You can include layered, interactive experiences in an ad using panels. A panel is a layer of content that is displayed on top of an ad. You can include text, images, and widgets on a panel.

You can also link multiple panels together, to let viewers navigate between panels to interact with the content on each panel. If you want your panels to have a similar appearance and behavior, for example if you want to create a tabbed browsing experience, you create the first panel, then use it as a template to create additional panels.

Panels are not limited to a timeline, so you can create extended ad experiences without a time limit.

In the example ad below, the main ad includes content that viewers can click to open a panel.

When a viewer clicks one of the images, a panel opens on top of the ad.

The panels also include an optional close button. When viewers click the close button, the panels close and the video continues to play.]

For steps to create panels, see the following:

• To create a panel
• To create a set of linked panels

Tip: To copy a panel's GUID, right click the panel and select Copy panel GUID.

Before you start

• Create an In-Banner Video creative, an In-Stream Video creative, or a Rich Media creative. For steps, see Assembling a creative from scratch.

To create a panel

1. Navigate to the Division, Account, and Campaign of the creative.
2. Click the Campaign Management tab, then click the Creatives tab.
3. Click Edit for the creative. The Mixpo Studio opens.
4. Select the canvas tab that you want viewers to open the panel from.
5. Click the Panels tab, then click Create panel.
6. Type a Name for your panel.
7. If your creative canvas contains an existing panel, you can use an existing panel as a template. From the Base panel on drop-down list, select the panel that you want to use as a template.
8. Click Create. The panel is added to your creative.
9. Adjust the panel settings:
   • ​​Position and size: Adjust the position and size of the panel.
   • Panel mask: When a panel is open and does not cover the entire ad, the edges of the ad around the panel are obscured by a semi-transparent mask. Select a color and adjust the transparency using the slider.
   • Background or Background image: Select a background color and adjust the transparency using the slider. Alternatively, select a background image to display.
   • Border: Choose whether to display a border around the panel. Select a border color and width.
   • Uniform corners: Adjust the appearance of the panel's corners.
     Note: Uniform corners are not supported for ads displayed on the Apple® iPad®.
   • Auto-hide after n seconds: By default, a panel is displayed until the viewer closes it. To automatically hide the panel, select the check box and specify the number of seconds that you want the panel to be displayed for.
   • Single use only: If you want the panel to open only once per impression, select the check box. When a viewer clicks to open the panel a second time, nothing happens. 
10. To add text, images, and widgets to the panel, click the Overlays tab. For steps to add content, see the following:
    • ​Adding a text overlay to a creative
    • Adding an image overlay to a creative
    • Adding interactive widgets to a creative
    • Specifying what happens when viewers interact with ads
11. To provide viewers with a way to close the panel, do the following:
    1. On the panel, add a text or image overlay that you want viewers to click to close the panel.
    2. Select the overlay. In the settings area, expand the Actions area, then select from the following:
       • To close the panel and return to the video, select Close panel.
       • To close the panel and collapse the entire ad from within the panel, select Close ad.
12. When you are finished, click Done. The panel is saved.
13. To provide viewers with a way to open the panel, do the following:
    1. On the main creative, add a text or image overlay that you want viewers to click to open the panel.
       Tip: You can open panels automatically, without displaying an overlay. For steps, see Adding a transparent overlay to a creative.
    2. Select the overlay. In the settings area, expand the Actions area, then select Open panel.
    3. From the Select panel drop-down list, choose the panel that you want to open.
    4. If you are adding the panel to the Timeline Canvas, you can automatically pause the video when it reaches the overlay. To do this, select Auto pause, then choose from the following:
       • To automatically open the panel, select Show panel.
         Tip: To use this option most effectively, make the overlay transparent and assign a duration of one second.
       • To pause the video with the overlay onscreen, select Do not show panel. This gives viewers more opportunity to click the overlay. Make sure the overlay encourages to click it. Viewers who do not want to click the overlay can continue the ad.
         Note: If an ad is set to automatically play with the audio turned off, the viewer must click the Play audio button to pause the video. For steps to enable audio, see Assigning a creative to a placement.
    Click Save.
14. To test that the creative appears the way that you want it to, return to the Mixpo Platform and click Preview.

To create a set of linked panels

1. Create all of the panels in the series. On each panel, add the text or image overlays that you want viewers to click to open other panels. For example, if you want to create a tabbed browsing experience, add the images that you want viewers to click to navigate to different tabs.
   Tip: If you want all of your panels to have the same appearance and behavior, create one panel, then use that panel as a template for creating the other panels.
2. On each panel, select the overlay, then expand the Actions area. Select Open panel, then choose the panel that you want to open.
3. Repeat the steps above for each overlay on each panel.