Ad Specifications

Print ad Specifications

Compass Media produces a series of custom publications and targeted magazine and newspaper inserts each year. If you are advertising in one of those and need ad specs, please contact us directly.

• File Type:
  • PDF/X-1a is the accepted format. (PDF must pass preflight inspection)
  • We will accept EPS or TIFF files if a PDF cannot be provided. (All fonts must be converted to outlines.)
  • We no longer accept InDesign or Quark files except in cases of emergency.
  • We DO NOT accept Pagemaker, Corel Draw or Publisher files.

• File Specs:
  • All digital images must be CMYK and at least 300 dpi at 100%, and bitmapped images must be 600 dpi at 100%.
  • Images intended to be faintly visible must comprise at least 6% of each color.
  • DO NOT use spot colors in either graphic files or ad files.
  • All fonts must be embedded.
  • Please check your PDF accordingly before submission. The file must pass PDF/X-1a preflight inspection.
  • DO NOT include crop marks on PDF

• File Submission:
  • Send all ad files to the Materials Coordinator in one of the following ways:
  • Email or send a Dropbox link to materials@compassmedia.com
  • Ship CD of files to Compass Media, LLC.
    • Attn: Client Materials Coordinator
    • 4851 Wharf Parkway, Suite D204, Orange Beach, AL 36561

DIGITaL ad Specifications

Social Media

• Image Ad
  • Click-through URL
  • Image ratio: 1.91:1 to 1:1
  • Recommended resolution: at least 1080 x 1080px
  • Design Recommendations: https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/image
• Carousel Ad
  • Click-through URL
  • Carousel cards: 2 min to 10 max
  • Image ratio: 1:1
  • Recommended resolution: at least 1080 x 1080px
  • Design Recommendations: https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/carousel
• Video Ad
  • Click-through URL
  • Video Ratios: 9:16 to 16:9
  • Max File Size: 4GB Max
  • Design Recommendations: https://www.facebook.com/business/ads-guide/video
• TikTok
  • Aspect Ratio: 9:16
  • Minimum Resolutions: 540x960px, 640x640px, or 960x540px, and video lengths of 5-60 seconds (9-15 seconds is suggested)
  • Supported Filetypes: .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, or .avi, with a maximum file size of 500MB
• X (formerly Twitter)
  • Image Ads: PNG or JPEG, max file size of 5MB
  • Video Ads: 1 GB max file size – strongly recommend keeping files under 30MB. 15 seconds or less for video length
  • Carousel Ads: 1.91:1 or 1:1

 Display Banners

• Traditional Banners (No QR codes)
  • Click-through URL
  • Popular Sizes: 300×250, 728×90, 160×600, 320×100, 320×50, 300×600
  • MAX FILE SIZE: 150kb
  • ACCEPTED FILE FORMATS: jpg/gif*/png
    • *Animated ads (GIF) Animation length and speed:
      • Animation length must be 30 seconds or shorter
      • Animations can be looped, but the animations must stop after 30 seconds
      • Animated GIF ads must be slower than 5 FPS

Responsive Display Ads (Google Display Network)

• Responsive Display
  • Click-through URL
  • MAX FILE SIZE: 5120kb
  • Images: ( 2 or more high-quality images. 1 square and 1 landscape required):
    • Landscape (1.91:1): Recommended: 1200x628px. Min required: 600×314px
    • Square: (1:1) Recommended: 1200x1200px. Min required: 300×300px
  • Logos:
    • Landscape (4:1): Recommended: 1200×300px. Min required: 512×128px
    • Square: (1:1) Recommended: 1200 x 1200px. Min required: 128×128px
  • Headlines:
    • Up to 5 headlines (30 characters max per headline)
  • Long Headline:
    • 90 characters max
  • Descriptions:
    • Up to 5 descriptions (90 characters max per description)
  • Business Name:
    • 25 characters max

 YouTube Ads

• For standard format and Shorts:
  • URL of YouTube video or YouTube Shorts video (must be public on YouTube)
  • Click-through URL

Internet Radio

• Spotify
  • Audio Files
    • Length: 30 seconds or less
    • File Types: WAV, MPS, OGG
    • Max File Size: 1MB
    • Audio: WAV – 16-bit 44.1 kHZ MP3, at least 192 kbps RMS normalized to -14 dBFS Peak normalized to -0.2 dBFS
  • Companion Image (required)
    • Dimensions: 640 x 640 pixels
    • File Type: JPEG or PNG
    • Max File Size: 200KB
• Pandora
  • Audio Files
    • Length: 30 seconds or less
    • File Types: MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG or WAV
  • Companion Banner (optional)
    • Dimensions: 300×250, 500×500 or 300×600
    • File Type: JPEG, PNG or GIF

 Connected TV:

• CTV Video
  • Dimensions: 1920x1080px and 1280x720px
  • Video Bitrate: 2.0 MBps or higher (min. 1500 kbps)
  • Preferred format: mp4
  • Max video file size: 200 MB 

• CTV Companion Banner (optional)
  • Dimensions: 300×250, 300×600, 300×50, 320×50, 728×90
  • File Type: JPEG, PNG or GIF
  • Max File Size: 200KB

For any questions or additional information, please contact our materials coordinator at 251.967.7542 or email materials@compassmedia.com.