MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors

Technical Note MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors This document is intended as a guide for users of the MultiQ Digital Signage Template System for widescreen monitors in landscape position. For installation of the system the reader is presumed to have basic knowledge of the MultiQ digital signage system. The handling of the template system is covered in this document. This guide applies to products with firmware version 3.0.X. Important! MultiQ Products AB provides no guarantee that any of the examples shown in this document will work for any particular application or that the descriptions will be valid for future firmware or product versions. MultiQ Products AB cannot and will not be held liable for any damage inflicted to any product as a result of the examples or instructions mentioned in this document. MultiQ Products AB reserves the right to make changes to this document and to product specifications without prior notice. MultiQ Products AB provides NO support for application development of any kind. The information here is provided

Table of Contents 1 Revision history... 3 2 Introduction... 4 3 Some photo format basics... 6 4 Try the template system... 8 4.1 Login to the slideshow creator... 8 4.2 How to design your signs... 13 5 Installation of the template system... 18 5.1 Standalone setup of the media player... 18 5.2 Installing the slideshow.zip file... 21 Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 2

1 Revision history A description of changes with revision number will be noted in the revision log below: Version Date Comments 1.00 2011-01-26 Initial version Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 3

2 Introduction The MultiQ Digital signage template system is intended to make it simple to create a slideshow of digital signs in a very quick and inexpensive way. No extra creation tools are required. To create the signs you just need to enter text and to add (if desired) your own digital photos or images. The MultiQ Digital signage template system is an ideal add-on when using the media player in standalone mode. However the template system can also be used in a centrally managed system where local insertion of content is needed. In such case the template system is installed from the central server and the administrator of the central server can decide to what extent the feature can be handled from the local end. The digital photos can be from your digital camera. The system includes templates that allow you to display full screen photos as well as photos covering parts of the screen. Of course you may also add images that are made in your favorite drawing- or image processing program and use them with the templates. The photo- and image sample collection that comes along with the template system contains a number of photos and background images to get you started quickly. Then you can add your own digital photos and other images that applies to your specific applications. The basic template system assumes that a MultiQ Media player 4 or Media player 5 is used and connected to a 16:9 aspect ratio monitor. It also assumes that the MultiQ template system is already installed on your media player. If not, you find the installation instructions in section 5. In a centrally administrated system the template feature is installed by the system administrator. Similar template systems can be made to fit 16:9 monitors in portrait mode as well as 5:4 aspect ratio monitors oriented in landscape or portrait mode. On top of the photos and images you can add text. Figure 1 shows examples of what the signs may look like. You can create slideshows that include any combination of templates. In figure 1 you find the templates used to the left and the final results to the right. By adding a suitable background image with a foreground image on top and then the desired text, each template can be used to create a multitude of signs. The font used in the signs is Utopia and the font sizes are fixed (to sizes). If you wish specific fonts or logos to be presented, these can be a part of the images uploaded to the system. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 4

Figure 1. Some of the templates and possible results when using them. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 5

3 Some photo format basics Today s digital cameras use either the 4:3 or the 16:9 aspect ratios. In many cases you can set your camera to either of these formats. The 16:9 format (landscape) is the standard format of TV sets and most flat panel monitors. Therefore it may be practical to shoot most pictures in this format. However traditional photography did not use this aspect ratio. Analog photography was based on the 24x36 mm (3:2) format. Much digital photography is based on the old TV aspect ratio 4:3 and you probably have lots of digital images with this aspect ratio. Figure 2. Shooting in landscape orientation result in images with aspect ratio 16:9 or 4:3 (incl. optimum resolutions for images used with the template system. If you turn the camera using this aspect ratio to portrait position you will get an image having the 3:4 aspect ratio. If you shoot in the 16:9 format you can choose between the landscape (16:9) format or turning the camera 90 degrees to the (9:16) portrait format. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 6

Figure 3. When shooting in portrait position you can use the 9:16 format or the 3:4 format (incl. optimum resolutions for images used with the template system). The full HD landscape position template system is designed to be used with the aspect ratios described above. You can see from figures 2 and 3 the optimum image resolution for the images to be used with the template system are 1920x1080 pixels and 1440x1080 pixels in landscape orientation. When shooting in portrait orientation the corresponding resolutions are 608x1080 pixels and 810x1080 pixels respectively. Digital cameras have more resolution than this but the template slideshow system accepts larger resolution and will rescale the images automatically. However using larger images will require more storage and if you use many images you can decrease the resolution using some photo editing software. An interesting software that is available for free is Fotosizer (www.fotosizer.com). This software can do batch resizing of entire folders filled with image files. This may be quite practical compared to resizing each image on a one-by-one basis. As an alternative to photos you can use your own artwork or images created by any graphic software. Preferably you should use the jpg format (remember that the file extension must be jpg not JPG ). On top of the images you can directly add text using the Utopia font and in two different font sizes. There are templates with black or white text. Choose the color to fit your photos and artwork. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 7

