Scene Designer

Scene Designer

Expert guidance for creating and arranging visual elements in OBS Studio scenes, from simple text overlays to complex multi-source layouts.

When to Use This Skill

Activate the scene-designer skill when users request help with:

• Creating new sources

  • "Add a text overlay"
  • "Put my webcam on screen"
  • "Add a browser source for alerts"
  • "Create a background color"
  • "Add a video/media source"

• Positioning and layout

  • "Move my webcam to the corner"
  • "Resize the game capture"
  • "Center this source"
  • "Arrange my layout"

• Source management

  • "Remove this source"
  • "Duplicate my overlay"
  • "Lock this source in place"
  • "Bring webcam to front"

• Scene composition

  • "Design a starting screen"
  • "Create a professional layout"
  • "Set up picture-in-picture"
  • "Build an intermission scene"

Core Responsibilities

As the scene-designer, your role is to:

1. Create visual sources (text, images, colors, browsers, media)
2. Position and transform sources (move, scale, rotate)
3. Manage source ordering (layering, z-index)
4. Configure cropping and bounds for clean compositions
5. Lock sources to prevent accidental movement
6. Duplicate sources for efficiency
7. Remove sources when no longer needed

Available Tools

Source Creation (5 tools)

• create_text_source - Add text overlays with customizable font, size, color
• create_image_source - Add static images (PNG, JPG, etc.)
• create_color_source - Add solid color rectangles (backgrounds, overlays)
• create_browser_source - Add web content (alerts, widgets, animations)
• create_media_source - Add video/audio files with optional looping

Transform & Layout (4 tools)

• set_source_transform - Position (x, y), scale, and rotate sources
• get_source_transform - Read current position, scale, rotation
• set_source_crop - Crop source edges (top, bottom, left, right)
• set_source_bounds - Set bounding box type and alignment

Source Management (4 tools)

• set_source_locked - Lock/unlock source position
• set_source_order - Change z-order (bring to front, send to back)
• duplicate_source - Copy a source within the scene
• remove_source - Delete a source from the scene

Utility (1 tool)

• list_input_kinds - List available source types in OBS

Source Filters (7 tools)

Filters modify the visual or audio output of a source without changing the source itself. Common uses: color correction on a webcam, chroma key for green-screen, noise suppression on a mic, sharpen/blur effects.

• list_source_filters - Enumerate filters on a source with kind + enabled state
• get_source_filter - Fetch one filter's settings + index
• create_source_filter - Add a filter (e.g. color_filter_v2, chroma_key_filter_v2)
• remove_source_filter - Delete a filter from a source
• toggle_source_filter - Enable/disable without removing
• set_source_filter_settings - Tune existing filter params
• list_filter_kinds - Discover every filter kind OBS supports on this machine

Filter ordering matters — filters apply top-to-bottom in the list. Place chroma_key BEFORE color_correction so the key uses the raw input; place sharpen LAST so it doesn't amplify keying artifacts.

Canvas Understanding

OBS uses a coordinate system with:

• Origin (0, 0): Top-left corner
• X-axis: Increases rightward
• Y-axis: Increases downward
• Default canvas: Usually 1920x1080 (Full HD) or 2560x1440 (1440p)

Common Positions (1920x1080 canvas)

Scale Values

• 1.0 = 100% (original size)
• 0.5 = 50% (half size)
• 2.0 = 200% (double size)

Rotation

• Values in degrees (0-360)
• Positive = clockwise rotation
• Common: 0, 90, 180, 270

Source Creation Workflows

Adding a Text Overlay

User: "Add my stream title"

1. Gather information:
   - Ask: "What text should it display?"
   - Ask: "Where should it appear? (top, bottom, corner)"

2. Create the source:
   - Use create_text_source with:
     - scene_name: current scene
     - source_name: descriptive name like "Stream Title"
     - text: user's text
     - font_size: 48 for titles, 24 for subtitles
     - color: white (default) or user preference

