Specifications

411 Publishing Online Advertising Specifications

Customers – The following specifications are to be followed when submitting ads for the LA411.com website.

1. The size of all files must be 50k or under, except buttons, which must be 20k and sponsorship banners 30k.
 
For best results with optimizing gif or jpeg files and keeping the size proper for web display, please set the resolution to 72 DPI and color to 256. Also, for Flash files please optimize graphics before loading them into animation, and limit the number of total animation frames for Flash and animated GIFs to 4 or 5.

2. The pixel dimensions for each type of ad are as follows:

Buttons: 120x80
Marquees:120x180
Skyscrapers: 120x600
Leaderboard Banners: 728x90
Sponsorship Banners: 234x60
Expanding Banners: 981x47, expandable to 981x94 (Flash only)
Section Sponsorship Run-of-Section Banner: 468x60

Note: Flash ads do not require pixel sizing, as they will fit the website template for that ad. But bear the pixel size in mind for the ad when you are designing it, since some graphics may display too small to be seen, or may appear distorted if size specs are not followed.

3. All ads must be in JPEG, GIF, or Flash formats. Gifs may be animated.

4. When doing ads using Flash please follow these specifications:

• No URL should be embedded in the Flash file.
• All Flash ads must contain an invisible button layer, coded with the following ActionScript:

on (release) {
    getURL (clickTag, "_blank");
}

We will pass the clickthrough from our site to the URL you supply us. This ensures that clickthrough data on your ad is properly recorded. Detailed information on how to create an invisible button and setting the clickTag ActionScript can be sent on request, or for further help consult the Flash Professional help files or Adobe's support website.

• All Flash banners need to be accompanied by an alternate .gif or .jpg version of your ad to allow browsers that do not have the Flash plugin installed (approximately 10%) to view it.
• Save the compiled file as Flash version 8 or lower when possible to ensure their ad will play on more browsers.
• If possible, send the original Flash file (.fla) along with their compiled Flash file (.swf) which would help resolve  any issues with your compiled ad.
• Please test your compiled Flash file before sending it, to make sure that it follows the proper specifications.
  

5. Please email the creatives to Jim Dennis, Online Client Service Manager, here: jdennis@reedbusiness.com.

Please do not submit html files, only .swf, .fla, .jpg or .gif formats. Zip or StuffIt archives containing the files can also be sent.