How to make a digital on-screen graphic overlay – with a transparent background


What is a DOG?

If you think about watching the news on TV or many Youtube videos, you’ll know just what an overlay is used for– it’s a transparent slide that overlays the screen image with a small digital graphic (aka a digital on-screen graphic, digitally origination graphic (DOG), bug, network bug), usually a logo in the corner of the screen that is used to identify the broadcaster or creator. It looks something like this.

Make overlay example

Example: Screen with DOG in the corner

You can make your own using a variety of tools. You probably already know that you can make one using a graphics app such as Photoshop. However, that type of app usually comes with a hefty price tag. Here are three low-cost options you have for making one.

How to make a graphic overlay

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What you’ll Need before you start

To make a digital on-screen graphic overlay, you just create a slide the same size as your screen which has your logo in the corner and a transparent background so the image will show through. This is a convenient way to identify your brand to your viewers.

Before you get started, there are two things to consider:

  • You’ll need a good quality Logo graphic in jpg or png format. (This tutorial assumes you already have a logo. It can be a large one because you can shrink it when you make the overlay.)
  • Before you begin, make sure you know the size of your screen so you can make the correct-sized slide. Most graphics apps default to 1280 x 720, but make sure this is the size of your screen before continuing.
    The actual size is not as important as the aspect ratio (width to height).
    • Old TVs used a 4:3 aspect ratio, but modern ones use a 16:9, as does most video.
    • Tablets use mostly 16:10, although some use 16:9.

What Tools to Use

  • You can make an overlay using a variety of tools
    • You can use a Graphics App like Adobe Photoshop
    • You can use a Presentation Creation App like Powerpoint (Windows and Mac)
    • or use Keynote (available on Mac only)

Here’s some more information about each option.

Option 1 – Use a Graphics App

The easiest way to make a graphic with a transparent background using a graphics app. Some free and low cost options include:

Option 2 – How to make an overlay using Powerpoint

Using Powerpoint to make an overlay has the advantage that many people already have Powerpoint and know how to use it. It has the disadvantage of being a bit of a complicated process.

Powerpoint won’t make a slide with a transparent background, so you have to do this in two steps. First you make a slide with a background and then you remove the background from the slide.

Think of yourself as a special effects guy in the movies. They shoot a scene with two actors in a rowboat in front of a green screen. Then in post-processing, you remove the green background and then put in a different background. Only in this case, you’ll skip putting in a different background. And you won’t need a rowboat.

Step 1 Make the Overlay Slide in Powerpoint

  1. In Powerpoint, make a slide in the same size as your screen.
  2. Add the logo where you want it. Make sure the logo is large enough to be seen and small enough that it won’t obstruct too much of the slide.
  3. Add a solid background in a color that’s not in your logo. (Like a Green Screen.)
  4. Export the slide to PNG.
Make overlay powerpoint

Step 2 Make the PNG Transparent

For the next step, make a copy of the PNG you just made and modify it instead of the original. That way you still have the original PNG in case you need to start again.

Now, comes the special effects technique. You can use Preview on Mac or another tool. We’ll cover using Preview first.

Using Preview (Only available on Mac)

  1. If you haven’t already done so, make a copy of the PNG you just made to work on.
  2. Open the copy PNG in Preview (only available on Mac).
  3. From the Image Toolbar, select the Magic Wand. Run it on the image to select all the Green.
  4. Press “Delete”.
  5. Close the file.
make overlay preview

Using an online tool

If you don’t have a Mac, there are a number of online tools you can use to do this step. Here are two.

  1. If you haven’t already done so, make a copy of the PNG you just made to work on.
  2. Go to https://transparent.imageonline.co
    or
    https://www.adobe.com/express/feature/image/transparent-background (free sign-in required)
  3. From your computer, select the Copy PNG or drag it onto the web page.
  4. Follow the instructions.
  5. Download the finished PNG to your computer.

Option 3 – How to make an overlay using Keynote

Although Powerpoint won’t make a slide with a transparent background, Keynote will.

  1. In Keynote, make a slide in the same size as your screen.
    Document Button > Slide Size
  2. Add the logo where you want it. Make sure the logo is large enough to be seen and small enough that it won’t obstruct too much of the slide.
    Media Button > Choose
  3. Change the background to No Fill
    Format Button > Fill
  4. Export the slide to PNG.
    File > Export To > Images
    making sure you click the “Export with Transparent Backgrounds” tick box.
may overlay keynote

Notes