Layouts feature in piSignage : layouts for single zone displays in Landscape and Portrait mode

With piSignage you can create a display divided into multiple zones with each zone displaying independent content. This is done using the LAYOUTS feature. While there are many prebuilt layouts available with piSignage, you can also build custom layouts in piSignage as per your requirement.

In prebuilt layouts there are  1 zone, 2 zone and 3 zone layouts for creating playlists in piSignage. In multi zone layouts, again you have different layouts based on  size of each zone & arrangement of zones  within a layout. There are  separate layouts for displays set in both landscape and portrait orientation.

In this article we will only explore the Layouts for single zone displays in piSignage. We will  explore multi zone displays in the next writeup. Creating custom layouts again will be explored in a separate article.

These built in  layouts  are created  keeping  HD/Full HD screens in mind with a 16:9 aspect ratio (720p/1080p)  as most of our customers use these screens.  

Custom layouts can be created if you have different  screens (piSignage supports NTSC and PAL displays), displays of different dimensions or even if  you need a specific layout structure within a standard HD screen.

Multizone displays are achived by creating playlists in required layouts.

To see different types of layouts available in piSignage

• Go to playlists Tab in your account
• Open an existing playlist. Alternatively you can create a new playlist and open it.
• Towards the top right you will see a layout box. Click on it. A popup window opens showing all the prebuilt layouts options available in piSignage.

You can choose required layout and create a playlist in that layout using assets of appropriate dimensions.

In this write up we will explore all the different single display zone layouts in piSignage.

SINGLE ZONE LAYOUT IN LANDSCAPE MODE : LAYOUT 1

Layout 1 helps you create a simple and effective display with a single zone. While all the asset types  supported by piSignage can be displayed here, dimensions available are given below.

While deploying a group having displays in landscape mode ,  please select the orientation as landscape in Group settings for the group.

Refer this article to explore in detail all the options available in Group settings . Also read this article  to know  why groups are used to manage players.

Also in case of image/video assets refer this article to see how you can optimise displays with fit image & fit videos feature  when you do not have assets of exact dimensions required.

SINGLE ZONE LAYOUT IN PORTRAIT MODE

LAYOUT 2AP

This layout is used when your screen is rotated 90 degrees in clockwise direction.

Layout 2ap helps you create a simple and effective display with a single zone in portrait mode, with your screen rotated 90 degrees in clockwise direction. While all the asset types  supported by piSignage can be displayed here, Recommended dimensions are given below

Below is a sample display using layout 2ap for portrait mode.

If this is the default orientation  in which you keep your screen, You can select the orientation as portrait in Group settings for the group, to which player/display belongs. Portrait left in case of layout 2ap. With this group setting, all the  screens in the group operate in  portrait mode , ie from player booting process display to player information data on screen at power on is aligned according to your selected orientation.

Refer this article to explore in detail all the options available in Group settings . Also read this article  to know  why groups are used to manage players.

Also in case of image/video assets refer this article to see how you can optimise displays with fit image & fit videos feature  when you do not have assets of exact dimensions required.

LAYOUT 2ap270

This layout is used when your screen is rotated 90 degrees in anticlockwise ( same as 270 degrees in clockwise direction, hence the name .)

This layout is is created for the  convenience of setting up screens . For the viewer the display looks same as layout 2ap, ie a simple single zone portrait display as shown above.  

If this is the default orientation  in which you keep your screen, please select the orientation as portrait  in Group settings for the group, to which player/display belongs. ie Portrait right in case of layout 2ap270