Creative Workflow
Media derivatives explained
Signal transcodes your original image into a provider-safe derivative — right format and size for the platform — without altering the original.
Last updated June 14, 2026
A derivative is a processed copy of your image prepared for a specific platform: re-encoded to a supported format and compressed under the platform's size ceiling. Signal generates the derivative at publish time so your original stays untouched and each platform gets media it will accept.
This is why an image that's too large to upload directly can still publish through Signal — the derivative is reduced to a provider-safe size before the post goes out.