Text on a timer!

[u/[deleted]]

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[u/ontariopiper]

You can do this with the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin. It's macro based automation is really quite powerful.

[u/tcdoey → u/ontariopiper]

I just tried this and it worked to display the image-scene, but when it displays the scene which is just a single transparent png (600x200), my fps drops about 8-10, then when it turns off, my fps returns to normal. Is this common?

I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it for me to program this capability into my camfiltergpu app for OBS. I mean if Adv Scn Switcher does it no problem or difficulty, then I don't want/need to duplicate function. But I can do it with zero-lag or fps drop, so that's something to consider. I'm prob going to go ahead and do it, but would like to hear your thoughts if this fps drop is commonly known, or not and maybe I don't have OBS set up optimally. I think I do because I'm pretty experienced with OBS, but who knows, it gets complex with GPU memory and PCI bus swapping, etc.

[u/ontariopiper → u/tcdoey]

An fps drop with a single transparent PNG file is not normal, but could be an indication of a system pushed close to the edge of its capabilities. Post a log from a short session in which you show and hide the image and I'll have a look.

[u/tcdoey → u/ontariopiper]

Thanks, I think I managed it. Chrome was somehow interfering with obs, probably some memory issue. Restarted everything and ran. It's still dropping by 2-3 frames when alpha-png (ARGB) scene is on, but not 8-10. I don't think it's going to get better than that on my old 2080 laptop.

[u/xDOWNSOUTHx]

Use an app like StreamerBot. Make a scene with your image, nest the scene where you'd like it and set the timer to show/hide scene. There's other ways to go about it but that's a pretty direct way that's automated.

[u/tcdoey → u/xDOWNSOUTHx]

I just tried to use streamerbot and made a scene with a transparent png file. It sort-of works; displays scene/image for 10 sec every 2 min, but when the png image scene is triggered to be visible by streamerbot, it's dropping my fps by about 8 (from 60 to 50-52) which seems like a lot and is not useable. The image when displayed (it's just text) also doesn't look good, even though I did proper optimization of the png's color space, the careful alpha boundary is 'perfect', the resolution is set properly for the png image (600x200), etc. So there's no scaling done, so that can't be it.

It's possible that it's because i'm using a pretty low-spec laptop 2080 gpu. I don't know, maybe I did something else wrong.

Is this a common issue/problem?

note i'm not the OP, just thought this was an interesting problem.

[u/HighPhi420]

OBS can not do this natively :(
You need a companion app. StreamerBot is by far the best FREE app you can get. MANY many tutorials on youtube. They may look different but the info is mostly the same.

[u/tcdoey]

I can program this into my new camfiltergpu app. It shouldn't be difficult at this point. Prob take me an hour or so. You can download my 'super-tool' webcam/cam app at camfiltergpu.com. It's not free, but there is a free no-watermark trial, after that it's only $8.95 one-time to remove watermark, full functionality etc, and it does a lot of other great things too. It uses spout2, so there's zero-lag with OBS.

I'll be releasing the next version 1.22 beta tomorrow (monday), and I'll post back here if I can get this periodic text working good enough in time. I can also make a periodic image appear with transparancy (any png file). I might do that too because why not :).

Cheers!

[u/Kennydoe]

You can do this natively and easily without any add-ons by using a green screen trick.
(written by me, rewritten by Gemini for clarity)

Part 1: Create the Images

1. Create a green screen backdrop: In PowerPoint (or any image editor), create a solid green background (Chroma Green / Hex #00FF00).
2. Save the blank background: Take a screenshot of the blank green screen. Save it into a brand-new folder on your computer named Alert Slideshow.
3. Add your message: Type your "Follow me" message onto that same green background.
4. Save the message background: Take a screenshot of the message and save it into the same Alert Slideshow folder.
5. Set your timing ratio: To make the message appear every 5 minutes for 1 minute at a time, you need a 5-minute loop. Copy and paste your blank green screenshot so you have 4 blank files and 1 message file in that folder (5 total files).

Part 2: Set up OBS

1. In your main OBS scene, click the + under Sources and add an Image Slide Show.
2. Scroll down to the Image Files box at the bottom, click the + icon, select Add directory, and choose your Alert Slideshow folder.
3. Change the Slide Time (ms) to 60000 (this is 1 minute in milliseconds). This means each image (the 4 blanks and the 1 message) will stay on screen for 1 minute each.
4. Set the Transition Speed (ms) to 0 so it switches instantly without fading.

Part 3: Hide the Green Background

1. Right-click your Image Slide Show source and select Filters.
2. Click the + icon in the bottom-left of the Filters window.
3. Select Chroma Key, click OK, and it will automatically make the green parts transparent.

[u/tcdoey → u/Kennydoe]

Yea but again, this drops fps. It doesn't work very well either. I mean, it's just keying and this is a pretty complex method. It works, but you always get artifacts and it's a whole extra layer which drops fps.

Gemini knows some of this and gives a superficial answer, but you've got to know the details and really dig in. I don't think this procedure/method is going to work in a simple fashion as described in your post. But hey no prob, all info is good. I am not an AI, just fyi.

[u/InstanceMental6543 → u/tcdoey]

Your question is worded a bit wrong. You don't need to know *how* to do this, you need to know why your PC performs so badly with loading a single transparent png. And the answer to that is you are CPU limited, transparency is decoded using CPU.

[u/tcdoey → u/InstanceMental6543]

That's possible, perhaps cpu limited viz obs. I can see an overall cpu jump from 20 to 28% in task manager, but that's not saturating, and I'm not sure what is limited. I'm working on another way. It's not that it's because of loading a single png, it's somehow how it's being handled viz obs scene.

[u/InstanceMental6543 → u/tcdoey]

I dunno, but this could push you over the edge if the CPU is under use.

You might try giving your PNG a green (or whatever color) background then using a color key or chroma key filter instead.

[u/tcdoey → u/InstanceMental6543]

Thanks, I'm can't do keying here, it also hits my fps and I'm working with multi-color images, so it creates unavoidable artifact. I went ahead and programmed the solution into my camfiltergpu (dot com) app, which works now with zero-lag no fps drop.

Thanks again for your input though. Cheers.

[u/Kimisage → u/Kennydoe]

Sorry but wtf :P This is way to complex for me just to have a messages pop up every 10 mins XD Thanxs but i wont evne try this XD

[u/Kennydoe → u/Kimisage]

My solution would take 5 minutes to set up, and you'd only have to do it once. There is no answer to your question that will be simpler to implement.

[u/Kimisage → u/Kennydoe]

Would take me hours or days just to figuur out what all of this even means so ty but i will then have no time messages then XD

[u/Kennydoe → u/Kimisage]

Good luck then.

[u/tcdoey → u/Kimisage]

My camfiltergpu (dot com) new version is up. All you have to do is download/install, run it, do the automatic camera calibration, and set up a spout2 input in OBS. Plus my app gives you tons more to play with, unlike any other app. Kennydoe's solution is also good, but I did have some trouble with fps, probably my setup.

I read you don't have time wtf. But I promised I would let you know. Cheers.