Confirm the display path before exporting
Ask the supplier for the visible orientation, agreed pixel canvas and playback method. A portrait-mounted display does not necessarily expect a portrait-encoded file from every source. The operating system, player or display may perform rotation. Record which component owns it so that the image is not rotated twice or left sideways.
Send a short test file before finishing the whole campaign. Include a labelled top edge, a circle and text near each corner. This makes incorrect orientation, stretching and cropping easier to identify than an attractive full-screen photograph.
Compose a vertical message
A portrait screen works well when its hierarchy is clear from top to bottom. Select one message, one main visual and one next step. Do not simply stack every element from a landscape presentation into a narrower column. Content for a passing visitor should reveal its purpose without requiring the complete loop.
| Area | Job | Question to test |
|---|---|---|
| Upper area | Identify the topic or product | Can someone understand the subject at a glance? |
| Main area | Show the product or a single useful demonstration | Does the visual remain clear from the intended distance? |
| Supporting area | Add one concise benefit or fact | Is the text readable without moving unusually close? |
| Next step | Explain where to go or what to do | Can a visitor act without waiting for another slide? |
These areas are a composition example, not fixed pixel percentages. Position the important message where the actual audience can see it; furniture or a queue may hide the bottom of an otherwise well-designed screen.
Worked example: a landscape film in a portrait canvas
Assume a hypothetical output canvas of 1080 by 1920 pixels and an existing film of 1920 by 1080. Fitting the complete landscape film to the canvas width makes its displayed height about 608 pixels. It occupies only about 32% of the canvas height.
You can use the remaining space deliberately for a headline and supporting message. Alternatively, produce a new portrait edit with suitable framing. Filling the whole vertical canvas by cropping the landscape film can remove most of its side content, so check the actual action, logos and captions before choosing that option.
For a product with important details across the full width, preserving the landscape view within a designed portrait layout may be more useful than an aggressive crop. For a person filmed centrally, a dedicated vertical edit may work well. Approve the composition with the actual footage, not a placeholder.
Plan the loop around incomplete visits
Imagine a 30-second loop and a visitor who watches for eight seconds before moving on. They may never see the final call to action. Make each segment understandable on its own and repeat the essential identity or next step where appropriate. These timings are hypothetical prompts for review, not measured audience behaviour.
Watch the transition from the last frame back to the first. Decide whether it should be seamless, briefly pause or clearly restart. Check the intended sound arrangement; a message should not depend on narration if the screen is planned to run silently.
Test the real file on the real player
Sony's format guidance makes media support dependent on the relevant TV and application documentation. Its USB playback instructions also vary by TV type. An MP4 extension or successful laptop preview does not replace a test of the final playback path.
Confirm canvas, orientation handling, frame rate and supported export settings with the supplier.
Check that circles remain round, all important text stays visible and no borders appear unintentionally.
View the loop from the normal approach, stopping point and side positions.
Run several full loops and check the restart, captions and any audio.
Rehearse power-on and recovery, including the correct file and input selection.
Deliver one clearly named approved version and identify who may replace it.
Common mistakes are treating portrait content as a rotated landscape slide, relying on tiny text, exporting before player selection and delivering several files all called “final”. Keep the approved export specification with the files so later revisions follow the same tested path.
Combine TV rental with a clear content and visualisation brief. If an external playback system is needed, include playback equipment as part of the agreed setup.