RaceLab Support – Garage Cover Overlay (Streaming – Any platform)

Garage Cover Overlay (Streaming – Any platform)

The Garage Cover overlay is a full-screen or large panel that hides the game menus, garage screens and setup work during a stream. Instead of showing graphics settings, passwords or long loading menus, viewers see a clean “cover” panel that can include your logo, text or simple artwork.

Why use a garage cover? It keeps your stream clean and professional, helps protect private information (server names, passwords, desktop pop-ups) and gives you a consistent look while you are not actively driving on track.

Typical uses for the Garage Cover overlay

  • While changing graphics or audio settings.
  • When joining servers or entering passwords.
  • When tweaking car setups in the garage.
  • During long loading screens or session changes.
  • Any time you want to hide the game UI and show a branded panel instead.

You can keep the cover simple (logo and text) or combine it with other RaceLab widgets like chat, schedule, or a small camera view.

1. Requirements

  • RaceLab app installed and running.
  • Streaming software such as OBS Studio or Streamlabs.
  • A layout in RaceLab dedicated to streaming overlays or “break” scenes.

2. Create a layout with Garage Cover overlay

  1. Open the RaceLab App.
  2. Go to the Layouts section.
  3. Create a new layout, for example: “Stream – Garage Cover”, or edit an existing “break / BRB” layout.
  4. Click Add widget.
  5. Select the Garage Cover overlay from the widget list.
  6. Resize the cover to fill most or all of the screen in the layout preview.
  7. Adjust the background colour, image or theme options in RaceLab to match your stream branding.
  8. Add any extra widgets you want visible during garage time:
    • Chat or chat highlight overlays.
    • Custom Text overlay with “In the garage – back on track soon”.
    • Mic visualiser or logo panel.
  9. Save the layout.
Tip – use a simple message A short line such as “Adjusting setup – stay tuned” or “Loading next session…” helps viewers understand why they are not seeing on-track action for a moment.

3. Add the Garage Cover overlay to OBS / Streamlabs

  1. In RaceLab, open your Garage Cover layout.
  2. Copy the overlay URL / browser link for that layout.
  3. Open OBS Studio (or your streaming software).
  4. Create or select a scene for non-driving times (for example: “Garage / Setup Scene”).
  5. Click Add > Browser Source.
  6. Name it something like “RaceLab – Garage Cover”.
  7. Paste the RaceLab overlay URL into the URL field.
  8. Set the Browser Source size to match your stream resolution (for example 1920×1080 or 2560×1440).
  9. Press OK. The Garage Cover overlay should now fill the scene in your preview.
Tip – switch scenes instead of hiding sources The cleanest way is usually to switch to a dedicated “Garage Cover” scene instead of toggling the cover on/off inside your main driving scene. This avoids accidentally leaving it on top of the action.

4. Using the cover during your stream

  1. When you enter the garage, menus or long loading screens, switch from your main driving scene to the Garage Cover scene in OBS.
  2. Make your adjustments (setups, graphics, audio, etc.).
  3. Once you are ready to drive again and the game is back on track, switch back to your main driving scene.
  4. Repeat this any time you need to hide menus or do background work while the stream stays live.

5. Common problems and quick fixes

  • Cover does not fill the screen:
    Check that the Browser Source resolution matches your stream resolution. Also make sure the Garage Cover widget in RaceLab is set to fill the layout area.
  • Overlay looks stretched or squashed:
    Use the same aspect ratio in RaceLab as your stream (for example 16:9). Avoid scaling the browser source oddly inside OBS; resize with the corner handles while keeping the correct shape.
  • Game still visible behind gaps:
    Ensure the cover panel actually fills the background, and that there are no transparent areas unless you want parts of the game to show through.
  • Forget to switch back from the cover:
    Consider using a Stream Deck button or hotkey to toggle between “Garage Cover” and “Main Driving” scenes quickly.
  • Text or logo is too small:
    Increase font size and logo size inside the RaceLab layout, then re-check how it looks at normal viewing distance.

This page was created by a RaceLab community member Scottozy, based on personal experience using RaceLab overlays together with publicly available documentation and community feedback. It is an unofficial help page and is not an official RaceLab publication.

Sources & references

  • RaceLab – information about non-driving / garage cover overlays for streams.
  • RaceLab community examples of using cover screens during setup changes and loading times.
  • Practical testing by sim-racers combining RaceLab Garage Cover overlays with OBS / Streamlabs on multiple platforms.