Basic Elements - Countdown

The Countdown element allows you to add a dynamic countdown to your Custom Graphic. It can be formatted to count down from a set time (for example: run a 2-minute countdown clock for a rapid round segment), or count down to a set date & time (for example: a countdown to kickoff at 7PM).

To get started, add a Countdown Element to your Custom Graphic. Then click on the Timer layer, to open all of the customization options.

On the right side of your screen you can start by customizing the size and placement of your Timer. Then customize the following options:

• Countdown timer Types:

  • Time: Counts down from a set time; you will trigger the timer to start in Producer

  • Date & Time: Counts down to a set date & time; this timer will automatically run if the set date & time is in the future 

• Display format: Choose whether to show days, hours, minutes, and/or seconds

• Preview: set default values for your timer; these are the values that will initially load when you bring your Countdown live. You can always change them in real time in Producer.
• Style & Animation: These customization options are primarily the same as any other text layer in your Custom Graphic, including opacity, font, color, and text styles. The countdown & unit names can each be styled independently.

Here's the custmoization options that are unique to Countdown and worth noting:

• Item gap: control the number of pixels between items
• Basic vs. flip clock: controls the style of the countdown, choose basic (numbers only) or flipping tiles
• Show units: option to show & hide the units (ie. minutes and seconds) or change the labels (ie. min and sec)
  • If you choose not to show units, you have the option to show or hide dividers, the colons between your units

Use your Countdown in Tagboard Producer

Once your Custom Graphic is complete, add it to your Playlist in Tagboard Producer. Select the Graphic on your Playlist, to open the Editor. Select the Timer layer to control your countdown. Note that the layer needs to be selected in order to use the hotkeys.

• If your Countdown is counting down to a specific date & time, it will automatically play if the date & time is in the future
• If your Countdown is counting down from a set time, you can manually play, pause, and reset your timer. Once you hit play, the timer will keep running even if you take the graphic in & out of live. You can see the status anytime in the Editor.