4 Try the template system Assuming that the template system is installed on your media player you start by logging in using the web browser on your computer. If the template system is properly installed the default image should be shown on the screen. Figure 4. The default image of the template system. To add your own content you need to login to the media player web server. The slideshow template system is designed to be used primarily with the Mozilla Firefox browser. To login you must be connected to the same subnet as the media player and you will need the IP address of the media player. The simplest way find the IP address is two restart the media player. As the test pattern is shown during the boot process, the IP address is presented in the upper left corner. 4.1 Login to the slideshow creator Enter the IP address of your media player followed by /lsf/templates (here http://192.168.5.149/lsf/templates ) and you will get to the login page. The default password is to leave the password text box empty. You can change the password inside the template system. Figure 5. The login dialog to the slideshow template system. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 8

In the main menu of the slideshow creator, you can see that there is only one image in the list and that is the default slide. You can also see that the slide is reloaded once every 15 seconds. To add new slides press the New slide button. Figure 6. The main menu of the slideshow creator. After pressing the New slide button you will get to the Add new slide menu. Here you can choose between a large numbers of templates. All templates come in two versions with a white and a black font for the text. In the Sample content folder you find a selection of images that are useful to try the template system. Probably you want to use your own photographs and other graphics to show your products or your premises etc. However the sample content is a good start. Start by selecting what photographs or images you want to use and then choose the template accordingly. The templates allow you to combine a background image with a foreground image and there is a separate text section starting in the top left corner of each of the images. In order to find the upload browse menus you may have to scroll across the browser window. The upload menus are always positioned below the lower left corner of the images. I.e. that once you have loaded an image and you want to edit the slide you will find the upload browse button further down the page than at initial upload. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 9

Figure 7. Choose a template that fits your photographs and other images. In this case we choose the full screen template with one background 16:9 format image and white text. When you browse for an image, use the view thumbnail setting in your file manager to be able to see the images. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 10

Figure 8. Select the appropriate background image using the view thumbnail setting in your browse menu. Text boxes not needed should be left blank Figure 9. After selecting the photograph for the background image you can add the text. If you do not wish to use the text further down the page you can leave it blank and it will not be visible on the screen. Finally click the Save slide button to add the slide to the playlist. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 11

Figure 10. After a while the final result appears on the screen. Figure 11. You can edit the duration of each slide and change the order between the slides by clicking the tiny arrows to the left of the slides. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 12

4.2 How to design your signs The Go to the beach sign that was added above included just one image and some text. However by using a template including two image areas you can make combinations as is shown in figure 9. Figure 12. Template with two images, a background and a foreground image. Figure 13. Here the background image is a solid red picture. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 13

Upper text input box Lower text input box Foreground image browse box Background image browse box Figure 14. If you choose to edit an image you will see the images in the preview in your web browser. Figure 15. Here a 9:16 format image is used on top of a gradient background and some text. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 14

There are many applications for billboards mainly based on text content. Billboards often need to be updated quickly and by the onsite staff. The template system is ideal for this use. Figure 16. The billboard template is a background image with text on top. Figure 17. Excursion billboard with a background image with a circular gradient. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 15

Figure 18. The input text boxes are left blank in the edit menu. These text boxes will not result in any visible text on the screen. Figure 19. Conference centre billboard application. The local staff can keep the billboard updated by just editing the text in the template. The background image can be replaced to fit different occasions. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 16

The backgrounds may also be used as foregrounds as is shown in figure 20. You can upload the solid (and gradient) backgrounds into any aspect ratio image field. The uploaded images are stretched to fit the foreground and background image areas in the template. Figure 20. You can upload a background into the foreground image area of the template when you wish to add text in an undisturbed area on top of an image. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 17

5 Installation of the template system The first thing to do is to configure your media player for standalone operation. To set up your media player for standalone operation you will need a USB keyboard and a USB mouse. 5.1 Standalone setup of the media player The template system is primarily intended to be used in standalone operation. However it is possible to install the template system from the central server which allows for central supervision of the units. However the handling of the slideshows presented by the template system is always local. Here we will show how to install the template system on a standalone media player. To configure the media player you will need a USB keyboard and a USB mouse along with a widescreen monitor that accepts Full HD signals (1080p). Figure 21. To configure the media player you need a USB keyboard and a USB mouse. To configure the media player you need to get to the main configuration menu. To do this you press Ctrl+Alt+c on the keyboard that will make the media player reboot. The first two screens that you see after reboot are to set the monitor orientation and the language settings for the keyboard. Depending on if the media player has been in use before and in what environments it has been used, a password may be needed to get to the configuration menu. At first startup of a media player you get directly to the main menu without password. If the unit has been connected to a central server an installer password is needed. This password is decided by the system administrator. The default user is installer and the default password is pass. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 18