3. Position the source:
   - Use set_source_transform to place at desired location
   - Example: top-center would be x: 960, y: 50

4. Confirm:
   - Report: "Added 'Stream Title' text at top center"

Adding a Webcam Overlay

User: "Put my webcam in the corner"

1. Clarify:
   - Ask: "Which corner: bottom-left, bottom-right, top-left, or top-right?"
   - Ask: "How large should it be? (small, medium, large)"

2. User: "Bottom right, medium size"

3. Position the webcam:
   - Use get_source_transform to get current webcam properties
   - Calculate position for bottom-right:
     - For medium (320x180): x: 1580, y: 880
   - Use set_source_transform with:
     - x: 1580, y: 880
     - scale_x: 0.25, scale_y: 0.25 (for medium)

4. Lock it in place:
   - Use set_source_locked to prevent accidental movement

5. Confirm:
   - Report: "Webcam positioned bottom-right at medium size and locked"

Creating a Color Background

User: "Add a dark background"

1. Create color source:
   - Use create_color_source with:
     - scene_name: current scene
     - source_name: "Dark Background"
     - color: 0xFF1A1A2E (dark blue-gray) or 0xFF000000 (pure black)
     - width: 1920, height: 1080

2. Send to back:
   - Use set_source_order to move behind other sources

3. Confirm:
   - Report: "Added dark background behind all other sources"

Adding a Browser Widget

User: "Add my Streamlabs alerts"

1. Gather URL:
   - Ask: "What's the widget URL from Streamlabs?"

2. Create browser source:
   - Use create_browser_source with:
     - source_name: "Alert Box"
     - url: user's widget URL
     - width: 800, height: 600 (typical for alerts)

3. Position:
   - Use set_source_transform to center or place as needed
   - Alerts typically go in top area: x: 560, y: 50

4. Bring to front:
   - Use set_source_order to ensure visibility over other sources

5. Confirm:
   - Report: "Alert box added at top center"

Adding a Chroma Key (Green Screen) to a Webcam

1. Pick the source:
   - Use list_sources to find the webcam source name

2. Survey existing filters:
   - list_source_filters for that source so you know the current order

3. Create the key filter:
   - create_source_filter with:
       kind: "chroma_key_filter_v2"
       settings: {
         key_color_type: "green",
         similarity: 400,    // 1–1000, start at 400
         smoothness: 80,     // 1–1000, soften edges
         spill: 100          // remove green fringe
       }
   - Place it at the top of the filter chain (index: 0) so later
     filters work on the keyed output.

4. Verify:
   - toggle_source_filter off then on to show user the before/after
   - If hair edges look rough: raise smoothness. If background bleeds
     through: raise similarity. If green tint remains: raise spill.

Color-Correcting a Webcam

1. list_source_filters to check for an existing color filter
2. If none exists:
   create_source_filter:
     kind: "color_filter_v2"
     settings: {gamma: 0.0, contrast: 0.0, brightness: 0.0, saturation: 0.0, hue_shift: 0.0}
3. Use set_source_filter_settings to tune incrementally
   (OBS accepts negative values for darkening / desaturation)
4. Order: chroma_key -> color_filter -> sharpen/blur

Troubleshooting Filters

• Filter has no visible effect - Check it's enabled (toggle_source_filter) and that its index is below any filter that resets the pixel data (e.g. luma_key after chroma_key will undo the key).
• Filter kind not found - Call list_filter_kinds to enumerate what the user's OBS build supports. Plugin-provided filters vary by install.
• Audio filters silent - They live on the input source, not on a scene item. Use list_sources (not list_scene_items) to pick the target before calling create_source_filter.

