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Creating Content for Digital Signage

Creating Content (Text and Images)

  1. Open the layout guide in PowerPoint.
    1. Select Save As and save the layout guide as a new .ppt file name so you do not overwrite the blank layout guide.
    2. Alternatively, content may be created in another program (such as Canva) using the dimensions of 2354 x 986 pixels.
  2. Text: Layout text according to style guidelines.
  3. Image: Select images that will fill the entire layout guide box. If an image is smaller than the layout guide and is stretched, it will distort the image quality and make it fuzzy. It is much easier to shrink a large image and keep the quality clear than to stretch a small image. (See image guidelines.)
  4. Save the layout guide as a .ppt, .png, or .jpg file. Image files give the best results upon playback.

Creating Content (Video)

  1. Create a file using the same dimensions listed above.
  2. Guidelines for images and font should be followed as with text/image content.
  3. Content, including sound, should also include captions for accessibility and for appropriate viewing in locations with the volume turned off.
  4. Save the layout guide as an .mp4 or .wmv for best playback results. Video files should be limited to 10-15 seconds when possible.

Questions?

Contact your area’s Digital Signage Content Editor.

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Digital Signage Style Guidelines

Standard Structure for Events:

Event Title (larger)
Date, Time (bold)
Location (bold)
 

Other Information Example:

Bowling with SGA
Saturday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m.
Greengarden Lanes

Bus will leave Reed lot at 6:15 p.m. Email [email protected] to sign up.
 

Date

  • Try to use the day of the week when displaying the date. Ex: Thursday, January 9.
  • Only use the year if necessary.
  • Avoid putting a “0” before a single number date.
    Incorrect: Thursday, January 09, 2025.
  • Do not use “th” in the date. Incorrect: January 9th
  • It is acceptable, and even preferred, to abbreviate some months: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept. Oct., Nov., Dec. (March, April, May, June, and July should always be spelled out.)

Time

  • Time should always appear a.m. or p.m. (not am, AM, pm or PM)
  • Time should be consistent as 7:00 p.m. or 7 p.m. Pick one; do not use both.
  • Always place a space between the time and the a.m./p.m. Correct: 7:00 p.m. Incorrect: 7:00p.m.
  • 12:00 noon is redundant. Use either 12:00 p.m. by itself or noon alone. Example: 8:00 a.m. – noon or 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (noon is preferred).

Font

  • Arial regular is the standard font for text.
  • Arial Black (or bold) is the standard font for titles.
  • Minimize the number of font sizes on any single screen.

Alignment

  • If there is very minimal text, it may be center-aligned. In this case, the header should also be center-aligned.
  • If there is more text, it should be aligned to the left. In this case, the header/title should also be aligned to the left.

Other Style Standards

  • The Penn State Behrend mark is included in the border on the system and should not also be used in your content. If you wish to include the mark in your art, it must be approved by Strategic Communications before it is posted.
  • Limit text when possible. The audience will be unlikely to stop and read large quantities of information as they are walking by. Instead, give the basics and a resource for additional details.
  • Avoid underlining; use bold instead.
  • Do not use asterisks (*) when making lists. Bullets should be used instead.
  • Do not overuse commas and hyphens—they are often used incorrectly and are unnecessary.
    • Incorrect use of hyphen:
      • Sign-up in Student Leadership and Involvement by Jan. 15. (No hyphen is needed because it’s used as a verb)
    • Correct use of hyphen:
      • Sign-up sheets are in Student Leadership and Involvement.
      • Sign-ups begin Jan. 15.
  • Initial caps should only be used in titles. Other information should be written in sentence case.
     

    Correct example:

    Holiday Valley Ski Trip
    Saturday, Jan. 18
    Sign up at the RUB Desk by Jan. 13. Sponsored by the Ski Club and Student Activity Fee.
     

    Incorrect example:

    Holiday Valley Ski Trip
    Saturday, Jan. 18
    Bus Will Leave the Reed Lot at 8 a.m. Sign Up at the RUB Desk By Jan. 13.

    Sponsored By The Ski Club and Student Activity Fee.
     

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Digital Signage Imaging Guidelines

  1. Images for Digital Signage must pertain to the event/topic being advertised.
  2. Images must NOT contain inappropriate material, including but not limited to drug and alcohol use, paraphernalia, and advertising. This includes accidentals in the backgrounds of photographs.
  3. Images must NOT contain logos or images of other colleges or institutions of higher learning UNLESS the event advertised is coordinated or co-sponsored with the college or is taking place at the college and has been approved by Student Leadership and Involvement.
  4. Images must be of sufficient quality to be displayed; sufficient quality is defined as image size, proper color, lack of image noise, lack of motion/lens blur, and appropriate content.
    1. Image Size: The minimum image size permitted is 1400 pixels on the long edge.
    2. Proper Color: Colors are appropriate for the subject of the photograph/image. Human skin looks like human skin. Text is a legible color.
    3. Lack of Image Noise: If a computer-generated image is of insufficient resolution when scaled up, it will become “pixilated” and unacceptable.
    4. Photographs taken in low light will occasionally have image noise from the camera “speeding up” to see in the low light. If there is too much noise, the images will be rejected; use more light or flash to prevent them from being rejected.
    5. Lack of Motion/Lens Blur: Similar to image noise, low light causes longer exposures; if the camera or people move during the exposure, the images will be blurred. Lens blur can stem from a variety of issues, including an improper focusing point (auto or manual), a dirty lens, or a low-grade lens.
    6. Appropriate Content: As defined in 1-3.
  5. Copyrighted/Trademarked Images: If an image is copyrighted or trademarked with a company/product, determine if you can use a generic non-copyrighted/trademarked image in its place. (Example: A general video gaming event does not always need a picture of Mario to convey that the event is about video games. However, a Mario Bros. tournament would not have the same impact with a generic image.)
    1. Some images are not trademarked or copyrighted but are commonly associated with a product, group, or idea. Carefully research your choice of image(s) before submitting them, as they may be rejected if the image is determined to fall into this grey area.
  6. Be consistent: Designs submitted need to have a constant style from one submission to the next and a consistent style throughout the entire submission.
    1. After choosing a “logo” for an event or your organization, ensure that you continue to use that image in your submissions. Changing the image too often may cause your audience to be confused and even get your submission rejected.
    2. Make sure you choose a readable font and colors for any premade submissions. Failure to do so will cause the submission to be rejected.

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Revised August 2024.