Media Server 26.1
Media Server Help

# Create an Overlay

The `Overlay` transformation task creates an overlay for a video. The task draws regions (such as rectangles, polygons, and ellipses) that are present in the input records.

To create an overlay for a video

1. Create a new configuration to send to Media Server with the `process` action, or open an existing configuration that you want to modify.

2. In the `[Session]` section, add a new task by setting the `EngineN` parameter. You can give the task any name, for example:

       [Session]
       Engine0=Ingest
       ...
       Engine2=Overlay

3. Create a new configuration section to contain the task settings and set the following parameters:

   `Type` | The transformation engine to use. Set this parameter to `Overlay`.
   `Input` | The name of the track that contains the metadata to use to draw the overlay. This track does not need to include the video frames.
   `Color` | (Optional) The line color to use when drawing.
   `Thickness` | (Optional) The line thickness to use when drawing. Specify the thickness in pixels.

   For example:

       [Overlay]
       Type=Overlay
       Input=FaceDetection.Result
       Color=Red
       Thickness=1

4. When you define your encoding task, use the parameter `OverlayInput` to specify the name of the output track from the overlay transformation task. In this example the track is named `Overlay.Output`.

5. Save and close the configuration file. OpenText recommends that you save your configuration files in the location specified by the `ConfigDirectory` parameter.

Example configuration to ingest video and create an overlay

The following example configuration ingests a video file or stream and encodes a video with an overlay that shows detected faces.

    [Ingest]
    IngestEngine=AV

    [AV]
    Type=Video

    [Analysis]
    AnalysisEngine0=FaceDetect

    [FaceDetect]
    Type=FaceDetect
    NumParallel=6
    MinSize=10%

    [Transform]
    TransformEngine0=Overlay

    [Overlay]
    Type=Overlay
    Input=FaceDetect.Result
    Color=Orange
    Thickness=1

    [Encoding]
    EncodingEngine0=RollingBuffer

    [RollingBuffer]
    Type=RollingBuffer
    ImageInput=Default_Image
    AudioInput=None
    OverlayInput=Overlay.Output
    Stream=stream1

Copyright 2025 Open Text
Version 26.1 | Last updated January 2026

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Product: Knowledge Discovery Media Server 26.1

Topic Title: Create an Overlay