Specifications

10
FIREFLY MZ TIPS
1. A layout has only one Video and one Scroll-
ing Text zone.
2. A layout can have unlimited graphics zones
although large numbers do impact perfor-
mance.
3. The Video Zone can have multiple video files
inserted into it, n which case, they play in the
order they appear in the playlist.
4. Each video file has a set of content zones
cloned from the original default zones.
5. Zone shapes are modified in three ways.
Manually, by dragging a side or corner.
To maintain the aspect ratio of zone, hold
down the Shift key while dragging.
Automatically, by using the Auto-stretch but-
tons.
Precisely, by using the Width and Height
fields. Save the size settings by clicking the
Assign button.
6. Zone positions are modified in three ways.
Manually, by dragging the zone to its position.
Automatically, by using the Snap buttons.
Precisely, by using the Left and Top fields.
Save the position settings by clicking the
Assign button.
7. Graphic or Scrolling Text zones can overlay
the Video.
8. To view the layout associated with a particu-
lar video instance, click on that video object in
the Network Pane.
9. Graphics Quality
Most often, the automatic sizing and color-
de
pth conversion performed by the Firefly MZ
meets
the needs of the presentation. Occa-
sionally h
owever, it may be necessary to
adjust a grap
hic so that it displays precisely
as required. For
the highest quality rendition
of a graphic it is imp
ortant to consider two
things: color-depth and
precise sizing.
10. Color-depth
The Firefly MZ is a 16-bit color device that
maps the native color of the graphic to the
player’s 16-bit display buffer.For best results
convert graphics to a standard (1-, 2-, 4-, 8-,
or 24-bit) JPEG or PNG format before insert-
ing it into a content zone.
11. Sizing Graphics
For highest quality results, make certain that
the dimensions are the same for the content
zone and source graphic. Sizing a graphic by
dragging a content zone handle or changing
the content zone dimensions does not always
produce the best visual results. There are two
sizing methods that provide the most precise
images:
Create the layout design in Media Messenger
using the content zone objects and then size
the graphics to fit in the zones.
Create a layout design in another program
such as Adobe Photoshop, with the graphics
and other elements sized exactly as they
should appear when displayed. Then, using
the sizing information from that design, cre-
ate a corresponding multi-zone layout using
the Layout Editor in Media Messenger.