How To Make Your Own Custom Stinger Transition - For FREE Using Canva!

What is a Stream "Stinger" aka a "Stinger Transition"?

You ever go to someone’s stream — or even a YouTube video — and in between scenes there's a badass video transition? That's a stinger transition. Kinda cool name, huh? Well, it's an even cooler effect that makes a stream look super professional, polished, and slick.

In streaming software, a stinger is a type of transition animation used when switching between scenes. It's typically a short, animated video (often with a transparent background or keyed-out color) that plays during the cut from one scene to another. Stingers look complicated, but they’re actually easy to use. In fact, this post will show you how to make a stinger transition in Canva for OBS — for free.

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What Makes a Good Stinger Transition?

You're switching from your “Starting Soon” screen to your “Live Camera” scene — instead of a boring fade, a custom animation (like your logo swooshing across the screen) plays, hiding the cut and adding flair. This makes the transition seamless and stylized.

Besides looking cool, free stinger transitions for streamers are an underrated branding tool. You can embed your logo, brand colors, or slogan, which reinforces your identity across Twitch, YouTube, or wherever you stream.

Key Features of a Stinger

• Duration: Usually 1–3 seconds. Keep it short. Long transitions kill the momentum.

• File Type: Use .mov with alpha channel or .webm with transparency. Some streamers use .gif too.

• Timing: You define the transition point, the exact moment when one scene switches to the next — critical in OBS Studio.

• Smoothness: A good stinger fits your stream’s vibe. Don’t make it jarring.

  
  

Want to know the best stinger transition settings for OBS Studio? Keep reading — we’ll cover that.

Supported Streaming Software

Stingers are supported in most major streaming platforms like:

• OBS Studio

• Streamlabs

• XSplit

  
  

We’ll focus on OBS in this tutorial since it’s one of the most widely used.

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How to Create a Free Stinger in Canva (No After Effects Needed)

This is your step-by-step OBS stinger setup guide — no need for fancy tools like After Effects or Premiere.

Step 1: Set Up Your Canva Canvas

• Open Canva

• Click "Create a design" → "Custom Size"

• Set it to 1920 x 1080 px (Full HD)

  
  

This is where you’ll create your animated stream transition using Canva.

Step 2: Design the Animation

• Add your logo, shapes, or text

• Use Canva’s built-in animations (Slide, Wipe, Pop, etc.)

• Make sure there’s a moment when the screen is fully covered — this is your cue for OBS to switch scenes

  
  

This is how you’ll design professional stream stingers without After Effects.

Step 3: Add Transparency (Optional, but Recommended)

To make your stinger feel seamless:

• Use a transparent background so your logo can fly in and out

• Canva Pro required for this feature

This gives you a custom OBS stinger transition with transparent background — which looks super clean.

Step 4: Set the Duration

• Click the clock icon to set slide timing

• Aim for 1–2 seconds (short, punchy, clean)

  
  

Step 5: Export the File

• Go to Share → Download

• Choose WebM (for transparency) or MOV

• Tick "Transparent background" if you’re using Canva Pro

You’re now ready to install your free Canva stinger transition for Twitch and YouTube.

How to Add Your Stinger in OBS Studio

Here’s how to add custom transitions in OBS Studio:

1. Open OBS Studio

2. Go to the "Scene Transitions" panel

3. Click "+" → "Stinger"

4. Name your transition and hit OK

5. Under "Video File", click "Browse" and select your stinger

6. Set the "Transition Point" in milliseconds — this is where OBS switches from one scene to another

7. Optionally, tweak Audio Monitoring if your stinger has sound

8. Click Preview to test it

9. Hit OK to save

   
   

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Bonus Tips for Better Stingers

• Use bold shapes and colors so your transition stands out

• Keep it short (no more than 3 seconds)

• Add sound effects in Canva or a video editor like CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, or Premiere Pro

By the end of this, you'll not only know how to make a stinger transition in Canva for OBS, but you'll also understand the nuances of stinger transition file types and timing explained — from animation style to export settings.

Ready to level up your stream? Start designing your stinger today!

Let me know if you’d like me to create a meta description or suggest a title that’s optimized for SEO too.