Practical tips for making ads that look great on digital screens — so your campaign makes the impact it deserves.
Getting the Right Size
When you upload your ad, AdSpace tells you exactly what size each screen requires. Screens are grouped by resolution — if you've selected 10 screens and 3 share the same resolution, you only need to upload one file for that group.
Always match the exact resolution. After selecting the creative, the system checks your creative dimensions and shows a confirmation. If the dimensions don't match, you'll see a warning. Mismatched sizes can make your ad look stretched, cropped, or blurry on the screen — so it's worth getting this right. You will be asked to upload creatives for each resolution separately, so please check the required resolutions before you begin designing.
Image vs. Video: Which Should You Choose?
Both work well — it depends on what you're trying to communicate.
| Image | Video | |
|---|---|---|
| Formats | PNG or JPEG | MP4 |
| Best for | Promotions, brand awareness, simple messages | Storytelling, product demos, dynamic content |
| Duration | Plays for a standard slot duration (typically 7.5 seconds) | Plays for the full length of your video |
| Design tip | Keep text large and readable at a distance | Keep it short and attention-grabbing |
Design Tips That Actually Matter
1. Keep text big and minimal
People glance at digital screens for 3 to 5 seconds. That's all the time you have. Use a large headline, a short call-to-action, and leave it at that.
A good rule of thumb: if you can't read your text from across the room on your laptop screen, it's too small for a digital sign.
2. Use high-contrast colors
Your ad is competing with the environment — sunlight, other visuals, distractions. Make sure your message stands out.
- Dark text on light backgrounds (or light text on dark backgrounds) always reads better than subtle color differences.
- Avoid placing text directly on busy photographs. Use a solid background or a semi-transparent overlay behind your text.
3. Make your brand instantly recognizable
Your audience should know who the ad is from at a glance. A generic-looking ad with no branding is a wasted impression.
- Include your logo in a prominent spot.
- Stick to your brand colors and fonts.
- Don't make people guess who the ad is from.
4. One message per ad
This is the most common mistake. Don't try to say everything in a single ad.
Pick one thing you want people to remember. "50% off this weekend" is far more effective than listing every feature and benefit of your business.
5. Design for the right orientation
Digital signage screens can be either portrait (tall and narrow, like a phone held upright) or landscape (wide, like a TV). Before you start designing, check the resolution info in the upload step — it tells you whether each screen group is portrait or landscape.
Designing a landscape ad for a portrait screen will result in black bars and wasted space. Match the orientation, and your ad will fill the entire screen.
Using Canva (Free Option)
Don't have a designer? No problem. During the creative upload step, you'll see a "Design in Canva" option. You can design your ad in any format on Canva, but it all depends upon the selected screens' resolutions. We recommend checking the resolution groups in the upload step before you start designing.
Here's how to use it effectively:
- Check your screen resolutions first. Before opening Canva, look at the resolution groups in the upload step. Note the exact dimensions for each group.
- Set the right canvas size in Canva. Create a custom design in Canva that matches the resolution you need. Each screen group may have a different resolution, so you may need to create multiple designs.
- Customize a template or start from scratch. Canva has thousands of digital signage templates you can use as a starting point.
- Download as PNG. Once your design is ready, download it as a PNG file from Canva.
- Upload it back into AdSpace. Drop the file into the upload zone for the matching resolution group.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It's a Problem | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong resolution | Your ad looks blurry or stretched on the screen | Match the exact dimensions shown in the upload step |
| Too much text | Nobody reads a paragraph on a screen they're walking past | Stick to a headline and one short supporting line |
| Low-contrast colors | Text becomes invisible, especially in bright environments | Use bold contrasts — dark on light, or light on dark |
| No call-to-action | People see your ad but don't know what to do next | Add a clear next step: "Visit us at…", "Scan the QR code", "Call today" |
| Wrong orientation | A landscape ad on a portrait screen gets letterboxed with black bars | Check the orientation info before designing |
Quick Checklist Before You Upload
Use this before hitting "Continue" on the upload step:
- ✅ Image matches the exact resolution shown for each screen group
- ✅ Text is large enough to read from across a room
- ✅ Your logo and brand are clearly visible
- ✅ There's one clear message or call-to-action
- ✅ High contrast between text and background
- ✅ File format is PNG or JPEG (for images) or MP4 (for video)
- ✅ Orientation matches the screen (portrait vs. landscape)
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.