File prep and creative specs for POS screens

Before any file goes to a point-of-sale screen, check it against the current creative specs. Creative specs are the technical requirements a screen network sets for files: dimensions, file types, durations, safe areas and similar details. Getting them right is unglamorous work, and it's the difference between a campaign that launches on time and one that bounces back for fixes.

The specs for NRS Digital Media screens are published on the creative specs page. This post covers the file-prep habits that make meeting any set of specs easier.

What do creative specs usually cover?

Across digital signage networks, specs typically cover several things. Dimensions and aspect ratio, so the creative fills the screen correctly. Accepted file formats for still images and video. Maximum file size. Duration for video or animated files. Safe areas, meaning the zone where important text and images should stay so nothing gets cut off. And sometimes color and resolution guidance.

Each network sets its own. Don't assume that specs from one network, or from a previous campaign, still apply. Check the current page before every production cycle.

How should files be named and organized?

Clearly and consistently. A good file name tells anyone who opens it what's inside: the brand, the product, the campaign, the version and the date. Something like brand_product_campaign_v2_2026-10.

Keep versions distinct. When there are several creative versions for rotation or testing, label each one so it can't be confused with another. Mixing up versions is one of the most common causes of the wrong creative running in the wrong stores.

Keep source files. Save the layered design files along with the exported versions. When a refresh or a fix is needed, starting from the source is much faster than rebuilding.

How should files be exported and proofed?

Export to the exact specs. Match dimensions, format and duration precisely. A file that's slightly off may be rejected or may display with borders or cropping.

Check safe areas. Place a safe-area guide over the exported file and confirm that text, logos and the pack shot sit inside it.

Proof at size. View each file at the actual screen size, from a shopper's distance. Check that text is readable, colors look right and the pack is clear.

Watch video files through. Look for dropped frames, audio issues if audio is included, and a final frame that holds long enough to read.

And check the details: spelling, prices, dates and legal lines. A typo on screen is seen by every shopper who looks.

How should files be delivered?

On time, with room to spare. Networks typically need time to review and schedule creative. Delivering at the last minute leaves no room for fixes. Ask about lead times when you book the campaign.

With a clear manifest. List each file, which version it is, which stores or markets it's for and when it should run. That makes it easy for the network's team to schedule correctly.

With a contact. Name someone who can answer questions or supply a fix quickly if a file doesn't pass review.

A short checklist saves most of the back-and-forth. Before anything goes out, confirm the dimensions, file format, duration and file size against the published specs. Play each file once from start to finish on an ordinary screen, and look for cut-off text near the edges. Check that every version carries the right dates and legal lines. Then send the whole set with a note that lists what each file is for, so nobody has to guess which version runs where.

For questions about specs, approvals or delivery timelines, contact the NRS Digital Media team.