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What is Composition?

A composition is the final screen output you publish. It combines a layout, the media you add, and one or more , so you can decide exactly what plays and where on the display for your digital signage screens.
Learn what a layout is and how to create a custom layout in Pickcel.

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How to create a Composition in Pickcel console

1

Open Composition and click Add Composition

Log in to your Pickcel Console. In the left menu, expand Content and select Composition, then click Add Composition in the top-right corner.
Compositions page in the Pickcel console with the Add Composition button in the top-right
2

Choose a layout

On Choose Layout, pick the structure that matches your screen. Use the All, Portrait, Landscape, and Custom tabs, or Search layout by name, to find one, then click Use this layout.
Need a structure that isn’t listed? Click + Create Custom Layout and follow the Layouts guide to build your own.
Choose Layout step with All, Portrait, Landscape, and Custom tabs, a search box, and Use this layout buttons
3

Get to know the composition editor

The editor opens on the Select Media step. Your media library sits on the left, and the zones for your chosen layout are on the right, each with its own Zone tab (Zone 1, Zone 2, and so on). The Total Duration for the selected zone is shown above the tabs.
Composition editor with the media library on the left and Zone 1 and Zone 2 tabs on the right
Filter the media library with the All, Images, Videos, Apps, and PDFs tabs, or click Upload New File to add something new without leaving the editor.
4

Add media to a zone and set its duration

Make sure the zone you want is selected, then click the + button on any media row to add it to that zone’s playlist. Each item shows inline −, duration, and + controls, so you can set how many seconds it plays. The zone’s Total Duration updates as you go.
A media item added to Zone 1 with minus, duration, and plus controls and the Total Duration updated
Drag the handle on a playlist item to reorder it, or hover over an item to remove it from the zone.
You can set the duration for images, but not for videos. A video always plays for its full length, so its playback isn’t cut off mid-stream.
5

Fill the remaining zones

Select the next Zone tab and repeat the previous step until every zone has the media you want.
Zone 2 selected with an app added to its playlist
6

Preview your composition

Once your zones are filled, click Preview to see exactly how the composition will look on screen before you save it.
Preview window showing the composition playing across its zones
7

Name and save your composition

Rename the composition using the field (and pencil icon) at the top-left. When you’re ready, click Save composition. In the Save composition dialog, confirm the name and click Save & exit.
Save composition dialog showing the composition name with Cancel, Save and continue, and Save and exit buttons
Choose Save & continue instead if you want to keep editing after saving.
8

Find your composition in the list

Your saved composition appears in the Compositions list, with its Date, Duration, Created By, and any linked Schedules.
Compositions list showing the newly saved composition with its date, duration, and creator
What’s Next?