Tips for Creating Effective Content
- The most effective spots for customers to view and retain information are 5-30 seconds in length. In general, avoid advertisements outside of this range to maintain optimal customer attention.
- When choosing a font, keep in mind that any text included in your ad should be viewable from 8-15 feet. Larger text and bold text assist in the ability of a customer to read the information from a distance.
Compatible File Formats
The following file formats are supported by Spectrio' content management system:
- Images: JPEG, PNG
- Videos: 3G2, 3PG, ASF, AVI, M2TS, M4V, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPEG, MTS, MXF, Ogg, OGV, TS, WebM, WMV
Optimal Resolution
The optimal resolution required for uploading full-screen ads is 1920 × 1080 pixels (a 16:9 aspect ratio). Images and videos will be viewed in high definition on 42" and 46" monitors; this means that if images are distorted (i.e., stretched, blurry, have unclean edges, etc.) the viewer will be able to notice. The higher the resolution of the content, the clearer it will appear on the screen.
For videos created with Microsoft® PowerPoint®, access the “Page Setup” options under the “Design” tab to input optimal dimensions. Make sure the slide orientation is set to “Landscape” and that Width = 13.33, Height = 7.5, which will ensure that there are no borders around the video when added to the display.
Saving Files to Your Computer
Saving a JPEG
Use this format for static, one-frame spots. The JPEG format works best with photographic images.
Due to the nature of this format, images may lose some image quality when saved as JPEG.
How to save as JPEG
- If you are using Adobe Photoshop, Paint, Word, or PowerPoint to create ads, go to “File → Save As”.
- In the “Save As” window there will be a “Format” or “Save as Type” menu under the file name tab.
- Select “JPEG” or “JPG” (whichever is displayed).
- Click the “Save” button.
- To verify that your file was saved correctly, the filename should have ".jpg” or ".jpeg” at the end of it.
Saving a PNG
PNG is similar to JPEG, but provides greater color depth and better image quality. PNG files allow transparency and images to have no background. Use this format for static, one-frame spots that are composed of custom images, not photographs.
How to save as PNG
- If you are using Adobe Photoshop, Paint, Word, or PowerPoint to create ads, go to “File → Save As”.
- In the “Save As” window there will be a “Format” or “Save as Type” menu under the file name tab.
- Select “PNG”.
- Click the “Save” button.
- To verify that your file was saved correctly, the filename should have ".png” at the end of it.
Saving an MP4
This is the format you will use for all video files. For best results, MP4 (.mp4) files should be H.264 encoded. The steps for saving MP4 files are similar to the process described above for JPEG and PNG files.
Microsoft® PowerPoint®
You can also create your own custom content using Microsoft® PowerPoint®. See the article Using PowerPoint® Templates from Spectrio for detailed instructions.
Uploading Content
To upload your own images and videos, log in here using the log-in method for your account type (Spectrio email/password, STIHL SSO, or John Deere SiteMinder).
After logging in, select the “My Library” tab, then click the “Upload New Content” tile. Follow the prompts to choose a file from your computer.
Select a supported file type and click the “Upload” button.
Once the file has successfully uploaded, you can now assign the ad to begin playing on one or more media systems. Please reference the web tutorials for further instructions. (COMING SOON)
Uploading from YouTube
YouTube videos can be uploaded directly to your library using the “Upload from YouTube” button.
When you click the “Upload from YouTube” button, you are presented with a dialog asking you for a YouTube URL.
This URL is what's in in your browser's address bar when viewing a video on YouTube.
After entering the address and clicking “Save”, a placeholder will be created that will soon contain the YouTube video you requested. Please note that it may take up to 24 hours before this video can be previewed and played on your media systems.