Design · Image selection

Select images by purpose and check the crop

Step by step: Define the image’s purpose. Show the actual offer. Use landscapes and text-only cards selectively. Compare the crop with the display format. The guide shows how to match the subject, message and screen format.

SUISSE-VIDEO · 6 October 2026 · 4-minute read

1. Define the image’s purpose

Write the message first. Should someone recognise a dish, discover a destination or notice changed opening hours? Then decide what extra information the image provides. If it merely occupies space, a text-only card may be clearer.

2. Show the actual offer

For a specific dish, use a photograph of that dish. In the fictional “Homemade lasagne” example, a recognisable serving helps; a mountain panorama does not explain the meal. Check that the photograph matches the version on offer. A decorative image of another product may create misleading expectations.

3. Use landscapes and text-only cards selectively

For a local trip suggestion, an image of the named place helps visitors recognise it and imagine the visit. For “Closed from 16:00 today”, a text-only card is often clearer than a notice over a landscape. An image does not replace the place name and description, or the date and time.

The same message, different image choices

Message	Suitable presentation	Unsuitable presentation
Homemade lasagne	Suitable: photo of the dish on offer	Unsuitable: mountain panorama that does not show the dish
A trip to the lake	Suitable: image of the named lake with its location	Unsuitable: attractive image of another lake without explanation
Closed from 16:00 today	Suitable: clear text-only card with the date	Unsuitable: dominant landscape with a small notice

Fictional image-selection examples, not customer case studies.

4. Compare the crop with the display format

Check the image in its intended area: can viewers still recognise the dish, building or signpost? A wide panorama may lose its main subject in a tall image area. Choose another photograph or prepare a suitable crop if needed. This workflow does not assume automatic cropping in the software. Also check sharpness and overlapping text on the device.

5. Check the image and message together

Show the finished card to someone unfamiliar with the content: what is being offered or announced? Does their answer match your intended message? Before use, also check that you have permission to use the image for this purpose; knowing its source alone is insufficient. Replace outdated or unsuitable images alongside their related content.

Checklist

The message is defined before choosing the image.
The subject matches the actual offer or place.
Important details are also stated in words.
The crop preserves the key subject.
The image’s source and permitted use are checked.
The finished card is clear on the device.

Use these checkboxes as a checklist. Your selections are not saved.

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