How to add lower third graphic overlays to events

“Lower third” specifically refers to the bottom one-third of the screen. These graphics are typically used to introduce a speaker or participant on your stream or identify the location of your event, among other uses. You can add lower-third graphics to your virtual broadcast within ZenVideo. 

⚠️ Note: Graphics overlays on the ZenVideo platform are only supported if you select Stream through your browser. If you are using an external encoder, see How to add graphics to events while using an external encoder. If you are using Livestream Studio, see the Livestream Help Center to learn about its graphics overlays functionality.

Lower third graphic overlays when streaming with ZenVideo

When you create a recurring event or webinar and click Stream with ZenVideo from the setup page, you will be brought to our web-based production tool where you can add all the production elements for your event from a single browser page.

A lower third will automatically be created for the broadcaster (you) and every guest speaker you add to the event with their name and title if you added one. Polls and Q&A will have default lower-third graphics such as the poll results and submitted questions. This guide will cover adding any additional lower-third graphics you may add beyond these standard ones.

First, you can adjust the colors for all of your event’s lower third graphics:

1. On the event settings page, select the Brand icon on the left side.
2. In the Colors section, you can see a preview of a lower third.
   
   
3. Click on Primary color to open the color window.
4. You can drag and drop the color selector or insert your brand’s exact HEX color codes.
   
5. Click out of the color picker and repeat these steps for your Secondary color.
6. Select Save to apply your brand colors. 

After selecting your colors, above the Brand option on the left navigation menu is the Graphics option. After navigating to Graphics, select + Add lower third.
 

By default, the Scenes tab will be selected, where you can add custom lower third graphics that aren’t tied to speakers, polls, or Q&A. To create a scene lower third:

1. Select + Add lower third to create a new lower third graphic.
2. Enter the primary text.
3. Add an image and secondary text if desired.
4. A preview of your lower third graphic will appear above.
5. Select Save when you’re finished.
   
   

In order to show your lower third, you need to add it to a scene. To do so:

1. Select the Scene tab within the Graphics panel.
2. Click on '+' icon to Add to scene.
   

To remove a scene lower third from a scene:

1. Move the cursor to the lower third that needs to be removed.
2. Click the ‘-’ icon to Remove from scene.
3. Select Remove from scene.
   
   

The other tab in the Lower third panel is Speakers. These lower-third graphics are automatically created for the broadcaster and any guest speaker added to your event. To edit these:

1. Hover your cursor over the lower third.
2. Select the pencil icon. 
3. You can edit their Name and Title. These lower thirds do not include image fields. 
4. Your changes will save automatically.

Speakers’ lower thirds will be available on any scene their corresponding speaker is added to. When a scene is in the stream output and you want to show the speakers’ names, select Overlays above the player and then Show lower thirds to bring in the graphic. Click Hide lower thirds to hide it.

⚠️ Other Notes:

• If you are streaming to ZenVideo via an external encoder, you may notice a delay in the graphics appearing on the player.
• Graphics for recurring virtual events will be retained on those events. However, new events will need new graphics created each time. 
  • Additionally, while your graphic will save to your recurring event, your graphic will not display automatically each time you stream. You need to click the corresponding eye icon in the panel in order to display your graphic overlays.