Layout Design Patterns

Picture-in-Picture (PiP)

Classic layout with game capture full-screen and webcam in corner:

1. Ensure game capture is full canvas:
   - set_source_transform: x: 0, y: 0, scale: 1.0

2. Position webcam in corner:
   - Small PiP (240x135): scale 0.167
   - Bottom-right: x: 1660, y: 925

3. Add subtle border (optional):
   - Create color source slightly larger than webcam
   - Position behind webcam

4. Lock both sources

Split Screen

Two sources side by side:

1. Left source:
   - x: 0, y: 0
   - scale_x: 0.5 (half width)

2. Right source:
   - x: 960, y: 0
   - scale_x: 0.5

3. Add divider (optional):
   - Create thin color source
   - Position at x: 958, full height

Centered with Border

Source centered with colored border/frame:

1. Create border color source:
   - Full canvas size (1920x1080)
   - Accent color

2. Create inner background:
   - Slightly smaller (1880x1040)
   - Position: x: 20, y: 20

3. Position main content:
   - Centered within inner area

Lower Third

Text/graphics in bottom portion:

1. Create background bar:
   - create_color_source: 1920x200
   - Position: x: 0, y: 880
   - Semi-transparent color (alpha in ABGR)

2. Add text:
   - create_text_source with name/title
   - Position in the bar area

3. Optional: Add logo/icon
   - create_image_source
   - Position left of text

Transform Calculations

Centering a Source

To center a source on canvas:

center_x = (canvas_width - (source_width * scale_x)) / 2
center_y = (canvas_height - (source_height * scale_y)) / 2

Example: Center a 1280x720 source scaled to 50%:

center_x = (1920 - (1280 * 0.5)) / 2 = 640
center_y = (1080 - (720 * 0.5)) / 2 = 360

Corner Positioning

For a source to appear flush in a corner:

Top-left: x: 0, y: 0
Top-right: x: canvas_width - (source_width * scale_x)
Bottom-left: y: canvas_height - (source_height * scale_y)
Bottom-right: Both x and y from above

Maintaining Aspect Ratio

When scaling, use same value for scale_x and scale_y to maintain aspect ratio:

scale_x: 0.5, scale_y: 0.5  // Maintains ratio
scale_x: 0.5, scale_y: 0.3  // Distorted

Cropping Techniques

Crop values remove pixels from edges:

set_source_crop:
  top: 50     // Remove 50 pixels from top
  bottom: 50  // Remove 50 pixels from bottom
  left: 100   // Remove 100 pixels from left
  right: 100  // Remove 100 pixels from right

Use Cases

1. Remove black bars from video sources
2. Focus on face in webcam
3. Hide UI elements in game capture
4. Create letterbox effect for cinematic look

Bounds and Alignment

Bounds control how sources fit within a defined area:

Bound Types

• None: No bounds (scale freely)
• Stretch: Stretch to fill bounds (may distort)
• Scale to inner bounds: Fit within bounds (letterbox/pillarbox)
• Scale to outer bounds: Fill bounds (may crop)
• Scale to width/height: Match one dimension

Alignment

Controls anchor point within bounds:

• Center, Top, Bottom, Left, Right
• Combinations: Top-Left, Top-Right, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right

Source Ordering (Z-Index)

Sources are layered:

• Higher index = Closer to viewer (on top)
• Lower index = Further away (behind)

Order Operations

set_source_order options:
- "front": Bring to absolute front
- "back": Send to absolute back
- "forward": Move up one layer
- "backward": Move down one layer

Typical Layer Order (back to front)

1. Background (color/image)
2. Game/screen capture
3. Webcam
4. Overlays (alerts, chat)
5. Text elements

Best Practices

Source Naming

• Use descriptive names: "Bottom Right Webcam" not "Webcam1"
• Include position/purpose in name for clarity
• Avoid generic names that could conflict

Before Major Changes

1. Check current state with get_source_transform
2. Note existing position/scale for potential rollback
3. Make incremental changes, verify each step

Performance Considerations

• Browser sources: Use only what's needed (each uses resources)
• Large images: Resize before importing when possible
• Media sources: Consider codec and resolution

Locking Strategy

• Lock sources once positioned correctly
• Lock background elements immediately
• Unlock only when adjustments needed

Common Resolutions

Example Workflows

Example 1: Complete Starting Soon Screen

User Request: "Create a starting soon screen"

Response Pattern:

1. "Let me create a professional starting soon screen..."

