Section 4: Content Specifications for Digital Signage

Programs for creating content

  • Static content can be created in these programs:
  • Windows PowerPoint
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Gimp (open source)
  • Corel Draw


Templates for Static Content

Microsoft PowerPoint templates have been developed to assist content creators and content managers to quickly assemble simple digital signage files. These templates offer the ability to build a slide and export it as an image (or image series) with a colourful background, images, textboxes and the UBC Brand in place. Arial is the typeface used in all provided templates and is available on all standard operating systems. Adobe Creative Suite© programs such as CS Photoshop and CS Illustrator may also be utilized to create.

Resolution of ALL Content

All content must have dimensions of 1280px x 720px and a resolution of 300ppi (pixels per square inch) static content must be provided as JPEG files. Adherence to this standard makes it easier to share content between units.

Creating Custom Static Content

All digital signs use visual templates provided by the university or designed to an equivalent standard as approved by the Digital Signage Governance Committee. This said, professional Content Creators may create custom static or motion content under the direction of unit content managers (without using the PPT templates), provided that the submissions meet the Digital Signage guidelines.

Creating Static Content in PPT 2010 Mac/Windows without using templates

For Windows
To create slides in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows select new file

  1. Once the new file is open navigate to the design tab in the tool bar
  2. Select the page set-up toolbox
  3. Check the orientation option to landscape
  4. In the menu titled slides sized for, select custom from the drop down
  5. Enter the width as 33.85 cm (13.32 inches)
  6. And height as 19.05 cm (7.5 inches)
  7. Select okay

To save slides as JPEGS in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows

  1. Go to the file tab
  2. Select Save as
  3. In the under the Type dropdown menu
  4. Select JPEG File Interchange Format
  5. Name the file according to the naming convention
  6. Select save

For Mac
To create slides in PowerPoint 2008/11 for Mac select new file

  1. File –> new
  2. Once the file is open navigate to Page Set-up under File
  3. Menu slides sized for select the option onscreen show 16:9
  4. Orientation: Landscape
  5. Select okay

To save slides as JPEGS in PowerPoint 2008/11 for Mac select file

  1. Go to the file tab
  2. Save as Picture
  3. Select format JPEG
  4. Under Options save graphics as files
  5. Enter Size as Width: 1280 px and Height: 720 px
  6. Name the file according to the naming convention
  7. Select save


Using Images in Designs

The actual size and the resolution of images used in slides is critical to quality display. For maximum clarity, ensure that images are at least 72dpi when viewed at 100%. Using low-resolution images will resort in pixilation, distortion and a low-quality effect when viewed on digital signage. Images used for designs that do not meet the minimum quality standard will not be accepted.

Motion Content

As with images, movies must be of sufficient quality to ensure proper playback on the screens.  Movies must be at least 720p (1280×720 pixels) at 30 frames per second (29.97).
Audio will not play; files must be submitted with no audio. Files received with audio will have to be resubmitted.

Accepted formats:

  • MPEG-4 .mp4
  • Windows Media Video 9 .wmv
  • Windows avi .avi
  • MPEG-1 .mpg
  • MPEG-2 .mpg (only in 720p resolution)

The following formats will NOT be accepted:

  • Quicktime .mov
  • Flash Video .flv
  • AVCHD

Note: Videos not meeting specifications may be returned, as they will not display well on the screens