?

Yes—via banners and tickers rather than an in‑overlay text editor.

Within the Banners tab in the StreamYard studio, you can:

• Create static banners that function like simple lower thirds (e.g., “Pat Flynn – Host”).
• Toggle any banner on and off with a click.
• Turn a banner into a scrolling ticker for time‑sensitive info like “Q&A starts in 5 minutes” or “Text ‘LIVE’ to join the list.” (StreamYard Help Center)

For many interview shows, a hybrid approach works best:

• Overlay: Your branded lower‑third background.
• Banner: The text that changes from guest to guest.

This keeps your design work in one place and your live text edits in another—no need to open a graphics app mid‑show.

What asset specs and plans do you actually need?

To keep things simple, here are the key specs creators in the U.S. ask about most:

• Dimensions: Overlays and backgrounds are optimized at 1280×720 pixels, which is ideal if you stream at 720p. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Formats: JPG, PNG, and GIF are supported for overlays; use PNG or GIF when you need transparency.
• File size: Aim for <20 MB per overlay; keep GIFs under 3 MB and 108 frames.
• Count: Up to 100 overlays per brand folder, one displayed at a time.

Custom overlays—the core of a fully branded lower‑third system—are available on paid plans. (StreamYard Blog) That aligns with how many creators think about investment: once you’re ready for a consistent, professional look, it makes sense to keep your design, live production, and multistreaming inside one browser‑based studio instead of stacking more tools.

For teams that want typography control on top of graphics, StreamYard’s Business‑level offering allows uploading up to 20 custom fonts per team, which can help align banners and tickers with brand guidelines. (StreamYard Help Center)

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard overlays plus banners as your “lower third tool” to keep design, switching, and multistreaming in one browser tab.
• Design transparent PNG lower thirds at 1280×720, then upload them as overlays and pair them with live‑editable banners for names and titles.
• If you want motion, add subtle animated GIF overlays under 3 MB and 108 frames so your stream stays smooth.
• As your show grows, organize overlays and banners into brand folders per series, so any producer on your team can run clean, consistent lower thirds without extra software.