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

Make Your Stream Look Professional with a Custom Stinger Transition!!!

Ever been watching someone’s stream—or even a YouTube video—and noticed that slick little animation between scenes? Maybe their camera cuts to a game capture, or their “Starting Soon” screen switches to their live camera, and instead of a boring fade, there’s this cool, animated flourish that just… pops. That, my friend, is a stinger transition.

Yeah, the name sounds badass, but the effect itself is even cooler. Stingers give your stream a professional, polished, and cinematic feel. They turn otherwise basic scene changes into something dynamic and visually satisfying. Basically, it’s the difference between a stream that feels homemade and one that looks like it’s straight out of a broadcast studio.

In streaming software like OBS, a stinger is a type of transition animation that plays when switching from one scene to another. It’s usually a short animated video—often with a transparent background or a keyed-out color—that covers the cut between scenes. While it may seem complicated, stingers are surprisingly easy to use. In fact, with tools like Canva, you can make your own custom stinger transition for free, even if you’re a beginner.

---

What Makes a Good Stinger Transition?

Think about it this way: you’re moving from your “Starting Soon” screen to your “Live Camera” scene. Instead of a plain fade or cut, a custom animation—maybe your logo swooshing across the screen or an eye-catching effect—plays in between. This not only hides the cut, but it adds style, flair, and personality to your stream.

But here’s the thing—stinger transitions aren’t just about looking cool. They’re also a powerful branding tool. By incorporating your logo, brand colors, or even a slogan, you reinforce your identity every time you switch scenes. Over time, viewers begin to associate those visual elements with your channel, making your stream feel more professional, consistent, and memorable—whether you’re on Twitch, YouTube, or any other platform.

So yes, a stinger is more than just a flashy effect—it’s a subtle but impactful way to level up your stream, engage your audience, and strengthen your brand identity. And the best part? You don’t need expensive software or design skills to create one that looks amazing.

---

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.

---

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

   
   

---

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!