Zones let you split a screen (or group of screens) into multiple areas, each playing its own media or playlist.
They’re great for:
Multi-screen deployments driven by a single media player.
LED layouts where the resolution may be less than 1080px.
Video walls where content needs to be divided per screen.
Split-screen layouts.
Zones are treated like any other media item, so once created they are saved in the manage section into a folder and can be added to a playlist to display on your screens. Because zones are positioning the content within them, they are usually the only item within a playlist – especially if you are relying on those positions due to using an LED or other odd resolution screen. Consider using custom resolution settings in the device settings if you are only using it to position content correctly on an LED.
You can use a zone and include other images and videos within the same playlist, these extra images and videos just will not be positioned within the zone and will display full screen. This can be used for full screen takeovers for example on a 1x4 screen layout you can create a zone that separates content into each of the four screens, then put a 7,680 x 1080 video to run over all four.
Another example would be a standard 1920 x 1080 screen – with a zone to place a playlist in a specific area. You can use the permissions system to provide access to the playlist for specific users to update content, without impacting other content in the zone. This zone can be added into a playlist with other images and videos and will just play on rotation the same as any other content.
Access and enablement
Zones are an Advanced Licence feature and must be enabled on your account by the Fusion Signage team.
Email [email protected] and ask to have zones turned on.
Custom resolution setting – if you are using zones to position content correctly on your LED at a lower resolution (i.e. 600 x 200 pixels), consider using our custom resolution setting on the application. Setting the custom resolution on the device will ensure any content sent to the screen will be displayed only at that resolution and means you won’t have to use a zone at all.
Single device – zones can only be used on a single device (whether outputting to a single or multiple screens). If you have a menu board setup (like 1x3) with multiple screens or devices consider using our sync groups instead.
Creating a zone
In Fusion Signage, go to Manage → Add.
Choose Zone (available after the feature is enabled).
When the Zone editor opens you can configure:
Name – e.g. “3×1 Video Wall.”
Screen array – set horizontal and vertical screens (e.g., 3×1, 2×2, 1×3).
Individual screen resolution – enter width and height per screen / panel (e.g. 1920×1080, or your LED panel’s native resolution).
Media assignment – for each tile, click Add media or Add playlist and choose what should play there.
Once the media or playlist has been added, you then have the options to further customise and control the positioning of the media within your zone. Using the tools within the media window you can:
Bring to the front
Maximise
Duplicate
Remove
Customise the positioning and size using the x/y and the dimensions co-ordinates, or simply click and drag to where you would like it positioned
4. Click Save.
Handy hint – think in 'tiles' or zones. Each tile represents a physical screen (or a portion of a screen) with its own content.
Multiple videos – make sure your device supports playback for the number of videos you are displaying within the zone. Many devices will not support more than one video playing at the same time.
Putting the zone on the screen
Create a new playlist dedicated to your zone.
Add your zone to the playlist.
Important workflow:
Using a zone for custom resolution:
Put only the zone in the playlist and assign that playlist to the screen. All tile content is defined inside the zone, so you don’t need any additional slides in the outer playlist.Using zones to split content across a display (single or multiple screens):
You may include other images or videos in the same playlist as the zone. Content outside the zone will play full screen as normal.
To update the content within the zone later, simply:
Edit the playlists that are assigned to the zone tiles, or
Open the zone editor and swap which playlist is assigned to each section if you need to switch to a completely different playlist.
It is best practice to name the playlist with your zone with something to remind you to keep that on the screen (like 'Zone Playlist Keep On Screen') as you will update the playlist within that zone to change the content.
Customers will often set the zone up in a playlist, then publish a new playlist with their content to the screen. This will remove the zone layout and cause the content to play full screen.