As always — start with the display and playback devices, and work your way backwards.
Some digital signage systems are zoned — the screen is divided into slices for showing multiple pieces of content at the same time. If you’re not also designing the other screen content, you might want to verify that you’ll actually have the full screen (or a 16:9 zone).
While you’re at it, find out about the preferred delivery format. Depending on the length of your piece or how the players are updated, there may be storage or bandwidth concerns. If there are other pieces of content playing, you may have additional decode complexity constraints.
You will hopefully get a complete delivery spec, including container format, resolution, frame rate, video codec, video bit rate, audio codec, number of audio channels, and audio depth/sample rate/bit rate.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
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