How to Use Track Matte Transitions in OBS Studio

This article explains what a Track Matte transition is and provides a step-by-step guide on how to configure it in OBS Studio. You will learn how this transition style uses grayscale masks to create seamless, professional-looking scene changes, and how to apply it to your own live streams.

What is a Track Matte Transition?

A Track Matte transition is an advanced type of stinger transition used in video production and live streaming. While a standard stinger transition uses a full-screen video overlay to hide the cut between two scenes, a Track Matte transition uses a specialized video file containing both the color animation and a black-and-white “matte” (or mask).

The matte tells OBS Studio exactly which parts of the incoming and outgoing scenes should be visible at any given millisecond during the transition. Black areas represent transparency (showing the old scene), white areas represent opacity (showing the new scene), and gray areas create smooth gradients and soft feathers. This allows for highly creative, organic transitions—like smoke, paint splatters, or wipes—without needing a solid graphic to cover the entire screen during the cut.

How to Configure a Track Matte Transition in OBS Studio

To set up a Track Matte transition, you will need a compatible transition video file (usually in WebM format) that includes both the color video and the matte mask, either stacked vertically or placed side-by-side.

Follow these steps to configure it in OBS Studio:

  1. Add a New Stinger Transition: In the Scene Transitions dock in OBS Studio, click the drop-down menu (which defaults to “Fade” or “Cut”) and select Add: Stinger. Name your new transition (e.g., “Track Matte Transition”) and click OK.

  2. Select Your Video File: In the properties window that appears, click Browse next to “Video File” and select your WebM transition file.

  3. Enable the Track Matte Option: Scroll down the properties window until you see the Use a Track Matte checkbox. Check this box to reveal the track matte settings.

  4. Configure the Matte Layout: Look at the Matte Layout drop-down menu. You must choose the option that matches how your video file was created:

    • Side-by-Side: The color video is on the left, and the black-and-white matte is on the right (or vice-versa).
    • Stacked: The color video is on top, and the matte is on the bottom.
    • Separate File: If your matte is a completely separate video file, select this option and browse for the secondary file.

  5. Adjust Transition Timing: Set the Transition Point Type to Frame or Time (ms). Adjust the transition point to line up with the moment the matte fully begins to reveal the second scene.

  6. Preview and Save: Use the Preview Transition button at the bottom of the properties window to ensure the scenes cut over smoothly. Once you are satisfied with the alignment, click OK.

Your Track Matte transition is now ready to use and will trigger automatically whenever you switch scenes in OBS Studio.