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Stratos Stratos Help Center

Upload Best Practices

Upload Best Practices

Following these best practices ensures your media uploads quickly, plays reliably on all screens, and stays organized in your library.

File Size Optimization

Section titled “File Size Optimization”

Images

Section titled “Images”
  • Resize before uploading. An image larger than the screen resolution wastes bandwidth and storage.
  • Use WebP when possible — typically 25–35% smaller than JPEG at the same quality.
  • Compress JPEGs to quality 80–85. The difference is imperceptible on a screen.
  • Avoid BMP — these files are 5–10× larger than equivalent JPEGs.

Videos

Section titled “Videos”
  • Use H.264 in MP4 for maximum player compatibility.
  • Target 1080p unless your screens are 4K. 1080p videos play smoothly on all players.
  • Keep bitrate reasonable — 5–8 Mbps for 1080p is sufficient for signage content.
  • Trim unnecessary content — remove black frames at the start and end for clean loops.

Organization

Section titled “Organization”

Use Folders

Section titled “Use Folders”

Organize media into folders by campaign, location, or content type. A well-structured folder tree makes it easy to find content and set folder-level permissions.

Use Tags

Section titled “Use Tags”

Tags complement folders by adding cross-cutting labels. A single media item can have multiple tags, making it discoverable from different angles.

Name Files Clearly

Section titled “Name Files Clearly”

Use descriptive file names that make sense without opening the file:

  • Good: lobby-welcome-v2.png, menu-lunch-special.jpg
  • Avoid: IMG_2847.jpg, final-final-v3.png

Upload Workflow

Section titled “Upload Workflow”
  1. Prepare files — resize, compress, and name them before uploading.
  2. Choose the right folder — upload directly to the target folder.
  3. Add tags — apply relevant tags during upload.
  4. Verify — open the preview to confirm the file looks correct.
  5. Add to playlists — if the media is part of a playlist, add it immediately.

URL Imports

Section titled “URL Imports”

When importing from a URL:

  • Verify the URL is publicly accessible (or reachable from the Stratos server).
  • Set an expiry date if the content is time-sensitive.
  • Check the file after import — some URLs redirect or serve unexpected content types.

Managing Library Size

Section titled “Managing Library Size”
  • Retire unused media — use the Purge List to retire files you no longer need but aren’t ready to delete.
  • Run Library Tidy — removes media that no layout or schedule references. Use with caution — it’s irreversible.
  • Monitor storage — the Media Library widget on the dashboard shows your current storage usage.
Section titled “Related”