Create a Moving Grid Background in OBS Studio

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to use the “Scroll” filter in OBS Studio to create an endless, moving background grid for your streams or recordings. You will learn how to prepare a tileable grid image, import it into OBS, apply the Scroll filter, and configure the settings to achieve a seamless, continuous scrolling effect.

Step 1: Obtain a Seamless Grid Image

To create an endless scrolling effect, you need a seamless (tileable) grid image. A PNG file with a transparent background works best, as it allows you to place custom colors or gradients behind the grid. Ensure the edges of the grid match up perfectly so there are no visible seams when the image repeats.

Step 2: Add the Grid Image to OBS

  1. Open OBS Studio.
  2. In the Sources dock, click the + (plus) icon and select Image.
  3. Name the source (e.g., “Grid Background”) and click OK.
  4. Click Browse, locate your seamless grid image, and click Open.
  5. Click OK to add the image to your canvas.

Step 3: Apply the Scroll Filter

  1. Right-click your newly added Grid Background source in the Sources list.
  2. Select Filters from the context menu.
  3. In the Filters window, click the + icon in the bottom-left corner of the Effect Filters section.
  4. Select Scroll from the list and click OK.

Step 4: Configure Tiling and Speed

By default, the Scroll filter will only scroll the image within its original dimensions. To make the grid repeat infinitely across your entire screen: 1. In the Scroll filter properties, check the boxes for Limit Width and Limit Height. 2. Set the width and height values to match your OBS canvas resolution (e.g., 1920 for width and 1080 for height). This forces the seamless grid texture to repeat and fill the entire screen. 3. Adjust the Horizontal Speed and Vertical Speed sliders to control the movement of your grid. Moving the sliders to the right makes the grid move left/up, while moving them to the left moves the grid right/down. 4. Keep the speeds relatively low (between 10 and 50) for a smooth, non-distracting background effect.

Close the Filters window once you are happy with the speed and direction. Your endless moving background grid is now active and ready for your stream.