Guidelines for creating your own campaign image

A quick guide to creating images that are optimized for Contentware

    Yes, you can use your own image in any campaign.  These are two contextual points that are important to understand:  

    • You’re creating one image that must work for all of the marketing channels (Email, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter), and each channel has different requirements.
    • Contentware's AI looks at your image and determines its most interesting part and creates a focal point.  It then crops the image to present what it thinks is the most information. 

    Both of these factors point to a single solution: the important elements of your image must be in the middle of the image. 

    Here's a quick guide on how to create the optimal image for your campaign.  If you’re having trouble, please call support at: support@contenware.com, or call 240-376-3117.

    The “Safe Zone” Template

    This Safe Zone is the area where all of the important elements of the image should be located. In the template below, each colored line represents the top or bottom border of the named channel.  This means that the area between the top and bottom of related lines is the space used by the named channel.

    cw_image-upload_safezone_examples_1800x1800

    Best Practices for Best Results

    1. The full dimension of your image should be 1800 x 1800 px (WxH), and no larger than 60 MB (less than 4MB is optimal).
    2. Design the main content of the image - headshots, title, date, etc. - within the Safe Zone’s 1800 x 800 px area.
    3. Keep the background (i.e. the area outside of the Safe Zone) simple and subtle. If you put too much visual interest in the background, it will confuse the AI and some areas of the Safe Zone won’t render properly in certain channels.  
    4. Limit text information in the image. Do not include paragraphs, long sentences, or too many names, titles, or organizations within the image.

    Examples of Good and Not So Good “Safe Zone” Images. 

    Let’s start with a good example of a well constructed safe zone image.  As you see, the content - language, dates, campaign image, logo, etc. - is populated and centered in the 1800 x 800 pixel Safe Zone.  Also note the full image is 1800 x 1800 pixels. 

    Original - 1800 x 1800 pixels

    cw_image-upload_safezone_example-1_1800x1800

    This is how the original image renders in various marketing channels.

    Email

    example-1-email

    Facebook

    example-1-facebook

    Instagram

    example-1-instagram

    LinkedIn Card

    example-1-linkedin-card

    LinkedIn Post

    example-1-linkedin-post

    Twitter

    example-1-linkedin-twitter

    Now let’s look at an example of an image that is not well constructed for Contentware.  Even though the information is contained within the Safe Zone, the background is too busy and prominent for the AI to find the important information.  Because of that, the AI misses the mark and cuts off important parts of the Safe Zone content for certain channels.

    Original - 1800 x 1800 pixels

    cw_image-upload_safezone_example-2_1800x1800

    Email

    example-2-email

    Facebook

    example-2-facebook

    Instagram

    example-2-instagram

    LinkedIn Card

    example-2-linkedin-card

    LinkedIn Post

    example-2-linkedin-post

    Twitter

    example-2-twitter

    Examples for Best Practice Design

    Below are 3 examples of designs and outputs that are optimal for Contentware

    1. Text, Logo, Image, Subtle Pattern Background
    2. Text, Logo, Speaker, Gradient Background
    3. Text, Logo, Multiple Speakers, CTA, Subtle Pattern Background

    1. Original: Text, Logo, Image, Subtle Pattern Background

    cw_image-upload_safezone_example-3_1800x1800

    Email

    example-3-email

    Facebook

    example-3-facebook

    Instagram

    example-3-instagram

    LinkedIn Card

    example-3-linkedin-card

    LinkedIn Post

    example-3-linkedin-post

    Twitter

    example-3-twitter

    2. Original: Text, Logo, Speaker, Gradient Background

    cw_image-upload_safezone_example-4_1800x1800

    Email

    example-4-email

    Facebook

    example-4-facebook

    Instagram

    example-4-instagram

    LinkedIn Card

    example-4-linkedin-card

    LinkedIn Post

    example-4-linkedin-post

    Twitter

    example-4-twitter

    3. Original: Text, Logo, Multiple Speakers, CTA, Subtle Pattern Background

    cw_image-upload_safezone_example-5_1800x1800

    Email

    example-5-email

    Facebook

    example-5-facebook

    Instagram

    example-5-instagram

    LinkedIn Card

    example-5-linkedin-card

    LinkedIn Post

    example-5-linkedin-post

    Twitter

    example-5-twitter