✍️HLD Author
HLD Author is a tool to preview your videos to make sure they look great on the HLD, with controls to export the video for smooth playback on the HLD Demo Media Player.
HLD Author is currently in beta and has some known issues and limitations. See below for more details
HLD Author is a desktop application for previewing and preparing video content for use with the HLD Demo Media Player. It allows you to validate how a video will appear on an HLD and, if needed, export a version that is compatible with the Demo Media Player included with your display.
HLD Author is intended for quick validation and preparation of video content. It is not currently used for content creation — to create content, see our content pipelines for video editors, 3D tools, GenAI, and real-world footage.
What is HLD Author?
HLD Author is a desktop application that helps you:
Preview how your video will appear on an HLD without requiring physical access to the display
Validate whether a video is compatible with the HLD Demo Media Player
Export a properly formatted version only when required for the Demo Media Player
Please note that you should not export your videos from HLD Author if you intend to use them with third-party digital signage solutions, like BrightSign players or Yodeck, as these tools have their own video processing conventions.
If you need advanced, scriptable, or batch video processing, we provide another tool, HLD Encoder (coming soon).
Loading your video
To begin, click Load Video and select a video file from your computer. Supported formats are .mp4, .avi, and .mov.
Once loaded, your video will appear in the HLD preview. You can use this preview to evaluate framing and overall presentation before exporting.
Camera controls
Left-click + drag: Rotate around the display
Scroll wheel: Zoom in and out
These controls help you understand how your content reads from different viewing angles.
Video validation
When a video is loaded, HLD Author automatically checks whether it is compatible with the Demo Media Player.
If the video does not meet the required specifications, a popup will appear explaining that the video must be re-encoded to work correctly with the Demo Media Player.
You may dismiss this warning and continue previewing. Re-encoding is not required for previewing.
To understand what changes HLD Author applies during export, see our documentation on media specs and encoding.
Exporting for the Demo Media Player
Click Export to generate a Demo Media Player–compatible version of your video.
Only export from HLD Author if you plan to use the HLD Demo Media Player. Do not use exported files from HLD Author with other digital signage players such as BrightSign.
Export Behavior
The exported file will have
_HLD_encodedappended to the filenameAudio is preserved
A progress bar shows export status
You may set the output location manually or use the folder button to browse
When complete, you can open the export folder directly
The exported video is compatible with all HLD sizes (16″, 27″, and 86″) when used with the Demo Media Player. The device selector dropdown is only used to preview in a realistic simulation of that HLD and does not affect export behavior.
Sample content and tutorials
On the left side of the app, you’ll find sample videos demonstrating different types of HLD content, including:
Real people
Animated characters
Product visuals
Each sample includes a “See how it’s made” link that opens a relevant tutorial explaining the content creation approach at a high level.
These examples are intended to provide inspiration and context, not prescriptive workflows.
Documentation and support
Docs and guides (bottom left) link to content creation workflows, including DCC tools and AI-generated content
Support (top right) links to FAQs and ways to contact our support team
If you are new to the HLD ecosystem, these resources provide additional background on how the display works and how to create effective content.
Advanced workflows
If you need:
Batch processing
Command-line control
Integration into automated pipelines
See HLD Encoder (coming soon), which is designed for advanced and production-scale video preparation.
Known issues
HLD Author is currently Windows only — a macOS version will be released in Q1 2026.
HLD Author currently requires the HEVC Windows Video Extension — previews may not work if you do not have this installed. Subsequent versions will include HEVC decoding and this will no longer be required.
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