Create Stunning Digital Signage Content with Canva: A Complete Guide

Before you start designing, it's essential to use the correct dimensions. Most digital displays use a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Recommended Sizes:

• 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD) - Best for most displays
• 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K) - For ultra-high resolution screens
• 1280 x 720 pixels (HD) - For smaller screens or faster loading

How to Set Custom Dimensions in Canva:

1. Go to Canva.com and sign in (or create a free account)
2. Click "Create a design" in the top right
3. Click "Custom size"
4. Enter 1920 width and 1080 height (in pixels)
5. Click "Create new design"

Design Best Practices:

Use Bold, Contrasting Colors

Digital signage needs to grab attention from a distance. Use high-contrast color combinations like:

• Dark text on light backgrounds
• White or yellow text on dark backgrounds
• Your brand colors for consistency

Choose Readable Fonts

Select fonts that are easy to read from across the room:

• Use font sizes of 48pt or larger for headlines
• Use at least 24pt for body text
• Stick to 2-3 fonts maximum per design
• Recommended fonts: Montserrat, Open Sans, Roboto, Poppins

Keep Text Minimal

Digital signage is viewed from a distance and often only for a few seconds:

• Use short headlines (5-7 words max)
• Limit body text to 2-3 short lines
• Focus on one key message per design

Use High-Quality Images

• Use Canva's free stock photos or upload your own
• Ensure images are high resolution (at least 1920x1080)
• Avoid pixelated or blurry images

Include a Clear Call-to-Action

Tell viewers what to do next:

• "Visit our website"
• "Scan QR code for 20% off"
• "Ask our team for details"
• "Follow us on Instagram"

Canva offers thousands of free templates you can customize. Here's how to find them:

1. In Canva, search for templates like:
   • "Digital signage"
   • "Presentation"
   • "Restaurant menu"
   • "Event poster"
   • "Promotion announcement"
2. Click on a template you like
3. Customize text, colors, and images to match your brand
4. Resize to 1920x1080 if needed (File → Resize)

Pro Tip: Create multiple designs with the same style for a cohesive look across your digital signage rotation.

Once your design is complete, follow these steps to download it:

1. Click the "Share" button in the top right corner
2. Select "Download"
3. Choose PNG or JPG format
   • PNG - Best quality, larger file size, supports transparency
   • JPG - Good quality, smaller file size, faster loading
4. Click "Download"
5. Your file will be saved to your computer's Downloads folder

For Video Content: If you created an animated design in Canva Pro, export as MP4 video (max 30 seconds recommended).

Now it's time to upload your Canva design to MyDigiSign.AI and display it on your screens!

Step-by-Step Upload Process:

1. Log in to MyDigiSign.AI

• Visit the MyDigiSign.AI portal
• Sign in with your account (or create a free account)

2. Create or Select a Screen

• Go to your dashboard
• Click "Create New Screen" or select an existing screen
• Give your screen a descriptive name (e.g., "Lobby Display - October Promotions")

3. Upload Your Content

• Click the "Upload Content" button
• Select your downloaded Canva file from your computer
• Wait for the upload to complete (usually takes a few seconds)

4. Set Display Duration

• Choose how long each image displays (recommended: 10-15 seconds)
• For time-sensitive content, set start and end dates

5. Assign to Your Device

• Select which device/screen should display this content
• Click "Save" or "Publish"
• Your content will automatically appear on your connected displays!

Don't show the same content all day! Create multiple Canva designs and set up a rotation:

Content Rotation Ideas:

• Morning content: Daily specials, breakfast promotions, motivational quotes
• Afternoon content: Product highlights, customer testimonials, upcoming events
• Evening content: Happy hour deals, entertainment announcements, closing hours

Best Practices:

• Create at least 5-10 different designs to rotate
• Update content weekly or monthly to keep it fresh
• Mix promotional content with entertainment (like live TV channels)
• Use seasonal themes for holidays and special occasions