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Use Ad Builder

Create dozens of dynamic display ads to maximize omni-channel reach.

Updated over 3 weeks ago

Overview

Ad Builder is MNTN’s creative workspace for building ads. Start from professionally‑made templates or a blank canvas, apply your brand kit, add media, and generate a ready‑to‑run spot. You can preview, share for review, and export or publish to a campaign, all in one place. You can also browse built-in Shutterstock images and video to use in your ad.

💡Pro Tip: Use Google Chrome as your web browser when using MNTN Ad Builder. If Ad Builder does not load due to ad blockers, use Incognito Mode.

Which ad sizes does MNTN serve?

The ad sizes we serve are below, so focus your ad builder edits on these six sizes:

  • Square - 300x250

  • Landscape - 728x90, 320x50, 300x50

  • Portrait - 300x600 and 160x600

Video doesn't show on mobile, so please make sure that the static image shows all relevant visual information.

Upload to Ad Builder

Use a static ad group

From command center, you'll:

  1. Click Creative.

  2. Click My Multi-Touch Creative.

  3. Click + Create New.

  4. Select Static Upload.

  5. Click the File Icon to upload.

    You can also drag your file into the upload area.

Use a pre-made template

  1. Log in to MNTN.

  2. Click Creative.

  3. Click Multi-Touch Templates.

  4. Click on any pre-made template you like.

  5. Click Customize in Ad builder.
    Ad Builder will launch the pre-made template you choose for you to customize.

💡 Pro Tip: Filter available templates by the element type and vertical. To filter your template view, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the filter on the lefthand panel of the Template Gallery.

  2. Use the checkboxes to select the element or campaign strategy type.

    The Template Gallery will populate relevant templates based on your filters.

Use a blank template

  1. Log in to MNTN.

  2. Click Creative.

  3. Click My Multi-Touch Creative.

  4. Click + Create New > Blank.

    Ad Builder will launch a blank template for your to build from the ground up.

    ⚠️ Warning: Building an ad using a blank template requires design knowledge.

Create and Manage Ad Sizes

Build ads

Start by customizing your square layout and following the instructions provided in the Welcome modal. The edits made to your square layout will act as template for your remaining ad sizes.

💡 Pro Tip: Click on the eyeball icon at the top of the screen to preview how you ad will look before moving on to your Landscape size.

  1. Click the placeholder logo on the template and replace the images with your own.

    In the same menu, you can customize the messaging, call to action, and background images. You can also also create animations or edit scene transitions.

  2. Click Next: Landscape.

    This will prompt you to build out your Landscape and Portrait sizes as well.

Adjust ads

Next, adjust the size and positioning of your elements to complement your landscape and portrait ads.

  1. Start with the landscape ad, reposition your images or video elements as well as your text and logo to fit within the ad.

    If needed, add or remove contents to fit the new orientation.

  2. Click Next: Portrait.

    You'll make the same changes to your portrait ads, here.

Generate all ad sizes

Once you select the Generate All Ad Sizes, the ad builder will automatically generates all the best performing ad sizes across the square, landscape, and portrait aspect ratios, drastically reducing the time to design each by hand.

  1. Preview all of the generated ad sizes to confirm your desired size and placement of elements within.

    You can edit an individual ad size by hovering over a specific ad size and clicking the Edit icon. Or, you can edit the entire Square, Landscape, or Portrait set by using the Edit Master option.

  2. Once complete, Save the ad to your Creative Library and apply your customized creative to your campaign.

    💡 Pro Tip: Focus your ad builder edits on the sizes we serve.

Edit Scenes

Scenes define your ad's structure. They hold the elements and set transitions and styles, which determine how the ad looks and plays.

💡 Pro Tip: If you are using video or animation elements in your ads, be sure the scene time allows enough time for those elements to appear fully on screen.

Adjust Time

In the Ad Builder, you will:

  1. Click Scene 1.
    If you have more than one scene, click on the specific scene you would like to adjust the time for.

  2. Select Scene Time.
    Adjust the scene transition time by typing in the desired time (in milliseconds) or by adjusting the time using the Plus and Minus controls.

    📝 Note: The scene time adjustments are measured in milliseconds. Make sure to calculate how many seconds you need to adjust in milliseconds.

  3. Click x.

Choose a transition

Following the same initial step as adjusting time, you will:

  1. Click Scene 1.
    If you have more than one scene, click on the specific scene you would like to adjust the time for.

  2. Select Transition Type.
    Set your scene transition to slide or fade, instant or stack.

    📝 Note: The scene transition type is set on Scene 1 and will apply to all scenes within your ad.

  3. Click x.

Modify animation speed

Following the same initial step as adjusting time, you will:

  1. Click Scene 1.
    If you have more than one scene, click on the specific scene you would like to adjust the time for.

