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TikTok Live Transparent Overlay Template: Safe Zones and Setup (2025)

Authors
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    Name
    Robin
    Twitter
TL;DR
Core Pain
TikTok's mobile UI (chat, gifts, avatar bar) blocks nearly 40% of the screen, causing carefully designed stream stickers and notifications to be covered.
Search Intent
TikTok Live transparent template download, vertical stream safe zone setup, how to avoid chat covering game screen.
Key Conclusion
You must use a "Safe Zone" template for design. Core game content should be placed in the upper-middle, while notifications should avoid the right chat column and top header. It's recommended to preset these obstruction layers as a reference in design software (like Figma/PS) to ensure the exported PNG fits perfectly on mobile.
TikTok Transparent Overlay Template Banner

Design overlays that actually fit TikTok’s live UI — so nothing important gets covered by chat or headers.

Source discussion: “TikTok Live Template Transparent Overlay” — r/streaming. The post shares a transparent PNG template to help creators design overlays that respect TikTok’s chat and header areas.

Why a Transparent Template Matters

TikTok’s live layout places a header at the top and a tall chat column along the right side on most phones. If you design a 1920×1080 overlay without accounting for those UI layers, your labels, tickers, and call‑to‑actions will end up hidden.

Using a transparent template as a guide lets you:

  • See the chat column and top header areas ahead of time.
  • Position critical elements (alerts, goals, labels) in safe zones.
  • Keep lower‑thirds readable on both phone and desktop viewers.

How to Use the Template Quickly

  1. Load the transparent overlay PNG in your design tool (Figma, Photoshop, Canva).
  2. Create a 1920×1080 canvas. Treat it like a landscape frame; TikTok will add chat and top bar.
  3. Place your overlay elements (badges, labels, tickers) in the left and bottom areas primarily.
  4. Export your overlay as a PNG and use it in OBS or TikTok Live Studio as a browser/image source.

Notes:

  • The shared template was built against an iPhone 13+ layout; exact chat/header sizes can vary across devices.
  • If you stream in portrait (1080×1920), adapt the same safe‑zone thinking: avoid the right chat stack and the top header.

Safe Zones for TikTok Overlays

The diagram below summarizes safe placement. Keep dynamic items (alerts, goals) away from the chat stack and the top header. Use bottom‑left for persistent labels and call‑to‑actions.

TikTok Overlay Safe Zones

TikTok Live Safe Zones: Clearly marks the obstruction locations for chat, gift notifications, and top header to help you avoid these "design dead zones."

Below is a structured reading of the diagram:

  • Top: Header/UI space; avoid tall banners here.
  • Right: Chat column; avoid long scrolling tickers or dense text.
  • Center: Primary content focus; use lightly‑animated elements only.
  • Bottom‑left: Persistent labels (Now Playing, socials, schedule).
  • Bottom‑center: Short alerts/goals with brief animations (0.2–0.4s).
TikTok Overlay Workflow Framework

Diagram: The workflow from design to OBS layer stacking.

Practical Tips

  • Prefer short animations over constant scrolling.
  • Test overlays in a real TikTok preview when possible.
  • Keep PNGs small; compress assets and avoid massive transparent layers.
  • If overlays stutter in Live Studio, simplify effects or move heavy compositing to OBS.

Credits

Community members in r/streaming for sharing the transparent template and explaining why it helps with overlay positioning. If the template link expires, redraw a reference by taking a screenshot of your live UI and masking out the chat and header regions.

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