7. Layouts

Table of Contents

Introduction

With Layouts, you can create the final layout displayed on your screens by combining already created playlists, uploaded media files, and apps.

Creating a Layout

To create a layout, click the ”Add Layout”  button at the bottom of the list. A new page will open, displaying many pre-designed layout templates we have created for you and are ready to use.

Feel free to choose any available templates and edit them by changing images and adding whatever text you want. Otherwise, you can create your custom Layout from scratch!

Adding a Template

1. What are Templates?

Templates are pre-formatted Layouts we have created for you to use directly on your TV screens. These signage templates come with a wide range of static and dynamic content options. Both options are available, whether you want to incorporate static elements like photos or text that remain the same each time they are shown on your players or incorporate dynamic content that automatically updates depending on your sign’s weather, time, or location. Templates use media not stored in your account but in the cloud to be available to all users. Of course, you can edit them the way you like.

2. Importing a Template

By clicking the layout template of your choice, a window will pop up displaying a preview of it. Then, if you like it, you can Import it by clicking the ”Import Template” button or go back to pick a new one by clicking the ”Back to Templates” button. After importing a template, you can name it as you wish and edit the default media to customize it to your needs.

Adding a Custom Layout

To add a custom layout, click on the “CREATE CUSTOM LAYOUT” button found at the beginning of the listing.

Layout Settings

Before adding any media, you will see a configuration panel on the right side of your screen. To see a short description of the options, click on the corresponding tab below:

Type the name of your layout.

Choose the Ratio of your layout so it will match your screen’s ratio. You can select between Landscape or Portrait.

Aspect Ratio

If your TV screen ratio is not shown in this list, you can create a custom ratio by clicking the ”Add Custom Ratio” button in the Ratio list.

With this feature, you can set the background audio of your choice for the media in your layout setup.

You can choose any of the following media types as background audio:

Playlists

Audio Assets

Web pages (Live Radio Stations, Streams, etc.)

Videos (sound only)

Muted Media

All other media in the Layout editor will be muted upon enabling and setting a Background Audio of your choice. As a result, only the selected Background Audio will be heard from the speakers of your screen

You also have the option to disable “Snap to Grid” on your screen simulator, which will alter how you place the item by dragging it.
Disabling the grid allows you to place the item anywhere on the screen simulator.

Adding media from your library

Click the “Insert” on the top bar to choose a media from your Media gallery. At the right-side panel, you will see all available options offered.

  • Images
  • Videos
  • Audio
  • Documents
  • Web Pages
  • Widgets
  • Texts
  • Cliparts
  • Playlists

Editing media

Some relevant configuration options are shown on the right panel by choosing a media file.
For example, if you select an Image, Video, Audio, Document, Web-page, Widget, and Playlist, you will be presented with the following settings:

1. Fitting Option

  • “Fit”: show the entire content within the area assigned (may add some space or black bars at the edges, but will not distort images or videos).
  • “Crop”: zoom-in so that it covers the whole area assigned (may crop some edges, but it will not distort images or videos).
  • “Stretch”: show the whole content, stretching it to match the area assigned (no cropping, empty spaces, or black bars, but it might distort images and videos).

2. Transparency

Optionally, enable the toggle “Allow Transparency” to allow transparency of the region. This is useful for content with transparency and the “Fit” option above.

Positioning/Resizing media in the layout editor

Selecting imported media in the layout editor opens configuration options on the right side of your screen.

You can use the Width, Height, Top, Left values to quickly position and align it to where you want. You can either type directly the value you wish to or, by placing your mouse cursor in the box, use the mouse wheel to increase/decrease the value.

Another way of positioning/resizing your media item is by selecting it with your mouse and dragging it in any position you want. Clicking on a media item will highlight it. Use the white squares to drag/resize the media at will.

Lock Aspect Ratio

If you want the media you are moving/resizing to keep the same ratio across the Layout region, enable the “Lock Aspect Ratio” toggle.

Content Layering

On the right panel, when you have not selected a media, under the “Content Layering” section, all the items (playlists, widgets, media files) added to the layout are listed in the order you added them, with the top layer representing the last item added.

This layering order is very easily modified by dragging and dropping items in the desired hierarchy.

In the layering setup, you have the option to quickly disable some items by clicking the “eye” button next to the media of your choice. The hidden media will not be displayed on the player as well.

You can revert the media to your Layout editor by clicking again the “eye” button.

Useful Tools

On the top bar, you will notice some useful buttons that you can use to help you create your Layout faster.

  1. Undo: A change you made while working in your Layout editor if you’d like to, for up to 30 edits. Shortcut: CTRL+Z
  2. Redo: An Undo for up to 30 edits. Shortcut: CTRL+Y
  3. Send Backward: Move the media backward if you have many content layers on your Layout editor.
  4. Bring Forward: Move the media forward if you have many content layers on your Layout editor.
  5. Copy: Copy any media to your Layout editor area. You can copy media from different Layout editors across your account. Shortcut: CTRL+C
  6. Paste: Paste any media to your Layout editor area. You can paste media from different Layout editors across your account. Shortcut: CTRL+V
  7. Edit: Edit the settings of the selected media by opening a new editing form of the selected media.
  8. Delete: Delete the selected media from the Layout editor. Shortcut: Del button
  9. Full Screen: By clicking the Full-Screen button, the Layout that you have created will fill your entire TV screen. In that way, you can modify the final output shown on your TV screen and make the right adjustments by moving any media in any direction or position of your choice. It’s like the usual Layout editor but in Full-screen mode. Press the Esc button on your keyboard to exit Full-Screen.

How do I preview a layout before pushing it to the player?

This feature is currently in the beta stage and will soon have the full functionalities of a Player. In other words, you will be able to see exactly what is being shown on your TV screen; in the same way, you would view that content if you had a Player connected to your screen.

With a simple click, you can see how your layout will display on the TV screen without the need for a player or any hardware at all.

The only thing you have to do is fill the layout with the media of your choice and then click the Preview button at the top right corner.

A new window will appear and start displaying the layout.

Allow pop-ups

Upon clicking the Preview button, your browser might block the pop-up. Please click the options button in your browser and click the “Allow pop-ups“.

Managing Layouts

In the “Layouts” section, you can see a list of the layouts currently created in your account. Layout information is organized in the following columns:

  • the Name of the layout
  • the Timestamp (date and time) that the layout was modified for the last time
  • the Workspace that the layout belongs
  • the Actions column

If you click on the three dots icon in the Actions column, you will be presented with a list of actions that you can apply to your layouts.

Click on each tab below to see a short description.

Change the details of the layout by clicking the” Edit” button.
Check out the “Creating a Layout” section above for details on the fields.

Create an exact copy of the layout with a new name.

You can move layouts to other Workspaces (for accounts in the Enterprise plan).

Delete the layout.

Additional Control Settings

At the top-left corner, you can use the Search box to sort out your layout listing quickly. You can search using any of the columns by name, date, workspace, etc.

You can select one or more layouts by clicking the square box left to their thumbnail. You can then click the Actions button at the bottom to Move or Delete all the selected layouts at once.