Knowledge Base/General/Frequently Asked Questions about Blip

Improving Your blip.tv Posters and Header Graphics

Blip Support
posted this on April 11, 2011 05:25 pm


 
Let's improve your show's graphics
Important points highlighted.




Some clarification on your new show page graphics

Based on what we're seeing so far, many of you are using a similar image cropped at three different sizes for your show poster, header graphic and website banner. Those are missed opportunities. These graphics are very different in terms of what they can accomplish and they should be approached independently. Let us explain:

Posters
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What are Posters?

The poster represents your show's brand throughout the site - on the homepage, in search results, etc. The poster should include your logo and some other core branding imagery (Check out Our 5 Rules of Web Series Design). Please don't overcrowd these posters with text or other extraneous imagery. They should be clean, simple and impacting.

Looking great at small sizes

The dimensions we are asking for are the maximum size at which they will ever be displayed. In most cases, viewers will see smaller versions. Make sure they look good at the 140px x 210px.

Less (or no) text!

The show title should boldly pop off the poster. Other than that,there's not really a need for any text on these graphics. Maybe a tag line, but that's pretty much it. The page template offers plenty of opportunities to describe and promote in text.

More padding and white space

Text or logos inside the show poster should not touch the edges, nor should they ride the edges. Doing so will create cramped spacing when the poster is resized down. Producers should check to see if there is still ample padding when their posters are resized to 140px x 210px.

Headers
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Headers should give a stylized first impression of what a viewer will actually see when they click play.Maybe it's a cool picture of your cast or the show's host. Maybe it's a close up of something specific to the subject matter of your show. This graphic should work hand-in-hand with the show poster to demonstrate to viewers what your show is all about. 

Note: This isn't another logo play. That's handled by the show poster. Nor is it a place to overload viewers with information about the show (that gets handled in text on the page).

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H for Header; P for Poster

Bottom left corner

On your new show page, the poster will obscure a small part of the header image's lower left corner. While producers shouldn't be putting much (or any) text into the header image, it's advisable to avoid putting anything important in that area.

Site Banners

The website banner is optional and should only be used when you have something specific to promote. For example, if you are selling DVDs or t-shirts associated with your show, you should promote that with the website banner. In the near future, we'll be attaching a link to this graphic; for now, use one of your "external links" to link to a corresponding page.

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The website banner is not intended for general promotion of your show. We're sorry for any confusion about this feature.

Other red flags

Images in the poster should not be stretched. Do not include URLs on the poster. And finally, imagery in the poster should be original and owned by the producer.

Get back in there!

We hope this helps you understand the key differences between posters, headers and website banners and gives you enough direction to make the most out of them for your show. Simply log back into your dashboard and go to “Images” under the “Settings” tab to upload any revised graphics. If you haven’t completed the wizard yet, you’ll see a link to re-engage it on your “Overview” tab. Good luck!

Head to the Dashboard now ›

 

Comments

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Janaia Donaldson

1. How wide is the full page (i.e., how many pixels of background color on either side of the header)?

2. Does Blip add a border around the poster to set it apart from where it overlaps the header? If so, give size and color.

April 15, 2011 06:33 pm
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Blip Support
blip.tv

Hi Janaia,

1) The header graphic is at a fixed width of 980 pixels wide, centered on the page. The page itself is set at a fluid width, with the background color filling in the left and right sides around the header graphic, depending on how big your viewer's screen/browser window is.

2) There is no border around the poster, but a slight drop shadow will be applied.

April 18, 2011 03:21 pm
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mike overson

At Vimeo they have a generic poster and header graphics for people who want to do it the easy way. This is just a suggestion that you could do the same, (because I can't get passed this part on your page wizard).

May 16, 2011 06:15 pm
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Blip Support
blip.tv

Hi Mike,

What kind of trouble are you having with uploading images? The uploader is very finicky about being pixel perfect in regards to size - your images must be the exact dimensions specified.

Let us know,

blip.tv producer support

May 16, 2011 06:36 pm
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Genavarrjr

Dear Blip.tv, I've uploaded all my images just like you suggested, but my profile page doesn't seem to update, is this a common thing? Did I do a step wrong? My dashboard says the images ARE uploaded, but they just don't show on the page.

http://thefilmrenegado.blip.tv

May 17, 2011 11:07 am
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Non-Union

I'm having the same issue as Genavarrjr above; all images are "checked" as uploaded yet I don't see them reflected on my show page. 

http://blip.tv/nonunion

Any advice you can pass along would be appreciated, thanks!

May 17, 2011 01:40 pm
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Genavarrjr

The problem might be that I can't complete the showpage wizard, because I don't see it! Where is it supposed to be?

