How to Add a Scrolling Text Ticker in OBS Studio

Adding a scrolling text ticker to your OBS Studio layout is an excellent way to share announcements, display social media handles, or showcase live updates during your stream. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step tutorial on how to set up a scrolling text banner using the built-in Text source and the Scroll filter in OBS Studio, helping you elevate your broadcast’s production value in just a few minutes.

Step 1: Add a Text Source

  1. Open OBS Studio and navigate to the Sources dock at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Click the + (plus) icon and select Text (GDI+) from the dropdown menu.
  3. Give the source a name (e.g., “Scrolling Ticker”) and click OK.
  4. In the properties window, type your message in the Text box.
  5. Tip: Add several spaces at the end of your text so the beginning and end of your message do not run together when looping.
  6. Customize your font, size, color, and background opacity to match your stream’s aesthetic, then click OK.

Step 2: Apply the Scroll Filter

  1. Right-click on your newly created Text source in the Sources list and select Filters.
  2. In the Filters window, click the + (plus) icon in the bottom-left corner under Effect Filters.
  3. Select Scroll from the list and click OK.
  4. Adjust the Horizontal Speed slider to set your scroll direction and pace:
    • Dragging the slider to the right scrolls the text from right to left.
    • Dragging the slider to the left scrolls the text from left to right.
    • A speed between 50 and 100 is generally best for readability.
  5. Make sure the Loop box is checked so your text repeats indefinitely.
  6. Click Close to apply the filter.

Step 3: Position and Crop the Ticker

  1. Click and drag the text box in the OBS preview window to place it where you want (such as the bottom or top of your screen).
  2. To restrict the scrolling text to a specific region or banner area on your screen, hold the Alt key (Windows) or Option key (Mac) and drag the side handles of the red selection box to crop the source boundaries.