Topic: custom fanarts/backdrops for each movie (Read 8389 times)

tij · « **on:** July 15, 2017, 11:07:17 am »

trying jriver at the moment as previous solutions did not quite satisfy me (coming from kodi and plex, for which i have lifetime plexpass). JRiver Theatre view is good enough for htpc. It can be customised well (not so easily but managable). My only complain is limited customization for individual movie presentation on screen. You can currently only select poster image (cover art) either from internet resources or local image file. You can NOT select custom image for fanart/bactrop (currently it seems you can only do "online media slideshow" that display random fanart/backdrop from well known online sources). While its theoretically nice, no internet means no fancy fanart ... slow internet means laggy response. Ability to have locally stored fanart/bacdrop for each movie/artist (even only one image) would be nice. Can then cruise in Theatre view without relying on internet.

If i missed some settings for above, pls point me in right direction. Your help is really appreciated as i have not so many days left to evaluate jriver.

JimH · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2017, 11:21:09 am »

Welcome to Interact. Try searching for "View Extras". I'm not sure if it works for video, but it would be possible to add if not.

tij · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2017, 11:23:55 am »

thanks ... will try

tij · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2017, 11:59:42 am »

Right clicking on video file in Standard View mode does give option "view extras". Then can select resources (like images) stored along side video file for viewing.

Is there a way to use one of those images for backdrop/fanart in Theatre View mode when video is selected.

As in attached image, Theatre View is using "online media slideshow" to get the backdrop image for movie I selected (note that cause of my slow internet at the moment, Final Fantasy backdrop still lingers when Batman vs Superman movie is selected). Is it possible at the moment to use local file for backdrop for each movie. Please point me to how to do it. Thank you in advance for your assistance

JimH · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2017, 12:30:33 pm »

The only way you can change anything is to edit the theme. Tools > Options > Theme > Background. In the list of sources for the images, we could probably add the extras.

tij · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2017, 12:55:55 pm »

sorry if you misunderstood me ... english is not my first language.

i know you can change theme backdrops. But theme backdrop will be displayed for all the movies i select (assuming i turn off "online media slideshow").

what i am after is local backdrop for each movie (when i select movie in Theatre View local backdrop for that movie is shown).

Currently if you right click on video in Standard View i can load local cover art Cover Art -> Add From File ...

Guess what i am after is load local backdrop from local file to be displayed for that particular movie in Theatre View when it is selected

JimH · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2017, 02:02:59 pm »

You can customize what is displayed, but I don't think you can do what you want.

tij · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2017, 02:58:52 pm »

pity ... thanks for your time anyway ... i guess i can live with some static image behind my movies cover arts in Theatre View ("online media slideshow" for each movie is a little bit too lagging for me while browsing through movie library ... plus i have no control over it ... some loaded images quality are not so good ... some are ugly imo ... some movies that i have dont even have backdrops available on online resources)

Is loading local backdrops for each movie can be requested as feature?

JimH · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2017, 03:13:48 pm »

It's a good idea.

Matt · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2017, 08:22:32 am »

Sidecar image files should already be included. We search next to the music for these types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, bmp.

It'll still mix with images it finds online (variety!) but I suppose you could even turn the online portion off.

flac.rules · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2017, 08:33:51 am »

Quote from: Matt on July 17, 2017, 08:22:32 am

Sidecar image files should already be included. We search next to the music for these types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, bmp.

It'll still mix with images it finds online (variety!) but I suppose you could even turn the online portion off.

Can you turn off online only for files where there is no local art?

tij · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2017, 10:42:34 am »

Thank you all for trying to help. Just to be sure, we are talking about Theatre View.

Yes, I do have images next to media files (I usually name them fanart.jpg from remnants of using Kodi ... Kodi uses filenames extensively to define local resources for each media, e.g. fanart.jpg poster.tbn trailer.avi)

You can access these images (I assume these are what you call sidecar images) through Standard View using right click then selecting "View Extras".

No, these local sidecar images are not displayed whether "online media slideshow" is turned on or off. When "online media slideshow" is on, only images from internet are shown. When its off, default theme background image is shown.

I agree that online slideshow adds to variety. But in my case I prefer to use local background for each media (not as flashy as online slideshow, but its predictable, still looks awesome and fast response).

I really hope they will allow local backdrops for each media in Theatre View ... it really speeds up browsing through library while still keeping it "flashy"

Matt · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2017, 10:44:56 am »

Quote from: tij on July 17, 2017, 10:42:34 am

Yes, I do have images next to media files (I usually name them fanart.jpg from remnants of using Kodi ... Kodi uses filenames extensively to define local resources for each media, e.g. fanart.jpg poster.tbn trailer.avi)

They're only included if they're named Folder or the artist name.