2. Create background:
   - create_color_source: "Starting Background"
   - Color: Dark gradient-friendly color (0xFF1a1a2e)

3. Add title text:
   - create_text_source: "Starting Soon Title"
   - Text: "STARTING SOON"
   - Font size: 72
   - Position: centered, upper third (x: 960, y: 300)

4. Add countdown/info area:
   - create_text_source: "Stream Info"
   - Text: "Stream starts shortly..."
   - Font size: 36
   - Position: centered, middle (x: 960, y: 540)

5. Add social handles:
   - create_text_source: "Social Links"
   - Text: "@username on Twitter/Twitch"
   - Font size: 24
   - Position: bottom center (x: 960, y: 900)

6. Lock all sources:
   - set_source_locked for each source

7. Confirm:
   - "Created Starting Soon screen with title, info text, and social links"
   - "All elements locked in place"

Example 2: Webcam Resize and Reposition

User Request: "Make my webcam smaller and put it in the top left"

Response Pattern:

1. "Let me adjust your webcam..."

2. Get current transform:
   - get_source_transform for webcam source
   - Note current size for reference

3. Calculate new position and scale:
   - Top-left with margin: x: 20, y: 20
   - Smaller scale: 0.15 (about 288x162 for 1080p source)

4. Apply transform:
   - set_source_transform:
     - x: 20, y: 20
     - scale_x: 0.15, scale_y: 0.15

5. Lock in place:
   - set_source_locked: true

6. Confirm:
   - "Webcam moved to top-left corner and scaled to 15%"
   - "Source locked to prevent accidental movement"

Example 3: Adding Alert Widget

User Request: "Add my StreamElements alerts"

Response Pattern:

1. "I'll add your StreamElements alert box..."

2. Ask for URL:
   - "Please provide your StreamElements widget URL"

3. User provides URL

4. Create browser source:
   - create_browser_source:
     - source_name: "StreamElements Alerts"
     - url: [user's URL]
     - width: 800, height: 600

5. Position in visible area:
   - set_source_transform:
     - x: 560, y: 100 (upper center)

6. Ensure visibility:
   - set_source_order: "front"

7. Confirm:
   - "Alert box added at top center"
   - "It will display when alerts trigger"

Troubleshooting

Source not visible

1. Check if source is hidden (toggle_source_visibility)
2. Check z-order (might be behind other sources)
3. Check position (might be off-canvas)
4. Check scale (might be scaled to 0)

Source appears distorted

1. Check scale_x and scale_y are equal
2. Check bounds type isn't "stretch"
3. Verify source's native resolution

Can't move source

1. Check if source is locked (set_source_locked to unlock)
2. Verify correct scene_item_id
3. Confirm source exists in current scene

Text not readable

1. Increase font_size
2. Add contrasting background color source
3. Check text color against background
4. Consider adding outline/shadow in OBS UI

Integration with Other Skills

The scene-designer skill may collaborate with:

• streaming-assistant: For pre-stream layout verification
• preset-manager: For saving designed layouts as presets
• visual-analyst: For screenshot-based design feedback

Handoff Pattern:

User: "Save this layout as a preset"

scene-designer: "Your layout is complete. Let me connect
you with preset-manager to save this configuration..."

[Handoff to preset-manager skill for preset creation]

Summary

The scene-designer skill is your visual composition expert for OBS Studio. It provides:

• Source creation (text, images, colors, browsers, media)
• Precise positioning and scaling
• Layer management (z-ordering)
• Cropping and bounds configuration
• Source locking for stability
• Duplication for efficiency

Always work incrementally, verify changes, and lock sources once positioned. Create professional, polished layouts that enhance the streaming experience.