SynthMock
A video may be paused, shown as a thumbnail or never played. Give its opening and poster a recognizable product state instead of depending on the final second to explain what the viewer is seeing.
Try it in SynthMock
Start with a Duo scene.
Use a reusable template as your starting point, then apply the choices in this article.
A paid plan is required to use templates and export.
Design for the paused version
A device seen only edge-on may make an intriguing transition but a poor first impression for an unfamiliar app. A readable cover or open screen can establish the product before the animation starts. Choose that state according to the campaign's purpose, not simply the most dramatic silhouette.
Different placements handle posters and playback differently. Test the actual destination and provide a still that communicates the same message when motion is unavailable or undesirable.
Give the preview one clear job
A small preview has less room to explain a dense interface. Start with a single recognition target and decide which frame makes it most visible.
| Campaign purpose | Proposed opening | Avoid relying on |
|---|---|---|
| Introduce the app | A recognizable selected task on the screen | An unexplained hardware close-up |
| Explain the fold | A clear cover with a visible device outline | A frame where neither display can be read |
| Show a specific feature | The relevant open source state | A detail that appears only at the end |
Keep the poster honest to the video
Use a representative frame or a clearly related still from the same scene. A poster with a different finish, source or promised feature can create a mismatch as soon as playback begins. If the clip's authored opening is intentionally different, ensure that the transition still makes sense from the poster a viewer sees.
Review the preview at the size it will occupy in the feed, article or page. Confirm that the app identity and focal content survive, then watch the complete exported file. A proposed delivery package includes the MP4, a matching still and a short sentence describing the clip. That gives the publishing team a fallback without asking them to find a useful frame inside a long file at the last minute.
See a Duo sequence in motion
Final pass
Before you call it finished
- Choose one product cue for the small preview.
- Use a poster consistent with the scene and message.
- Supply a matching still for placements without playback.
Make the next version yours.
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