So fanart won't be included.

Should we make it include that filename?

tij · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2017, 12:03:30 pm »

Ok ... I turned off "online media slideshow" ... renamed fanart.jpg to Folder.jpg ... put some image in one of the music album and named it "artist".jpg ("artist" was obviously actual name of the band). I did this only to few items to test.

In Theatre View, Folder.jpg was not displayed as background/backdrop for both movies and audio album when they were selected. "artist".jpg was also not put as background/backdrop when the album was selected in Theatre view. Instead theme backdrop was used as usual

Am I doing something wrong?

PS. as long as Folder.jpg is shown as backdrop in theatre view, I can rename my fanart.jpg to Folder.jpg ... no big deal as long as it works

tij · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2017, 12:04:46 pm »

Forgot to mention ... running MC 23.0.19

JimH · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2017, 12:09:31 pm »

Quote from: Matt on July 17, 2017, 10:44:56 am

Should we make it include that filename?

Why not?

JimH · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2017, 12:19:57 pm »

Quote from: tij on July 17, 2017, 10:42:34 am

Yes, I do have images next to media files (I usually name them fanart.jpg from remnants of using Kodi ... Kodi uses filenames extensively to define local resources for each media, e.g. fanart.jpg poster.tbn trailer.avi)

We should probably support these.

tij · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2017, 12:25:19 pm »

Quote from: JimH on July 17, 2017, 12:09:31 pm

Why not?

IMHO you should not mix things up ... Folder.jpg and [Artist] - [Album].jpg are already used to get Cover Art for media files. These files usually have much lower resolution than 1080p.

If you plan to use some naming convention for backdrops ... something like Backdrop.jpg ... or [artist]-[album]-backdrop.jpg or [movie (year)]-backdrop.jpg

Using fanart instead of backdrop makes it easier for ppl who migrate from kodi or Plex though

blgentry · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2017, 01:37:49 pm »

In deciding what file names to support, please consider that at least some of the MC population puts many movies or many TV show episodes in the same folder. My main movies folder has hundreds of movie files all in the same folder. So, using "fanart" or "folder" wouldn't work all that well. I could, of course, reorganize my library by moving each movie into it's own folder. RM&C makes this fairly easy.

Having said that, I'm now unsure as to what the most elegant solution would be....

Brian.

tij · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2017, 02:09:39 pm »

I understand jriver comes from audio root where they keep albums in separate folder.

But some movie folks do keep their files in same folder. Usually keeping names to strict format for easy scraper function like "Predator (1987).mkv".

tij · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2017, 02:14:12 pm »

Kodi and Plex can use suffixes to movie names to keep media resources assign to correct media. For example "Predator (1987) - fanart.jog" or "Predator (1987) - trailer.mkv"

Like this multiple movie can be included in same folder

flac.rules · « **Reply #21 on:** July 17, 2017, 02:26:08 pm »

Quote from: tij on July 17, 2017, 02:14:12 pm

Kodi and Plex can use suffixes to movie names to keep media resources assign to correct media. For example "Predator (1987) - fanart.jog" or "Predator (1987) - trailer.mkv"

Like this multiple movie can be included in same folder

Yeah supporting the same file naming system as the most normal software use is a good idea (scrapers is also more likely to support this)

tij · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2017, 03:35:35 pm »

Just installed 23.0.22 (did not rebooting computer after installation)

Turning off "online media slideshow" in option for Theatre View does nothing (Theatre View keeps downloading background from internet).

My understanding was ... with this update ... when "online media slideshow" is turn off ... and movie is selected ... locally stored images (fanart) will be displayed as background (if present) ... otherwise Theme background will be used

PS ... I keep interchanging word backdrop and background ... I mean them in same context ... "wallpaper" displayed in full screen behind menus and its items

Matt · « **Reply #23 on:** July 19, 2017, 03:50:18 pm »

Quote from: tij on July 19, 2017, 03:35:35 pm

Just installed 23.0.22 (did not rebooting computer after installation)

Turning off "online media slideshow" in option for Theatre View does nothing (Theatre View keeps downloading background from internet).

My understanding was ... with this update ... when "online media slideshow" is turn off ... and movie is selected ... locally stored images (fanart) will be displayed as background (if present) ... otherwise Theme background will be used

PS ... I keep interchanging word backdrop and background ... I mean them in same context ... "wallpaper" displayed in full screen behind menus and its items

There was a mistake that got checked in. Sorry.

