Summary
Recommended specifications and design tips for content shown on Bowdoin's Carousel digital displays, including image resolution (1080p and 4K), orientation, file formats, readability, and accessibility (color contrast, text size, and motion). Helps publishers create full-screen images that look sharp and are readable by everyone.
Body
Questions
- What size should my digital signage images be?
- What resolution do Bowdoin's displays use?
- Should my content be landscape or portrait?
- What file formats can I upload to Carousel?
- How do I make sure my content is readable on a display?
- How do I design accessible signage that everyone can read?
- What color contrast and text size should I use?
- How do I create a full-screen image for a sign?
Environment
This article applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff who create content for campus digital displays through Carousel. It covers full-screen images, which are the most common type of signage content, as well as general design tips that apply to any bulletin.
Resolution
Image resolution
Create full-screen images at the resolution that matches the display you are publishing to:
| Display |
Landscape (pixels) |
Portrait (pixels) |
| 1080p (HD) display |
1920 × 1080 |
1080 × 1920 |
| 4K (Ultra HD) display |
3840 × 2160 |
2160 × 3840 |
Note: Match the orientation to the physical screen. A screen mounted sideways (portrait) needs portrait images, or content will appear rotated or with black bars. When in doubt, 1920 × 1080 (landscape) suits most displays.
Aspect ratio
- Bowdoin displays use a 16:9 aspect ratio. Both the 1080p and 4K sizes above are 16:9.
- Design full-bleed, so your background fills the entire image with no unintended borders.
File formats
- PNG is best for images with text, logos, and graphics, because it keeps edges crisp.
- JPG is a good choice for photographs.
- Video can be uploaded as MP4 for motion content.
Design for readability
- Keep each message short. One clear message per bulletin reads better than a crowded slide.
- Limit the amount of text so a viewer can read the whole bulletin in the few seconds it is on screen.
- Leave generous empty space around your text and graphics.
- Keep important text and logos away from the very edges, in case a screen crops slightly.
Design with accessibility in mind
People read campus displays quickly, from a distance, and at many different eye levels and vision abilities. Designing for accessibility makes signage clearer for everyone.
Color and contrast
- Use strong contrast between text and its background. Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (roughly 24 point and above), following WCAG 2.1 AA.
- Dark text on a light background, or light text on a dark background, reads best. Avoid low-contrast combinations such as light gray on white or medium-toned text on a busy photo.
- If text sits on top of a photo, place it on a solid or semi-transparent band so the contrast stays consistent.
- Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning. Pair color with text, a label, or an icon, since some viewers cannot distinguish certain colors (for example, red from green).
Text size and fonts
- Use large text that is readable from across the room. A useful rule of thumb is about one inch of text height for every 10 feet of viewing distance.
- Make the headline the largest element, and keep body text large enough to read at a glance rather than filling the space with small print.
- Choose simple, clean sans-serif fonts. Avoid thin, script, or highly decorative fonts, and avoid setting long passages in all capital letters.
- Left-align longer text. Centered text is harder to scan across multiple lines.
Motion and timing
- Avoid content that flashes more than three times per second, which can trigger seizures.
- Avoid fast scrolling or rapidly moving text, which is difficult to read. Keep any animation slow and subtle.
- Give each bulletin enough on-screen time for someone to read it comfortably at a walking pace.
Note: A digital display alone is not accessible to everyone, including people who are blind or have low vision. For essential or time-sensitive information, also share it through an accessible channel such as email or a web page.
How to create your image
- To build a full-screen image in PowerPoint, see the Create Full-Screen Signage Images from PowerPoint article in the Related Articles section.
- To build one in Adobe Express, see the Create Full-Screen Signage Images with Adobe Express article in the Related Articles section.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
AI-assisted content: This article was drafted with the assistance of an AI writing tool and reviewed by Bowdoin IT staff for accuracy.