  2. Select Animation Speed.
    Adjust the animation speed by typing in the desired time (in milliseconds) or by adjusting the time using the Plus and Minus controls.

  3. Click x.

Change pagination settings

Turning on pagination will trigger pagination controls on your ad so users can navigate from scene to scene. You can adjust the appearance of these toggles by changing their shape, orientation, position, size, spacing, and color. This will apply to all scenes in your ad.

  1. Click Scene 1.
    This will apply to all scenes in your ad.

  2. Select Pagination.

  3. Adjust the necessary appearance settings.

  4. Click x.

Ad Builder Terms

Animations

This feature allows you to assign a specific animation effect to any asset that has become a part of your ad.

Element Panel

The element panel is the control center for all elements within your ad and houses all the attribute settings available. This panel is used to upload creative assets, relayer scenes, align elements, and make pixel-perfect adjustments by manually entering values instead of adjusting on your workboard using your mouse.

Auto Edit

Auto Edit is a 3-step process housed in the side panel to the left of the screen that generates over 20 ad sizes from 3 master sizes.

Bounding Box

The bounding box refers to the container of the selected element on your workboard. This is editable on your workboard by simply clicking, dragging, and/or repositioning the element using your mouse.

Copy / Paste

A quick option that copies any selected element or scene to your clipboard while retaining its attribute settings. You can paste into the open scene or transfer to another - select the 'Paste' option where the 'Copy' option was located.

Delete

'Delete' will remove the selected element or scene from the ad. You can undo this action by holding down Command + z on your keyboard.

Design Mode

Design mode refers to the static view of your ad in Ad Builder that displays your editing options located in the attribute panel on the right of the screen.

Duplicate

Duplicating an element or scene will quickly populate another copy of the selection while retaining all of its attribute and animation settings.

Elements

The actual components that make up the design and functionality of your ad. They include images, text, buttons, videos, product carousels, and more.

Element Toolbar

Located to the left of the workboard, this toolbar allows you to manipulate any scene or element with the following controls: Copy/Paste, Duplicate, Hide/Show, and Delete. These controls will only impact the selected element or scene on the ad. (The selected element will appear green in the attribute panel.)

Email Share

Option to provide an email address(es) to share preview links to the sizes within your ad group. Great to use for creative approvals within your team!

Hide / Show

Selecting 'Hide' will remove the selected element from the workboard temporarily. This comes in handy as a design tool to see what elements are underneath it. Selecting the option again will immediately 'Show' the element on the workboard, bringing it into a visible state again. (This is separate from hide or show animations, as this has no real impact on how the ad serves.)

Overlay /

Underlay

These are used as master scenes, containing elements within your ad that are present throughout the duration of scenes. Overlay houses elements that lay on top of your ad and Underlay houses elements that live in the background - good for background imagery, videos, or colors.

Preview Mode

Design mode refers to the view in Ad Builder that plays your ad and hides all the editing options. We recommend previewing your ad before moving on or saving.

Re-layering Elements

Bring elements to the front by dragging them to the top of the scene in the attribute panel.

Scenes

Scenes create the skeleton of your ad, containing all of the elements and attributes used, and determine when a transition occurs.

Workboard

The workboard refers to the working area of your ad. Anything outside of the workboard will not be shown when your ad is served (unless an animation is applied to it).

Zoom

Zooming in will make your workboard larger to ensure your design is pixel-perfect. Zooming out will make your workboard smaller if you are working on a large ad size.

Quick Answers

Can I download ads that I have made in Ad Builder?

Because MNTN leverages our own proprietary ad server, clients are unable to download Multi-Touch creative designed within the platform and use them elsewhere. However, if you wish to create your own Multi-Touch creative outside of MNTN and then upload it to our platform, you may do so.

How do I share previews of my ads with teammates who are not on the MNTN platform?

If you are looking to share the ads you have created with internal team members, you are able to grab the preview links for those ads. To do this, navigate to Creative>My Creative, click into the creative you wish to share, select the settings wheel in the upper right, hit "Share", and enter the team member email addresses.

Can I delete ad sizes from the platform-generated ad sizes?

You can't remove ad sizes when utilizing the “Generate All Ad Sizes” feature (ads designed within the MNTN platform).

What happens if my ad size shows incorrectly?

Reach out to Platform Experience Team through the Support portal: https://ui.mountain.com/myaccount/support

Can ads have sound?

Multi-Touch creative cannot have sound, as the vast majority of ad publishers do not allow for sound. If they do, it tends to be a button the user has to press and statistically publishers often don't enable it, so we have chosen not to allow sound on display ads. We recommend using the overlaying text to outline the message you want the user to receive.

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