May 17, 2011 02:43 pm
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Genavarrjr

Here's my dashboard, no showpage wizard to be found

May 17, 2011 02:44 pm
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Non-Union

Genavarrjr, try this link... although it hasn't worked for me yet.

http://blip.tv/dashboard/image_settings

May 17, 2011 03:01 pm
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Genavarrjr

Non-Union, already did it, and it still isn't working

May 17, 2011 03:10 pm
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Bobby Brown

Same issue with me. Worked during my lunch hours to create some nice looking (if I do say so myself) images for the new look and I'm told I have completed the wizard. Yet, my homepage does not show the new images.

May 19, 2011 05:33 pm
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Non-Union

Hey guys, I submitted this issue to the blip helpdesk. They sent me to an FAQ item (http://support.blip.tv/entries/20126993-faqs-for-the-new-blip-tv) which states that only the shows they choose will be getting the updated show page.  

Why do some episode and show pages look different from others?

The Content team at blip.tv is constantly reviewing and categorizing new shows. Those which we consider to be the best in original web series are given the ability to customize their show page skins. You can help us discover your show by making sure you’ve done the following:

  • Upload high quality show images at http://blip.tv/dashboard/image_settings
    • Tips for creating excellent show graphics can be found here and here.
  • Fill out all of your show information at http://blip.tv/dashboard/show_settings
  • Upload more than just one episode of your series uploaded to your show's account - it can be hard for us to review an entire series based on just one trailer or teaser episode.
  • Upload high-quality thumbnails for your episodes, or use our Thumbnail Picker to select and create great thumbnails. Either way you are much more likely to pick a great thumbnail than we are to randomly create one for you.

Doing all of these things demonstrates to us that you care about your show and are willing to invest hard work and time to making your show the greatest it can be.

May 19, 2011 07:22 pm
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Bobby Brown
Thanks non-union. This is disappointing. I feel like I work hard at producing my shows but I don't get the better looking page. I was really excited about all the new stuff happening at blip but now not so sure.
May 19, 2011 10:00 pm
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Bobby Brown

Hey there blip.tv, I have uploaded images following your guidelines. I have uploaded high quality shows. I have filled out show information. I have uploaded more than one episode. Is there someplace that we can get feedback that let's me know why my page is or will not be converted to the new layout?

May 20, 2011 12:10 pm
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Zeitgeist Türkiye

I have the same problem (all pics uploaded etc. and nothing changed). I think their servers have been overloaded because of this whole site transformation process. I'm sure it will be fine in a couple of days.

May 20, 2011 04:39 pm
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Lauren

I'm in the same boat as Bobby Brown and Zeitgeist!  I'll keep checking back.

June 01, 2011 01:08 pm
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Zeitgeist Türkiye

Well, past over 15 days and still nothing. We have over 55000 views in total, have a new episode teaser, every kind of pics necessary have been designed uploaded and nothing changed. Can't even share the link of our page because of this incomplete shape; blip.tv/zeitgeistturkiye

June 06, 2011 02:41 am
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Bobby Brown

Well after a long wait my channel has the new look. Not sure if our griping on here helped or if I was just being impatient but my channel has the images I uploaded and it looks very nice. 

June 07, 2011 06:36 pm
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Dustin Hunt

I myself am still having problems. I uploaded my pics a few days ago. The page says it has been uploaded, so the following day I check back and nothing, so I thought maybe it's because the size or file type was wrong. Tried uploading again and nothing. Is it broken?

June 24, 2011 05:15 pm
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Lauren

I have found it takes a few days for it all to go in effect. If its still not working after a week, I'd put in a help ticket.

 

Lauren

June 24, 2011 05:47 pm
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Bianca Jade

I seem to be having the same problem everyone else is experiencing. I spent a few hours creating the imagery for my new BlipTV channel and then NOTHING! It's even more unattractive than it used to be before BlipTV's latest redesign. I'm disappointed and don't understand why there seems to be a "waiting period". Isn't BlipTV set up for instant updates? Or do only PRO accounts get this luxury? If so, I might not be with BlipTV for long. I'd love for someone to answer my questions and appropriately address everyone else's that are documented above. Thank you.

 

Bianca Jade

www.MizzFIT.com

July 03, 2011 04:34 pm
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Blip Support
blip.tv

Hi all - we have an FAQ about the new pages at blip.tv here: http://support.blip.tv/entries/20126993-faqs-for-the-new-blip-tv

Remember that your show page does not switchover automatically after you upload images. There is other criteria to be met, as detailed in the FAQ. When you complete the Show Page Wizard, your show is entered in the queue to be reviewed by our content team. Please be patient as we work through this queue, thank you.

July 05, 2011 12:17 pm
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