This guide relates to Blackboard Learn ULTRA

What are Course Banners and why would I use one?

By default, Blackboard will provide a thumbnail image for your course or organisation, which displays when users view the Courses or Organisations page as tiles, rather than as a list. Please note that this stock image will not be able to be used as a course banner. You will need to upload your own image if you want to display a banner. 

This image can also be set to display as a banner inside your Ultra course.

Using a relevant, eye-catching banner can:

• Improve the appearance of your Ultra Course landing page.
• Build consistency between the Base Navigation view and the actual course.
• Make it easier for students to differentiate between courses.

How do I upload a Course Banner?

Before uploading a banner to your Ultra Course please ensure your file is suitable.

• The image must be at least 1200 pixels wide x 240 pixels high
  • Images which are smaller than this will be rejected.
  • Images which are larger than this will be rescaled and/or cropped.
  • When you upload your image you can specify which sections should be cropped, although the actual area that displays will be different on the Courses page and inside the course, and can also vary depending on screen size.
  • Larger images will display at a higher quality – especially on a desktop PC, where the screen size can be much more than 1200 pixels. 
• Avoid images with text
  • Images with text don’t scale well – we recommend uploading images without any text.
  • An abstract image or one where the focus is at the centre of the image is likely to work best on a variety of devices and screens.
• Filetypes
  • Either JPG or PNG images are suitable.  

For more detail see Course Banner on the Blackboard Help site.

Uploading a Course Banner

• Once you have selected an appropriate image, open the Course and select ‘Course Image’ under ‘Details and Actions’ on the left side of the page.

• Alternatively, you can go to the Courses page of the Ultra Base Navigation: open the Course Image panel by clicking the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of the Course card and selecting ‘Edit Course image’.

• Click the Image button in the panel that opens.

• The “Insert image” panel will open. You can either drag and drop your chosen file or you can select “Upload file” to browse local files on your computer.

• The image will appear in preview, which allows instructors to ensure that the correct file has been selected. Click “Next” to move into the focal point settings.

• You can drag the image and modify the zoom to select the image’s focal point. Click “Save” when you are happy with the image.

• You can either designate images as purely decorative or insert appropriate alternative text. Click the “Save” button when you have completed the set-up.

• The image will be designated as the Course Banner by default. If you only want the image to appear as the Course thumbnail, you can switch this off by using the “Course Banner” toggle.

• Once you have completed setting up your Course Banner, you can edit the settings at any time by clicking the pencil icon in the upper right corner of the banner. You can also click back onto ‘Course Image’ on the ‘Details and Actions’ menu.

Support and Feedback

If you need further assistance please feel free to raise a support ticket via the Self Service Portal.

To report a problem with this page, request alternative formats or to make suggestions please contact us.

Page last updated on August 16, 2023 by ollietaplin