Digital Signage

Before Submitting

Please read the purpose of the Library's digital signage before submitting your poster for consideration. By submitting your poster you agree to our terms of use.

Purpose

Library digital signage provides a space to promote academic events, services, resources, spaces, and other items of interest related to the Geoffrey R. Weller Library or UNBC campus groups or organizations.

External postings may be considered at the sole discretion of the Library Communications Committee, provided they adhere to the terms of use below and are for the good of the student body.

Library digital signage is not intended for promotion of commercial events, services, or fundraising.

Terms of Use

Images submitted for Library digital signage consideration must adhere to our terms. The Library reserves the right to:

  • Limit the number of signs displayed for any one event
  • Limit the number of signs associated with any one entity or group
  • Limit the amount of time that one sign may be displayed in each viewing. (External signage will be posted for a maximum of one month)
  • Determine the screens on which the signs will be displayed
  • Deny content that violates the purpose of the digital signage or contains innapropriate references and/or language

It is the responsibility of the individual or group submitting the request to ensure that they have all the required licenses and permissions to use all photos, artwork, and other materials used to create the signage. Note that most images found on the Internet are copyrighted material and may not be downloaded and used in your signage.

Creating your Poster

Posters and graphics are displayed on the Library's 9:16 aspect ratio TVs. Images submitted to the Library for consideration must have a 9:16 aspect ratio; those that do not will not be accepted for display.

There are various design programs available (licensed and free) that can be used to create your poster file. Several are highlighted below.

Licensed Design Tools

Creating your Poster: InDesign

  • Create a new web document with a width of 1080 px and a height of 1920 px, or create a new print document with a width of 15 inches and a height of 26.6667 inches. Web example. Print example.
  • Design your poster. Check out the Design Tips below.
  • Export your poster in JPEG or PNG format (File / Export and select JPEG or PNG as the format).
  • When exporting, ensure Resolution is set to at least 72 DPI, Image Quality is set to High or Maximum, and Color Space is RGB. Example.

Creating your Poster: Illustrator

  • Create a new document with a width of 1080 px and a height of 1920 px. Ensure:
    • Orientation is portrait,
    • Color Mode is set to RGB, and
    • Raster Effects is Screen (72 ppi). Example.
  • Design your poster. Check out the Design Tips below.
  • Export your poster in JPEG format (File / Export and select JPEG (jpg) from the dropdown Format field. Export.
  • Ensure the Color Model is set to RGB, Resolution is set to Screen (72 ppi), and the Quality is set to 10. Example.

Creating your Poster: Affinity Designer

  • Create a new document with a width of 1080 px and a height of 1920 px, or select the FHD 1080p (1920 x 1080, 16:9) Page Preset. Ensure:
    • Document Units is Pixels,
    • Colour Format is RGB/8,
    • Page Width is 1080 px,
    • Page Height is 1920 px, and
    • DPI is 72. Example.
  • Design you poster. Check out the Design Tips below.
  • Export your poster in JPEG format (File / Export and select JPEG from the list of options at the top of the box). Export.
  • Ensure Size values are correct, Preset is JPEG (Best quality), Quality is set to 100. Example.

Creating your Poster: PowerPoint

Note: It is possible to create an appropriately sized poster in PowerPoint, but the smaller image may not appear as clearly (depending on the poster content). Consider a different tool to ensure the highest quality poster.

  • Create a new slideshow in Widescreen (16:9).
  • By default PowerPoint uses a landscape orientation. To change to portrait orientation:
    • On Mac: Click the Themes tab, then Slide Size, then Page Setup. Ensure the Slides sized for field reads On-screen Show (16:9). Ensure the Slides Orientation is portrait. Example.
    • On Windows: Click the Design tab, then Slide Size, then Custom Slide Size. Ensure the Slides Orientation is portrait.
  • Design your poster. Check out the Design Tips below.
  • Save in JPEG format (File / Save As and select JPEG in the Format dropdown field). Save.

Free Design Tools

Creating your Poster: GIMP

GIMP is a free and open-source graphics editor that can be used to create properly sized posters for the Library's digital signage system.

  • Create a new document (File / New)
  • Ensure Image Size is set to 1080 px width and 1920 px height, or select the 1920x1080 (Full HD 1080p) Template from the dropdown menu. Example.
  • Ensure document is set to portrait mode.
  • Design your poster. Check out the Design Tips below.
  • Save in JPEG or PNG format (File / Export As). Check the default file type and adjust if needed by clicking Select File Type (By Extension) and finding PNG or JPEG. Export. Example.

Design Tips

  • The Library digital signage system is currently set to rotate through to the next poster every 10 seconds. Keep in mind that a patron needs to be able to scan and recall the key details of your poster in one pass.
  • Limit text on your poster to key details such as name, time, place, and a short summary (if applicable). Speaker bios, background information, and presentation abstracts are not appropriate for the digital signage. Less is more.
  • Images can be a great way to draw attention to the poster, but should not overpower the poster information or confuse someone looking at the poster. Always make sure there is plenty of contrast between your design elements, including text, images, and white space.
  • Your poster will be viewed from a distance. Use simple legible font types. Use italics sparingly and be sure to increase the size of your fonts. A font size of 20pt has a maximum viewing distance of 7 feet. Anything less than 20pt probably won't be legible on the Library signage.

Ready to Submit?

Please submit signage for consideration to the Library Communications Committee

Please give 2–3 weeks' notice prior to your desired posting date.

Preference will be given to Library-related content promoting academic events, programs, UNBC items, etc.

Information from Digital Signage Terms of Reference; updated May 2018.