Submit animated images in a correct format and size.

• Animated ads can be formatted as either .GIF and Flash files.
• Animated image ads must follow the same guidelines and specifications as standard image ads, including the 50K file size limit.
• All animated ads must be submitted in the full standard format sizes (see examples):
  • Banner: 468 x 60
  • Leaderboard: 728 x 90
  • Square: 250 x 250
  • Small Square: 200 x 200
  • Large Rectangle: 336 x 280
  • Inline Rectangle: 300 x 250
  • Skyscraper: 120 x 600
  • Wide Skyscraper: 160 x 600

Follow our requirements for Flash image ads.

Flash is a plug-in for web browsers that allows animation to be added to web page components, including AdWords ads. Flash advertising is allowed for all AdWords advertisers, with some technical restrictions.

• Ad Format: All Flash ads must be submitted in the full standard format sizes (see examples):
  • Banner: 468 x 60
  • Leaderboard: 728 x 90
  • Square: 250 x 250
  • Small Square: 200 x 200
  • Large Rectangle: 336 x 280
  • Inline Rectangle: 300 x 250
  • Skyscraper: 120 x 600
  • Wide Skyscraper: 160 x 600
• File Size: Flash ads must be 50K or smaller in file size.
• Animation Length: Animated ads are restricted to a maximum of 30 seconds (at a 15-20 fps frame rate), after which point they must remain static. These ads must also comply with the other animation policies.
• Flash Versions: All Flash ads must be published for Flash Player version 4-10.
• ActionScript Versions: Actionscript version 2 is acceptable.
• ClickTags: All Flash ads should support the clickTAG variable. The clickTAG is the tracking code assigned by Google to an individual ad. It allows Google to register where the ad was displayed when it was clicked and helps advertisers determine the effectiveness of their campaign.
  • On any click, Flash ads should redirect to the URL specified in the clickTAG argument; there should be no other redirection in between.
  • The variable name must be spelled 'clickTAG' (upper-case TAG; no space between click and TAG) and not 'click tag,' 'Click Tag,' or any other form.
  • This is the proper code for the clickTAG parameter:
    
    
    on (release) {
    if (clickTAG.substr(0,5) == "http:") {
    getURL(clickTAG, "_blank");
    }
    }
  • Note that is not necessary to specify the destination URL for the ad anywhere in this code; this is taken care of through the usage of clickTAG. Also, depending on the structure of your Flash ad, it may be necessary to prepend "_root." or "_level0." to "clickTAG" above, resulting in "_root.clickTAG" or "_level0.clickTAG". It is strongly recommended to upload the ad into your account and verify that the ad is behaving normally prior to it going live, allowing time for any necessary changes.
• Tracking Event Constraints: AdWords does not allow the specific tracking of user interactions that don't involve clicks. Tracking parameters that are not allowed include:
  • View-through tracking
  • Key-modifier tracking
  • Mouse location tracking
• Other Behaviors:The AdWords system reviews the code of all Flash ads as they are uploaded. The following coded behaviors have restrictions on their use:
  • Extra Calls: Your ad code cannot make external server calls for additional Javascript or other functionality. All functionality must be localized to the code itself.
  • Tracking Bypass: You cannot change the behavior of your ad to avoid or eliminate the AdWords redirect URL.
  • Destination Changes: The ad should direct users to a web page with the appropriate destination URL. It should not open the destination URL within the ad IFrame itself.
  • Integrated Audio: Your ad may contain user-initiated audio only.
  • Cursor Behavior: Your ad may affect or change a user's mouse cursor (arrow) only after the user initiates an action.
  • Loading Ad Content: Your ad may load images or another SWF file at runtime. However, your new content must adhere to the current player security model and incorporate the proper settings for your Flash ad to run in our system.
  • Random Numbers: Your ad may not include code that generates or uses random numbers.
  • Other Disruptive Behaviors: Ads may not be designed or coded to circumvent the basic and usual AdWords flow. This includes (but is not limited to) the ad being displayed normally to users, Google registering the impression, and a click directing the user to the destination URL indicated by the advertiser in their AdWords account.

For more details on Flash, including detailed technical specifications, refer to the official Flash help center.

Avoid unconventional ad layouts.

Your ads should comply with the following:

• Must occupy the entire space of the image size you've chosen.
• Cannot appear sideways or upside down.
• Cannot be segmented, contain multiple copies of itself within the ad, or otherwise appear to be more than one ad.

Submit images in a correct format and size.

Static (non-animated) image ads can be formatted as .JPEG, .PNG, or .GIF files. (For animated image ads such as Flash ads, see this policy for animated image ads.)

Image ad files must be 50K or smaller.

We'll show the following image ad sizes on Display Network sites: (see examples)

• Banner: 468 x 60
• Square: 250 x 250
• Small Square: 200 x 200
• Leaderboard: 728 x 90
• Medium Rectangle: 300 x 250
• Large Rectangle: 336 x 280
• Skyscraper: 120 x 600
• Wide Skyscraper: 160 x 600

At the bottom of each image ad, we will include your URL and a Google link. To accommodate these elements, we will resize your images vertically by 11 or 22 pixels, depending on the image size option you've selected. (Please note that we will only resize your images, not crop them. All of your original image content, if approved, will remain intact and visible.)

If you'd like to retain your image's original proportions, we recommend that you resize your images before you upload them. You may load images in the following sizes:

• Banner: 468 x 49
• Square: 250 x 239
• Small Square: 200 x 189
• Leaderboard: 728 x 79
• Medium rectangle: 300 x 239
• Large Rectangle: 336 x 269
• Skyscraper: 120 x 578
• Wide Skyscraper: 160 x 578

Animated image ads may not be resized. All animated ads must be submitted in the full standard format sizes. View policy

Load high quality images.

Ad images must be clear and recognizable. Text appearing in the ad images must be legible. We reserve the right to disapprove low quality or blurry ad images.

Don't use strobe animation.

Strobing, flashing backgrounds, or otherwise distracting ads are not allowed.