When you get to the main menu the default the Basic setup menu is chosen. To use the media monitor in standalone mode, press the Standalone button (default). In most cases media players are connected to a local network that provides an IP address automatically. If so, press DHCP. Then press Test connection. Figure 22. Standalone setup with DHCP selected. Make a note of the IP address because this will be used to login to the template system. Figure 23. The connection test will provide you with the IP address of the media monitor. Next is the setup menu login page. First time you start up the unit in standalone mode you will be asked to enter a password. This password will be needed next time you want to enter the configuration menu. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 19

Figure 24. Use the virtual keyboard to enter username and password. After pressing the Next button you will find yourself in the digital signage management system main menu. Most features of the media monitor can be handled using the onscreen menus. However in order to upload content files which you must to do to make full use of the template system, you need to log in to the media monitor from your PC. To log in to the unit you need to know its IP address. To be able to log in to the unit you also need to remove the web server lock. For security the web server is by default locked from inbound requests. To remove the web server lock you need to click the Users icon to the left. The Enable remote access to web server check box should be checked. Then click Save. Finally press the Done button at the top right and the media player will reboot and go to the normal presentation mode. After a while the media monitor will be available for inbound requests. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 20

Figure 25. In the Security menu (reached by clicking the Users icon to the left), the web server lock can be removed and the password can be changed. Press Done when you have ticked the access to web server box. By connecting your PC to the same subnet as the media monitor it is now possible to log in to the server from your PC or MAC. Just put the IP address of your media monitor on the address line of your web browser and log in to the media monitor web server using the password that you have chosen. Using your web browser you will now be able to install the template system on your media player. Start by logging in to your media player by adding the IP address of your media player to the address field of your web browser. Now enter the username and password that you decided when you set your media player in standalone mode. 5.2 Installing the slideshow.zip file The slideshow download package contains a zipped folder templates.zip and a folder with sample content. Download the templates.zip file and the Sample content folder to your computer. First step is to upload the templates.zip file to the media player. Click the Import tab and then the Extensions icon. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 21

Figure 26. Click the Add button in the Local Storage Files section. Figure 27. Next click the Browse button and browse to the folder where you keep the templates.zip file. Figure 28. Select the templates.zip file and click the Open button to select. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 22

Figure 29. Click the Upload button to copy the file to the media player. Figure 30. The templates.zip file is now visible in the Local Storage Files section. The next step is to add a link to the templates.zip file so we can address the template system within the media player. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 23

Figure 31. Click the Media icon in the Import tab and then click the Add URL button. Name the link Templates and then add the link http://127.0.0.1/lsf/templates to the URL box. Figure 32. Name the link Templates and then add the link to the URL box. Next go to the Unit tab to address the link and to get the template application on the screen. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 24

Figure 33. Select the Unit tab and then click the Areas icon. Then click the Add button in the Media on unit section. Figure 34. Select the Templates Html link from the Media folder. Then press Save. After a while the default templates image will show on screen. There is an important adjustment to be made in the Media on unit section of the Areas menu. The time interval at which the Templates spot should be reloaded is set to 15 seconds by default. This time interval needs to be longer than the length of the slideshow that you intend to show. For Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 25

this reason it may be suitable to select a longer timer interval such as 60 seconds. If you select a very long time interval as 600 seconds, you get better performance since there is less risk that the application will be reloaded in the middle of the slideshow. However if you make an update of your slideshow you will have to wait for this time interval until you get the update presented on the screen. Figure 35. To set the reload interval for the Templates link. By default a media player is set to be used in SXGA video mode. The template application however, is designed to work with the HD 1080 Full screen - landscape (0) video mode. Set the video mode by selecting the Display menu in the Unit tab and use the drop down menu and click Save. Figure 36. Select the HD 1080 video mode in the Display configuration menu. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 26

Figure 37. Also see to that the output display format is selected to 16:9. Everything is now set and the template system is installed on your media player. You can now build your own slideshow by following the instructions at the beginning of this document. Note that the template system can be regarded as any media spot used in the MultiQ digital signage system. I.e. that local slideshow content can be mixed with video clips and any other content that is added using the standard management system. Also, the template slideshow can be used in a centrally managed system allowing for centrally managed content to be combined with locally published slideshows. For more information on how to build your own templates, please read the Local Slideshow technical note that can be downloaded from the developers section of the MultiQ website http://multiq.com/uk/developers/tech_notes.php. Technical Note The MultiQ Digital signage template system for widescreen monitors, Version 1, 26/01/2011 27