Capture — Video Overlay Designer
Customize the decorative overlay that appears over videos and Boomerang clips recorded at a PixCrowd Capture Station.
Where to find it: In PixCrowd Hub, select an event, then go to Capture → Video Overlay.
What the overlay applies to
The overlay is stamped onto both moving outputs a Capture Station produces:
- Videos, whose length you set on the Settings tab — between 3 and 10 seconds.
- Boomerang clips, which are short, playful clips that capture a moment of action—such as waving, dancing, or tossing confetti—and play it forward and backward in a repeating loop.
Still photos do not use this overlay. They are decorated by the Print tab instead.
What is a video overlay?
A video overlay is a decorative design displayed over the recorded footage. It can include the event name, subtitle, date, location, shapes, and artwork. The overlay is designed independently from the Capture Station's main screen.
The editor uses a 16:9 landscape canvas. The dark, blurred area shown in the example is only a stand-in for camera footage: it is not part of the overlay. Anything left transparent allows the recorded footage to show through. The footage changes with every recording, so the editor cannot preview the actual scene in advance.
Work with the canvas
The Video Overlay Designer occupies the left side of the page. Arrange design elements around the central video area so guests and their movements remain visible. In the example, a floral border surrounds the video while the event name, subtitle, and date appear along the bottom.
The toolbar offers these elements:
- Name: Event name text.
- Subtitle: Event subtitle text.
- Date: Event date text.
- Location: Event location text.
- Shape: Decorative shapes such as rectangles or lines.
- Artwork: Decorative graphic elements.
Some toolbar buttons may be unavailable depending on what is already present or supported by the current design.
Layers tab
Use Layers to inspect the elements in the overlay — for example Subtitle, Date, Name, Artwork and Rectangle.
Select a layer to work on that element. The drag handles allow you to adjust its order, while the three-dot menu provides additional layer actions. Layer order matters when elements overlap: elements nearer the front can cover elements behind them.
Properties tab
Select an element, then open Properties to adjust its available settings. The exact controls depend on the selected element. For example, text and shapes may have different options.
Background tab
Open Background to inspect the overlay's background configuration. Keep the video area transparent if you want the recorded footage to remain visible behind the decorations. A solid or opaque element placed over that area could obscure it.
Preview your overlay
The Preview panel shows how the composition will look in its 16:9 clip layout. Select Full size for a larger view.
The preview uses placeholder footage, not a recording from your event. Use it to check that text is readable, decorations are positioned correctly, and the main video area is not unnecessarily covered.
Tips for a good video overlay
- Keep the central recording area as open as possible.
- Place names, dates, and decorative details near the edges.
- Use contrasting text so details remain readable over different scenes.
- Check the 16:9 preview after changing the layout.
- Remember that a decoration or background with no transparency can hide the footage underneath.