Layer Groups now available in Lightstream Studio
Console streamers using PlayStation or Xbox, our latest feature is for you.
Has your Lightstream layers panel gotten out of hand?
You start with a game feed and a webcam. Then you add a border. Then alerts. Then social handles, sponsor graphics, and a chat box. Before long, you’ve got 20 or 30 individual sources stacked in one long list with no organization… and finding anything means scrolling through all of it.
Layer Groups fixes that. Which means less time hunting through sources and more time actually streaming.
Try Layer Groups in Lightstream Studio by clicking the link below:
Need a walkthrough on how to use Layer Groups? Watch the tutorial:
Table of Contents
What Are Layer Groups in Lightstream Studio?
Layer Groups let you combine related sources into a named, collapsible section inside your Lightstream layers panel.
Think of it like organizing a messy desk into labeled drawers. Everything is still there, it’s just easier to find, easier to move, and easier to manage.
Once your layers are grouped, you can:
- Expand or collapse the group to show only what you’re working on
- Move the entire group around your scene as one unit
- Rename, hide, lock, copy, or delete the group from the layers panel
- Mute or unmute audio layers inside the group
Layers stay in the same scene. Their order is preserved. And everything inside a group is still fully editable individually. You haven’t lost control of anything.
Why Layer Organization Matters for Console Streamers
Most streaming software is built for PC setups. Console streamers using Lightstream build their scenes in Lightstream Studio on PC, then go live directly from their Xbox or PlayStation.
That means your scene setup needs to be right before you go live — because you’re not adjusting layers from your console mid-stream. The cleaner and more organized your setup is, the smoother every stream runs.
Without Layer Groups, a complex scene looks like this: one long flat list of 20, 30, sometimes more individual sources. Finding the right one means scrolling. Moving a connected set of layers means repositioning each one individually. Accidentally clicking the wrong source is easy.
Layer Groups removes that friction. Set it up once to get your stream organized, clean, and ready to go. Then if you have to check something mid-stream, it will be easy to find & edit.
How to Create a Layer Group in Lightstream Studio
There are two ways to create a group. Use whichever fits your workflow.
Method 1: Start with an empty group
- Open Lightstream Studio on your PC
- Click the Add button in the layers panel
- Select Group — an empty group appears in your panel
- Drag layers into the group
Method 2: Group layers you’ve already selected
- Hold Shift on PC or Command on Mac and click each layer you want to group
- Click Group in the top bar
- Your selected layers are placed into a new group instantly
Once your group is created, you can rename it to keep things organized — ‘Camera Set’, ‘Alerts’, ‘Sponsor Graphics’, whatever makes sense for your setup. (simply double-click on the group to rename)
And if you ever want to separate the layers again, just select the group and choose Ungroup. Everything goes back to individual layers exactly as it was.
Moving Layer Groups on the Canvas
This is where Layer Groups saves you the most time.
Select the group in the layers panel and drag it on the canvas — every layer inside moves together as one unit. Alignment between connected elements is preserved automatically.
No more repositioning your webcam, then your border, then your social handles one by one. Grab the group, move it once, done.
Ways to Use Layer Groups in Your Stream Setup
The Webcam Setup
Group everything that lives in your camera area together:
- Webcam source
- Border or frame
- Social handle graphics
- Decorative elements
Now your entire camera layout moves as one unit. Reposition it in seconds.
Alert Sources
If you’re running multiple alert sources:
- Browser sources
- Media animations
- Channel point redemption graphics
Grouping them keeps your alerts contained and easy to toggle without touching anything else.
Sponsor or Branded Content
Running a sponsorship or branded overlay?
- Logo
- Lower-third graphic
- Background elements
Group them so you can reposition or hide the entire sponsor layout without breaking alignment.
Starting Soon or Intermission Scenes
When building non-gameplay scenes, grouping layout elements lets you make design adjustments faster — especially useful when you’re working across multiple scenes.
A Few Things to Know
Layer Groups are designed to keep things simple. Here’s what’s in and what’s not in this release:
- Groups are one level deep — you can’t nest a group inside another group
- No group-level volume slider — mute and unmute only
- Layer management happens in Lightstream Studio on PC
After your setup is done, your console streaming workflow stays exactly the same. Set it up once. Go live from your console every time.
Start Using Layer Groups Today
Layer Groups is available to every Lightstream user — no upgrade required.
Open Lightstream Studio, pick a scene, and start organizing. Your first group takes less than a minute to create.
New to Lightstream? Watch the Getting Started guide to set up your console stream from scratch.
