Adding text overlays to your Facebook Live videos can be a great way to engage your audience and make your broadcasts more dynamic and professional looking. Text overlays allow you to display things like your name, location, commentary, questions, polls, and more right within the video frame. This keeps viewers focused on the action while also providing relevant additional information.
While Facebook Live doesn’t have built-in options for adding text overlays, there are several third party apps and software options that make it easy to add text and graphics to your Facebook Live videos as you broadcast. Here are the main ways you can go about adding text overlays to Facebook Live.
Using Third Party Software
The easiest way to add text overlays to Facebook Live is by using a dedicated third party software or app. Here are some top options to consider:
Be.Live
Be.Live is a web-based production suite made specifically for live streaming on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and more. It makes it easy to add custom text, images, logos, frames and other graphical overlays to your live video.
To use it, you simply connect your Facebook account to Be.Live, configure your overlays, and then start streaming directly from the Be.Live interface. This allows the overlays and graphics to be added on top of your live video feed as you broadcast.
Some key features include:
- Customizable lower thirds with your name, location, etc.
- Scrolling text banners
- Animated backgrounds and frames
- Image/logo watermarks
- Interactive polls and questions
Restream
Restream is another popular multi-streaming platform that lets you simulcast your video feed to multiple sites simultaneously, including Facebook Live. Like Be.Live, it also includes a suite of tools for adding overlays and graphics to your videos.
Restream makes it easy to create your overlay templates and then add them on top of your live stream with just a couple clicks. Features include:
- Customizable lower thirds
- Logos and watermarks
- Borders and backgrounds
- Animated banners/text
- Screen sharing
- Basic shapes and imagery
Wirecast
Wirecast from Telestream is a more advanced live streaming production tool used by professional streamers. It offers sophisticated broadcast-grade capabilities, including extensive options for overlays and graphics.
With Wirecast you can build complex visual layouts with multiple layers of text, logos, images, videos and more. Everything can be customized and dynamically updated during your live streams.
Some useful Wirecast features include:
- Customizable lower third banners
- Dynamic text and graphics
- Built-in titles editor
- Animated graphics and transitions
- Robust layout/composition tools
- Chroma keying (green screen)
The main downside to Wirecast is its higher price point compared to other options. But for professional quality production, it can be worth the investment.
Using Mobile Apps
In addition to desktop streaming software, there are also mobile apps you can use to add overlays and graphics to Facebook Live broadcasts from your smartphone. Here are some top options:
Kitcam
Kitcam is a multi-camera video production app made specifically for mobile live streaming. It makes it easy to switch between different cameras and apply overlays like graphics, text and logos in real-time.
Key features include:
- Customizable banners and lower thirds
- Animated text graphics
- Image/video overlays
- Drawing tools
- Green screen compositing
Switcher Studio
Similar to Kitcam, Switcher Studio allows you produce professional quality mobile live streams with multi-source compositing and overlays.
With Switcher Studio you can dynamically mix and arrange multiple camera feeds while applying graphics, text, imagery and logos on top of the live video.
Key overlay features include:
- Customizable banners, titles and tickers
- Animated graphics and transitions
- Chroma key compositing
- Picture-in-picture elements
- Image/video overlays
LARIX Broadcaster
LARIX Broadcaster is another popular mobile live streaming app that offers a graphics overlay editor for adding text, logos, imagery and more on top of your Facebook Live broadcasts.
Useful overlay capabilities include:
- Customizable banners and lower thirds
- Animated graphics
- Drawing/text tools
- Custom intro/outro sequences
- Chroma key compositing
One advantage of LARIX is that it works with both iOS and Android devices.
Using a Graphics Overlay Device
Dedicated external graphics overlay devices provide another route to adding text and imagery to your Facebook Live streams. These devices sit between your camera and encoder, allowing you to overlay graphics while streaming from a video switcher or mobile device. Here are some top options:
Blackmagic ATEM Mini
The Blackmagic ATEM Mini is a popular broadcast switcher that works great for live streaming while also allowing external graphics insertion from a laptop or graphics system.
It mixes camera feeds and provides an upstream keyer for adding graphics overlays from an external source. This makes it possible to add your logos, text and graphics overlays on top of your live video while streaming to Facebook.
Elgato Cam Link 4K
For a simpler external solution, the Elgato Cam Link 4K is a plug-and-play USB device that sits between your camera and encoder to allow you to merge external graphics feeds with your live video.
You would connect your camera to the Cam Link 4K via HDMI, then connect the Cam Link to your computer. From there you can use graphics software like OBS Studio to overlay graphics onto your Facebook Live stream.
Livestream Studio HD51
For a high quality all-in-one production switcher, the Livestream Studio HD51 provides integrated overlay capabilities perfect for Facebook Live.
It allows you connect multiple cameras and insert graphics, titles and logos from both internal and external graphics sources while live streaming.
Using Facebook Live Features
While limited compared to dedicated graphics and streaming tools, Facebook Live does offer some basic built-in overlay capabilities you can leverage directly within the Facebook Live producer interface.
Title and Description
When configuring your Facebook Live broadcast from the Facebook app, you have the option to add a title and description that will be displayed as an overlay on top of your live video.
This can be used for a simple branded banner or basic text relevant to your broadcast.
Live Poll
Facebook Live’s live poll feature lets you overlay an interactive poll graphic that viewers can respond to in real-time as you’re streaming.
To use it, simply create a multiple choice poll in the Facebook Live producer interface and enable the on-screen poll overlay.
Comments
Scrolling viewer comments can also act as a basic text overlay on your Facebook Live video.
Comments overlay the right side of the video so your viewers can see reactions and feedback rolling in live.
Using a Facebook Live Overlay App
If you don’t want to use full production software or hardware devices, a simpler option is an app specifically designed to add graphics overlays to Facebook Live.
These streamlined apps run on your computer or mobile device and integrate with your Facebook account to make it easy to add graphics and text on top of your live streams.
Some top options include:
Popper Live Overlays
Popper Live Overlays provides templates and customization tools to add things like logos, images, text boxes and more.
StreamLoops
StreamLoops focuses on animated overlays and graphics for Facebook Live.
ThaBoard
ThaBoard offers Facebook Live integrated tools for adding doodles, text, arrows, shapes and more.
Using OBS Studio
While designed primarily for streaming to Twitch or YouTube Live, OBS Studio is a free and open source streaming software that can also be used to add overlays to your Facebook Live broadcasts.
It takes more effort to setup compared to dedicated Facebook Live overlay tools, but provides extensive options for adding graphics, text, logos, videos and more on top of your live feed.
Some key steps for using OBS Studio overlays with Facebook Live:
- Install OBS Studio
- Setup a Facebook Live encoder connection within OBS Studio
- Configure your desired overlays, scenes, etc. within OBS
- Test and preview your graphics overlay setup
- Stream to Facebook Live via OBS
You’ll need to make sure to match your streaming resolution and bitrate settings between OBS and Facebook. But once configured properly, OBS provides a powerful overlay option.
Conclusion
Adding text, graphics and image overlays to your Facebook Live videos helps capture more attention and deliver more polished, professional looking results.
While Facebook Live itself only offers limited overlay options, third party software and apps provide much more advanced capabilities for live overlays and graphics.
Top solutions range from dedicated production switchers like Wirecast or mobile apps like Kitcam to more basic titling tools like Popper or ThaBoard.
With the right software or hardware setup, you can produce dynamic Facebook Live streams that rival traditional broadcasts and keep your viewers actively engaged from start to finish.