How to Create a Digital Menu and Schedule It on Your Signage TV

A Quick Story: Why Digital Signage Matters

A few months ago, I walked into a small family-owned diner off Route 66. The place had that old-school charm—but what really caught my eye was the bright, modern TV screen above the counter. Instead of printed paper menus taped to the wall, they had a sharp, rotating digital display showcasing their breakfast specials, coffee drinks, and lunch combos.

You could tell instantly what was popular and what they wanted to promote. The food looked better simply because of the presentation. It didn't just feel like a meal—it felt like an experience.

That's the power of digital signage. When your menu looks professional and dynamic, it elevates the entire perception of your business.

Step 1: Create Your Digital Menu

You have multiple options for designing your menu:

• SignPresenter's built-in designer
• Canva (our top pick for ease and polish)
• PowerPoint or Microsoft Paint

Canva Walkthrough

Visit canva.com and log in. Search for "coffee shop menu" and choose a template or start from scratch.

Tip: Use a 16:9 aspect ratio for best TV display quality.

Customize:

• Fonts, prices, and headings
• Background images or videos
• Layout and design to match your brand

To add a video background:

1. Duplicate the menu page in Canva.
2. Remove the image background.
3. Drag in a video.
4. Send to back, adjust transparency, and export.

Download both an image (PNG) and video (MP4) version for flexibility.

Step 2: Upload Menus to SignPresenter

Once logged into SignPresenter:

1. Go to Step 1: My Content
2. Select a screen layout
3. Use the Simple Image or Video 1080p template
4. Upload, crop, set the category, duration, name, and save

For quick edits or basic design needs, you can also use the SignPresenter Designer directly in the platform.

Keep durations short to avoid scheduling issues—set just what you need.

Step 3: Build a Playlist

Organize your menus by meal times:

1. Go to Step 2: Playlists
2. Create new custom playlists (e.g., "Breakfast Menu")
3. Add the appropriate menu content
4. Save

Step 4: Schedule Your Menus

To schedule when each playlist displays:

1. Go to Step 3: Screens
2. Select your screen
3. Create a new schedule (e.g., 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM)
4. Add the playlist as an action
5. Save

Repeat for lunch, dinner, or any event-specific menus.

Want to Skip the Software? Use a USB Drive Instead

If you're not planning to update your menus often, you don't need to pay for a service—just use a USB flash drive and your TV's built-in media player.

🧰 What You'll Need:

• A USB drive (formatted FAT32 or exFAT)
• A TV with a USB port and built-in media player
• Your menu files saved as .jpg, .png, or .mp4

📺 Steps:

1. Create your menu (Canva is great for this).
2. Export as an image or video (1920x1080 resolution is best).
3. Copy it to your USB drive.
4. Plug the drive into your TV.
5. Use your TV remote to open the media player and set the file to loop (most TVs have this option in playback settings).

Vertical Menu Trick:

Most TVs are landscape by default, but many allow you to rotate the display in the settings. If your TV doesn't support rotation:

• Mount your TV vertically.
• In Canva, design your menu with 1080x1920 dimensions (portrait mode).
• Export and test on the TV.
• Some TVs will auto-adjust, but others may stretch—check your user manual for display settings.

There are also wall mounts with built-in rotation that make this easier. It takes a little testing, but it's totally doable!

Ready to Level Up?

If you're ready for more flexibility—like rotating menus, scheduling content by time, and remote updates from anywhere—SignPresenter makes it easy.

Schedule your free one-on-one coaching session today. We'll help you dial in your menus, answer your questions, and send you exclusive Canva templates to jumpstart your signage.

👉 Start Now at SignPresenter.com

Let's make your menu look as good as your food tastes.