Q:

Create Layered Image in TVML (tvOS)

I'd like to create a layered image for use on tvOS 9.0 using TVML markup.
This seems like it should be a relatively common problem, but there doesn't seem to be any way to do this (as of tvOS Beta 3).  In the Apple TVML demo app it accomplishes this by using multi-layer images that are pre-compiled into a single .lsr file, rather than in markup with each layer separately noted.
It is possible to script the creation of .lsr files using the layerutil CLI program, but this would be a huge hassle for the app I'm trying to build where the images will be user-generated-content.
Instead it would be great to be able to do something like this (note the src-layer1 property for adding an extra layer above the base src):
<lockup>
  <img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/mqdefault.jpg" src-layer1="https://server.com/path/to/overlay.png" height="180" width="320"/>
  <title>Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up</title>
</lockup>

Is there any other efficient way to do this other than scripting a lot of back and forth to a server to generate a .lsr file?
Update - Oct 21 2015: At the bottom of this documentation page Apple provides a checkmark overlay image that would be perfect for this use called resource://button-play.  But there still seems to be no way to use this icon overlay in TVML. :-/

A:

You can use overlay for layering images in lockups.
https://developer.apple.com/library/tvos/documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/ATV_Template_Guide/CoumpoundDisplayElements.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40015064-CH18-SW3
<lockup>
  <img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/mqdefault.jpg" height="180" width="320"/>
  <title>Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up</title>
  <overlay style="padding:0;">
    <badge src="resource://overlay-checkmark" />
  </overlay>
</lockup>

