Plugin or filter to make a specific source visible in UI only, but NOT in output/recording

[RobyCai]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a specific feature or a plugin for OBS Studio and I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction.

I create videos (both recorded and live streams) where the subject is often moving. Because of this, I desperately need to have a reference grid constantly visible on my OBS screen while I'm recording or broadcasting (for example, I was thinking of a transparent PNG file with vertical and horizontal lines). This grid is crucial to allow me to always properly center the subject within the frame.

Here is the catch: I need this source (the PNG file with the guidelines) to act strictly as a personal monitoring guide. It must NOT be sent to the output. When I press REC or go live, the content of this source (in my case, the guidelines) must not be visible in the final recorded file or in the live stream.

I am looking for a direct solution (perhaps a custom source filter, a specific plugin, or a script) that allows me to exclude that specific source (e.g., guides.png) from the output, so that it remains visible only to me, in OBS, during the shoot.

Does anyone know if such a plugin exists or if any developer has tackled this specific need?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Suslik V]

By design, the Preview/Program is what goes to the output, so better to not modify it (my own opinion). But, it is possible to make custom preview window (Projector) for the scene and view at it instead of the Preview/Program. And any scene can be referenced via the special "Scene" source, so the gird can be added above any scene. Also, OBS may stream/record selected source/scene via 3rd party plugins (for example: Branch Output, Source Record). The "Source Clone" plugin has ability to clone current scene (so when placed to separate scene, to which you never switch, and enabling the Scene Projector of this scene - you may have effectively the Program Preview with a custom overlay only for yourself).

 

[RobyCai]

Hi, and thanks.
Yes, I’ve tried Source Record. It’s an interesting solution, even if it is a bit complex. I think it would be simpler if OBS allowed you to "not send" a specific source to the output. To use an analogy: just like with audio sources in the mixer... I can choose what goes to the output and what doesn't.

 

[Suslik V]

Eye icon hides the source from the Preview and Output but not from the Projector when the projector is feeding directly from this source. So, similar functionality already exist.

But again, the "Preview" in OBS exactly shows what goes to the output. I don't think it is good idea to add hidden objects to the Preview (as it is in OBS right now). I can dream of the new special "Edit" mode in OBS - where you can have dummy/helper objects, girds etc for alignment and edge snapping. But this is different story.

From all the features, right now, OBS has only "Draw safe areas (EBU R 95)" option that can be enabled in the Settings > General > Preview group. This is hardcoded feature, and it is not designed to be modified or customized.