How to Add & Use Overlays

Learn what kind of overlays Slate supports, how to create them and use them in content creation.

What’s in this article: 

• What is an overlay
• What dimensions overlays can be made and how to create them
• How to add an overlay into your Slate account
• How to connect similar overlays across dimensions
• Using overlays on mobile
• Using overlays on web

What is an overlay?

An overlay is a graphic overlay that can be uploaded to your Slate account to put on top of any image or video. They can be either static or animated. Overlays lock in creative, so are easy to plug in and export for quick content wins.

Sizes & File Types

Overlays are .png or .mov files with an alpha channel that are used as overlays. They can be applied on top of content in Slate and can be created in any of the four dimensions supported in Slate (9:16, 1:1, 4:5, 16:9). Png overlays should be no larger than 1920px in height or width, and should be under 8mb and under 72 dpi. Animated overlays can be created as .mov files. Refer to the animated overlays article for more info on creating this type of asset.

Overlays must be exported in the following dimensions for each ratio:

9:16 = 1080 x 1920

1:1 = 1500 x 1500

4:5 = 1200 x 1500

16:9 = 1920 x 1080

Uploading Overlays

1. Login to your Slate web dashboard
2. In the Overlays drawer, select the “+” button
3. Select the overlay file you would like to upload
4. Add any search terms to your overlay, place in a collection if desired and save
5. Publish any changes to your dashboard by selecting the “Publish” button at the bottom left of your dashboard

Connecting Similar Overlays

If you have multiple dimensions (9:16, 4:5, 1:1, 16:9) of an overlay, upload all them as a batch. This will connect the overlays when switching dimensions on the mobile app to make editing and exporting faster than ever.

1. Login to your Slate web dashboard
2. In the overlays drawer, select the “+” button
3. Browse your files and select the overlay in all ratios you want to upload
4. Add any search terms to your overlay and save
5. Publish any changes to your dashboard by selecting the “Publish” button at the bottom left of your dashboard

Using Overlays on Mobile

1. Open your Slate mobile app
2. Select the overlays drawer or simply swipe right to left on the home screen to toggle through overlay options
3. To view overlays in other sizes, tap the ‘ratio’ button on the bottom toolbar to find the proper dimension. The overlays drawer will now display overlays you have in that size
4. Add in media by tapping on the ‘Media’ button on the bottom toolbar
5. Resize media into the space by double tapping the image or video, and pinching in or out to place it in the desired location. Double tap again to lock it in place
6. Export your content by selecting the ‘Share’ button on the bottom toolbar

Using Overlays on Web 

1. Open your Slate dashboard and click 'Create Content' in the top right corner
2. Select 'New Project'
3. Choose the ratio you would like to work in at the top of the screen
4. Select 'Media' and add in the photo or video you wish to use
5. Open the overlays drawer and hover over each to get a preview of what your content will look like and make your selection
6. Once ready to export, select 'Export' at the top right of the screen. Name your file and select what file type you’d like your content to be and click ‘Download’

Available on:

FAQs: 

Q: Can I upload custom sized overlays?

 A: No. Although you can create in a custom workspace on web, overlays and templates are only supported in the sizes listed above (9:16, 1:1, 4:5, or 16:9).

Q: Can I control layering in the mobile app?

A: No, you don't have the ability to send things forward or back, and assets lay as they were designed. Therefore, overlays will always be on top of media.