Content Creators: How to Create Media Content or Your Scoreboard
Are you a content creator looking to be a part of the game day experience at your school? Designing for a scoreboard is different than any other medium. You have to consider clarity, visibility, and engagement. Here are a few tips to help you create exciting content that will captivate fans:
Readability is Key: Use bold and legible fonts. Avoid fancy or decorative fonts. We recommend sticking with serif fonts. Others are difficult to read at a distance. If you want to find a font that best fits your project, we love Dafonts. It's a free online resource where you can download a handful of fonts.
In addition to overall font selection, you must consider the background on which the font will be used. Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background. High contrast, such as white text on a red or blue background, is readable. We encourage you to limit the use of white on your background. It tends to be difficult to read and can be a brightness issue. Dark colors for backgrounds work best.
If you incorporate a texture in the background, ensure that it is subtle and not overpowering. Remember, the primary goal should be to get the content to the viewer. If the background isn't subtle, it will draw attention away from the content that actually matters.
Size and Scaling: Consider the size and resolution of the LED scoreboard—design content at the native resolution of the scoreboard for optimal clarity. If you're a ScoreVision user, you can access this information through the digital spec guide under resources in the ScoreVision Cloud. You can also access templates for designing Brand Wrappers (backgrounds for the scoreboard layouts).
Pay attention to the viewing distance. Text and graphics should be large enough to be seen clearly from all seats in the venue. Most viewers will be 50 feet or more in viewing distance.
Keep It Simple: Use concise and clear messaging. Avoid cluttering the screen with too much information. Less is more when you're trying to convey information to viewers. If you're designing an advertisement, remember that the rotation of the ad is a factor in how quickly someone can absorb the information.
High-Quality Graphics: Use high-resolution images and graphics to maintain clarity. Avoid pixelation or blurriness by ensuring images are of appropriate size and resolution.
Content Hierarchy: Prioritize information based on its importance. Important details, such as the score or game clock, should be prominent and easy to spot. Group information together in one location to make it easier for readers. Don't overwhelm people with too much content. A simple logo, image, and headline will suffice.
Before finalizing your content, test it on the LED scoreboard to ensure it is legible and visible from all angles in the venue. Then, coordinate with whoever will be in charge of running the production to form a game script. Once you're done, upload all content in the ScoreVision Cloud and assign it to the game. When it's game-time, everything will appear in the Producer in your collections or automatically run for your sequences.
