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Today, photos are more important than ever. They sell our formats as thumbnails on our streaming platform, on TV, both in the trailer and in Smart TV / HbbTV, and also, still, in the programme guide.
We need key visuals and episode images for all TV and streaming formats. 
 
Only a strong image will end up on the streaming homepage.
 
Images should be at least 12 megapixels in size so that they are also suitable for high-resolution displays and print applications.
 
More detailed specifications and examples can be found below.
 
All images should be striking, emotional and exciting, 
Episode images should capture the look of the format and key visual. 
In some cases, good film stills can be better episode images than poor still photographs, provided they are always professionally post-produced.
 
The starting point for successful photos is a photo briefing, which is created in collaboration between the editorial team and the audience / Photo + Design team. This guide does not replace such a briefing, it can only be the basis for it. Excellent images can only be created through collaboration between the audience / Team Photo + Design, editorial team, production company and photographers. This also means that enough time is planned for photos during the shoot.

Our streaming platform will be relaunched in the first quarter of 2025. 

There are mainly two types of images, hero (at the top of the page) and episode images/teasers (at the bottom). Normally, the same images are used for the hero and teaser. They must therefore be designed in such a way that they work in both applications. However, it is possible to create different images for hero and teaser in special cases. 

These two image types are available in 16:9 (big screen, desktop, tablet) and 8:9 (phone).

For social media applications, 9:16 images are also desirable.

Zdf-bg mediathek formats

Hero images in 16:9 format are overlaid with a black gradient from the left, in 8:9 format from below. This must be taken into account when designing.

Zdf-bg mediathek hero-images
  • Technical Formats

    Photographed in Raw format, delivery as TIFF raw files must be available for a period of 2 years.
    Title motifs and key visuals for print purposes in DIN A3, 300dpi. The motifs must work in the formats 16:9, 8:9 and 9:16.

     

    Scope of delivery

    Title motifs/key visuals: 1-2 motifs per production, series or (new) season, including the individual cut-outs and blank shots. The final title motif in landscape AND portrait format.

    Portraits: Number of motifs depending on the cast.

    Shooting start photo: 1 motif during the first week of shooting.

    Still photos: landscape format, pre-selection of the best and most expressive motifs of the production by the photographer (max. 50 photos in total).
    Depending on the scope of production and length, delivery of 5-10 fully edited motifs.

     

    Copyright:

    Each photo must be labelled with the full copyright notice (first name and surname of the photographer in correct upper and lower case) in the ‘Creator’ field. The place and country must also be stated.

    The photographer must complete the IPTC (the file information). The labelling of the images must be as follows and must be entered in the ‘Image description’ or ‘Caption’ field:

    Scene photos/portraits: role name, name of the actress/actor (first name and surname in correct upper and lower case please). The file name may only contain the name of the file and no caption or other information.

    The image material is to be supplied exclusively to ZDF and is not to be passed on to third parties.

  • Delivery

    Image delivery initial selection: The pre-selection made and approved by the production/photographer is sent to the ZDF editorial team and pressefoto@zdf.de via a link (e.g. Picdrop or by arrangement). From this, the ZDF editorial team will make the final selection of images, which will then be transmitted via FTP client. The image folders must be labelled as follows:
    Title (in whole words)_Image category (e.g. key visual)_Production number

     

    Delivery of the image material via FTP:

    During the first half of the production, approx. 10 photos are to be sent to ZDF via FTP for technical quality control. Any first-look rights remain unaffected.

    A one-time registration via the ZDF press portal (http://presseportal.zdf.de) is required.

    An FTP client programme is required for transmission via FTP. The following access data must be entered in the connection settings of the FTP client programme: Server/Host/Hostname: presseportal.zdf.de Protocol: FTP Encryption: explicit FTP via TLS (FTPS).

    You will receive your user name and password via the accreditation https://presseportal.zdf.de.

    If necessary, ZDF reserves the right to request all production images (in RAW, TIFF, JPG or other formats).

    The delivery of all selected and finished motifs must take place 12 weeks before the first publication. 

ZIP

Download here Photoshop templates. The required password can be obtained on request via brandguide@zdf.de.

Mediathek 2025 Vorlagen Hero und Teaser  

zip: 290 MB

Key Visuals and Episode Images