Adding an overlay in CapCut PC takes three steps: import your video, add the overlay file from your computer, and adjust its size and position on the timeline

CapCut's overlay feature lets you layer images, text, or video clips on top of your main footage. On the PC version, overlays sit in the same editing panel as your other media, so you import them the same way you'd add any other file. The overlay then appears as a separate layer above your base video, which you can move, resize, and time to match your main content.

The process works whether your overlay is a PNG with a transparent background, a JPG image, or a video file. CapCut handles all three formats without requiring you to convert anything first.

Key Takeaways

  • Import your overlay file through the Media tab by clicking the folder icon and selecting the image or video from your computer.
  • Drag the overlay onto the timeline above your main video track so it appears as a separate layer.
  • Use the canvas editor to resize, rotate, and reposition your overlay by clicking and dragging its corners or edges.
  • Adjust the overlay's duration by dragging the edges of its timeline segment left or right to match when it should appear and disappear.
  • Change the overlay's opacity using the Effects panel if you want it to blend with the video underneath rather than sit on top completely opaque.

Import the overlay file into your project

Open CapCut and load the video you want to add an overlay to. Once your main video is on the timeline, click the Media tab on the left side of the screen. You'll see a folder icon at the top of the Media panel—click it to open your file browser.

Navigate to the folder where your overlay file is saved on your computer. Select the overlay (whether it's a PNG, JPG, or video file) and click Open. The file now appears in your Media library, and you can see a thumbnail of it in the panel. If you're adding multiple overlays, import each one the same way.

Place the overlay on the timeline above your video

Once your overlay is in the Media library, drag it from the panel directly onto the timeline. Drop it on the track above your main video—this creates a separate layer. You'll see the overlay appear as a new segment on the timeline, positioned wherever you dropped it.

If the overlay doesn't land exactly where you want it in time, you can slide it left or right on the timeline by clicking and dragging the segment itself. The overlay will play at whatever point on the timeline it occupies, so position it to start and end when you want it visible in your final video.

Resize and reposition the overlay on the canvas

Click the overlay segment on the timeline to select it. The canvas in the center of the screen now shows your video with the overlay on top. You'll see the overlay has corner handles and edge handles around it.

To resize the overlay, click and drag any corner handle outward to make it larger or inward to make it smaller. Dragging a corner keeps the overlay's proportions intact. To move the overlay to a different spot on the canvas, click anywhere inside the overlay itself and drag it to the new position. You can place it in the center, off to one side, or anywhere else that fits your video's composition.

Adjust the overlay's duration on the timeline

The overlay segment on the timeline has a start point and an end point. To make the overlay appear for a shorter time, click and drag the right edge of the segment to the left. To make it appear longer, drag the right edge to the right. The same works for the left edge if you want to delay when the overlay starts.

Watch the canvas as you adjust—you'll see the overlay appear and disappear at the points you set. This is useful if you want an overlay to fade in at the beginning of your video, stay visible for the middle section, and disappear before the end.

Blend the overlay with your video using opacity

If you want your overlay to blend with the video underneath instead of sitting completely on top, you can lower its opacity. With the overlay segment selected on the timeline, look for the Effects panel on the right side of the screen. Click on the overlay segment and find the opacity slider (sometimes labeled as "Opacity" or shown as a percentage).

Drag the opacity slider to the left to make the overlay more transparent. At 100 percent, the overlay is fully opaque and blocks what's behind it. At 50 percent, you can see both the overlay and the video underneath equally. At lower percentages, the overlay becomes a subtle watermark or texture over your main footage. Adjust until the blend looks right for your project.

Common mistakes to avoid when adding overlays

The most common error is forgetting to drag the overlay onto the timeline—just importing it into the Media library doesn't add it to your video. You must drag it from the Media panel onto the timeline track above your main video.

Another frequent issue is setting the overlay's duration too long or too short by accident. Always check the timeline to confirm the overlay starts and stops where you intended. If an overlay appears for your entire video when you only wanted it for five seconds, you'll need to trim its timeline segment.

If your overlay looks blurry or pixelated after resizing, you may have stretched it too large. Try reducing its size or using a higher-resolution overlay file if one is available. CapCut can't add detail that isn't in the original file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple overlays at the same time?

Yes. Import each overlay into the Media library, then drag each one onto a separate track above your main video. You can stack as many overlays as you want, and they'll all appear together on the canvas. Adjust each one's size, position, and duration independently.

What file formats work best for overlays?

PNG files with transparent backgrounds work best because the transparency lets your video show through. JPG files work too but have a solid background. Video files also work as overlays. CapCut accepts MP4, MOV, and other common video formats without conversion.

How do I make an overlay fade in or out?

Select the overlay on the timeline and look for the Effects panel. Find the Fade option and adjust the fade-in and fade-out duration. You can also lower the opacity gradually by adding keyframes to the opacity slider, though the Fade effect is simpler for most users.

Can I rotate an overlay?

Yes. Select the overlay on the canvas and look for a rotation handle (usually a circular arrow icon at the top or corners). Click and drag to rotate the overlay to any angle. You can also right-click the overlay on the canvas to find rotation options in the context menu.

What if my overlay looks too dark or too bright compared to my video?

Use the Effects panel to adjust the overlay's brightness, contrast, or saturation. Select the overlay on the timeline, open Effects, and look for brightness or color adjustment sliders. Tweak these until the overlay matches the tone of your main video.