Optimal dimensions for uploading image/video files

When uploading image or video files to the Media Manager, a conversion takes place in order to accommodate both the photo player and the video player. The final output will modify your files to fit the dimensions of the players, either by scaling them down or scaling them up, to fit several standardized video sizes.

Which version end users will see depends on their device size - mobile users are shown smaller files by default that are sized to fit a phone screen and download more quickly. (Users who see a smaller video can always choose to watch a full-res version instead.) To ensure the best possible final output, please consider the following factors when sizing your files for upload.

Photo player

Generally speaking, use the largest file size you can when uploading your images; this will preserve as much data as possible when the images are resized. Source files should be at least 800 x 600 pixels for best results; 1024 x 768 or larger is recommended. An image resolution of at least 72 dpi is best. 

If possible, upload images that use the RGB color space. This can be set in any advanced image editor, such as Photoshop. The CMYK color space is supported, but images that already use RGB will not need to be converted and will therefore retain more information.

Images will be converted into four sizes (where N is whatever is needed to preserve the proportion of the original file).

If the image orientation is landscape (width greater than height):

• Thumb: 100 x N 
• Mobile: 480 x N
• Display: 1024 x N
• Full size: 1920 x N

If image orientation is portrait (height greater than width):

• Thumb: N x 56
• Mobile: N x 270
• Display: N x 576
• Full size: N x 1080

If the full-size dimensions are larger than the source image, the display image will be used as both display and full size.

Video player

• 564 x 450 pixels (maximum)

You do not have to size your files to match these dimensions exactly, but you should try to use dimensions whose height-to-width ratio is at or near 1.3 to 1. Typically this is not a major concern, but if the dimensions are too far off from 1.3 to 1, the images/video can appear distorted after conversion.

For more information about editing images, see the "Resizing and Cropping Images" Finalsite Training video.