Customizing Slide Backgrounds
The background is the foundation of every slide. AccuArk offers five background types, each suited to different content needs. This article covers all background options available on the Background tab of the Slide Editor.
Background Types
Solid Color
A single flat color fills the entire slide. Click the color picker to choose any color. This is the simplest background type and works well when you want the text to be the primary focus.
Solid color backgrounds load instantly and have no file size overhead. They are a good choice for text-heavy slides like daily specials boards or announcements.
Gradient
A gradient blends two colors across the slide. You select the two colors using color pickers. Gradients add visual interest without requiring an image file.
Gradients work well for branded slides where your company colors can blend together as a backdrop behind text content.
Image
An image background uses a picture file uploaded through AccuArk's FileDrive system. Supported formats include JPEG, PNG, and BMP. When you select Image as the background type, a file upload button appears. Click it to select and upload your image.
For best results, use images at 1920x1080 resolution or higher to fill a Full HD display without upscaling artifacts. The scale mode setting controls how the image fits the slide area.
Video
A video background plays a video file behind the slide content. Upload the video through FileDrive. When combined with the "Play Until Video Ends" option on the General tab, the slide stays on screen until the video finishes.
Use video backgrounds for high-impact promotional slides where motion draws attention.
Stream URL
A stream URL background connects to a live video stream. Enter the URL of the stream source. This is useful for displaying live camera feeds or external content on your signage.
Scale Modes
When using an image or video background, the scale mode determines how the media fits the slide area:
| Scale Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Fill | Scales the image to fill the entire area, cropping edges if the aspect ratio does not match. This is the default and recommended mode. |
| Fit | Scales the image to fit within the area while maintaining the aspect ratio. May result in black bars (letterboxing) on the sides or top/bottom. |
| Stretch | Stretches the image to exactly fill the area, ignoring the aspect ratio. This can distort the image. |
| Center | Displays the image at its original size, centered in the area. If the image is smaller than the slide, black borders appear around it. |
For most use cases, Fill produces the best results. It ensures the entire slide area is covered with content.
Overlay Opacity
The overlay opacity setting adds a semi-transparent dark layer on top of the background. This is useful when placing text over busy images or videos — the dark overlay makes the text more readable.
The opacity value ranges from 0 (fully transparent, no overlay) to 1.0 (fully opaque black). A value of 0.3 to 0.5 is a good starting point for most image backgrounds. Increase the opacity if the text is still hard to read against the background.
Tips for Choosing Backgrounds
- Text-focused slides: Use a solid color or gradient. These keep the text legible and load quickly.
- Product showcases: Use an image of the product. Set a moderate overlay opacity so text overlays remain readable.
- High-impact promotions: Use a video background for motion and energy.
- Live content: Use a stream URL to display real-time content from an external source.
- Resolution: Always use images at least 1920x1080 pixels for Full HD displays. Higher resolution images are scaled down without loss, but low-resolution images will look blurry when scaled up.
What to Read Next
- Configuring Slide Text and Call-to-Action for text styling and positioning.
- Adding Slide Overlays: Logo, Price Badge, and QR Code for additional visual elements.