Next build:
Fixed: Disabling online Theater View theme image downloading wasn't working.

tij · « **Reply #24 on:** July 20, 2017, 05:05:17 am »

I would be surprised if there were no mistakes/bugs ... as you turn out updates fast at the moment

tij · « **Reply #25 on:** August 06, 2017, 12:22:23 am »

Got approval from my wife and finally pull trigger on JRiver (will post reasons later in relevant section I saw before)

Back to fanart/backdrop for Theatre View:

Just installed 23.0.30 to see how local fanart part works. Does not seems to do anything.

As of 23.0.19: "Changed: Made Theater View searching for sidecar files include any file named FanArt with an image extension"

Turning on "Online media slideshow" does not seems to load local fanart for background in Theatre View. Turning it off also does not seems to do anything too.

Is it possible to add option to "Online media slideshow" (see attached picture) for selecting locally stored fanart/backdrops for media slideshow.

Benefit: (1) can totally rely on locally stored fanarts to make Theatre View look awesome. Thus saving internet bandwidth
(2) if internet sources are chosen for slideshow with local fanart ... can make transition from item to item more responsive (MC loads local fanart first for backdrop ... and then searches internet for other backdrops for slideshow)

RoderickGI · « **Reply #26 on:** August 06, 2017, 02:30:27 am »

Quote from: tij on July 17, 2017, 02:14:12 pm

Kodi and Plex can use suffixes to movie names to keep media resources assign to correct media. For example "Predator (1987) - fanart.jog" or "Predator (1987) - trailer.mkv"

Like this multiple movie can be included in same folder

I would prefer to see something like this and have it used universally. It should allow for multiple images/trailers/posters etc. though. It should always begin with the media file name, [filename (name)]. I am a little wary of structuring file names too much, but I think it would make sense in this case.

How about a structure like this:

[filename (name)].{filetype}.{number}.{extension}

Where:

[filename (name)] is the current tag value. i.e. "The Matrix (1999).mp4"
{filetype} is the type of extra data in the file. i.e. fanart, poster, trailer
{number} is just a number so you can have multiple Trailers, fanart image, Posters, etc.
{extension} = is a supported extension type for extras. i.e. All supported image formats, all supported video formats for trailers (need to stop MC from importing them though. Could be an issue.), PDF files, etc.

Some {filetype} values could have special functionality, such as "fanart" and "trailer", while others could be user defined, and wouldn't need to be hard coded to work as extras, because they are all linked to the primary media file by beginning with that file name.

The RM&CF function would need to know to rename the [filename (name)] portion of the extra files only, and move it with the primary media file. Other functions that work on the [filename (name)] tag would also need to be aware.

If this was implemented, I would love to collect trailers of some movies, and have them stored locally to show when selecting a movie to watch. Some trailers are works of art in themselves, and sometimes it is nice to compare the movie to the promise of the Trailer, without switching to a browser and the IMDB. Again, there would ideally have some functionality around the collection, correct naming, and storage of those trailer files.

If all the "Extras" files used the same functionality I would probably use it more, as it would allow for only extra files associated with a primary media file to be displayed when a list is shown.

tij · « **Reply #27 on:** August 06, 2017, 03:02:11 am »

Something like this? lol

I like to see what you suggested too, @RoderickGI

But thought requesting it in small parts gets it faster ... rather than asking for whole fireworks (including banners for TV shows) lol

RoderickGI · « **Reply #28 on:** August 06, 2017, 06:38:44 pm »

Something like that.

I haven't been completely happy with the way the "View Extras" functionality was developed and has evolved. It is too simple, being just a link to files of certain types, and caused some problems when other files were in directories. Plus there was no specific functionality built around Extras. Just a link to them basically.

My suggestion wasn't to build everything at once, but to build the file structure that would allow functionality to be built against it over time.

But, just my opinion, and I haven't thought through it all.

tij · « **Reply #29 on:** August 08, 2017, 11:06:58 pm »

RoderickGI, I agree with you - "View Extras" does not carry any function really.

Atm I really want to see fanart/backdrop integrated into Theatre View. Specifically into "Online Media Slideshow" ... so backdrop for each movies can be loaded locally.

Your suggested format of

[filename (name)].{filetype}.{number}.{extension}

is awesome as it lays foundation for future functionality

tij · « **Reply #30 on:** August 16, 2017, 12:49:05 pm »

was hoping use of local fanarts/backdrops for "Media Slideshow" in Theatre View would be in 23.0.36 build

Nope

Keeping fingers cross for next build

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Author Topic: custom fanarts/backdrops for each movie (Read 8389 times)