What Size and Length Should a Stream Alert Be?
The right size for an alert is the size of your stream scene itself, usually 1920×1080. The right length follows the event: 3–7 seconds for frequent alerts like follows, 10–20 seconds for a regular donation, and longer only for the big moments.
Size
- Match your scene: if your OBS scene is 1920×1080, make the alert the same size, even when the design only fills part of the screen. The transparent background takes care of the rest.
- Full screen or a corner? Full-screen alerts make a big moment and suit donations; small corner alerts suit frequent events.
- Leave room for chat and camera: if the alert isn't full screen, place it where it won't cover your face or the game's HUD.
Length
| Event | Suggested length |
|---|---|
| Follow or other frequent alert | 3–7 seconds |
| Donation or subscription | 10–20 seconds |
| Big donation or special event | 25–60 seconds |
| Rare moment (monthly goal, celebration) | up to 90 seconds |
A long alert on a frequent event stops the stream every minute and annoys viewers. Many alert tools let you play a different alert depending on the donation amount, so keep the long alert for large amounts only.
Sound
- Make the alert clearer than the game audio and quieter than your voice.
- Test it on ordinary headphones: your viewers will hear it hundreds of times.
Format
Use a WEBM with a transparent background. MP4 files have no transparency, so a black box shows around them, and GIFs are large with limited colors.
Quick questions
I stream at 720p. Do I need a smaller alert? No. Keep your OBS scene at 1920×1080 and set the output to 720p; OBS scales everything down together.
What lengths are available for a custom alert? At Flix Store you choose any length from 3 to 90 seconds when you order a custom alert.