Overview

The Artwork tab allows you to configure the location, handling and display of movie covers, view images, person images and fanart.

Artwork Setup

Open MyFilms Setup either via MediaPortal Configuration > Plugins > MyFilms or via the desktop shortcut if you installed it during setup and select the Artwork tab:

For details on how to setup and customize artwork, see the specific tutorials for different types of artwork:

• Covers Setup
• Fanart Setup
• Persons Setup
• Groups Setup
• Views Setup

Film Covers

Normally the Setup Wizard will automatically preset default settings for your film covers based on your catalog type. However you may choose a custom location if you have stored them outside your AMC catalog or folder, or wish to use film covers you have previously downloaded or saved.

Note: If you setup multiple configs or databases in MyFilms, you can store the images separately if you wish either by using a different cover images path for each config, or by selecting a prefix for your cover such as the catalog name (e.g. SampleMovies_Harry Potter.jpg). You can also automatically add a suffix when importing new films to avoid duplicate images for movies with the same name. See AMC Updater > Database Fields tab under Picture Handling.

In the Films Section:

1. Cover Images Path - If you use the Wizard, My Films will automatically preset the path based on the catalog type you choose. Press the Browse [...] button to change the path where your cover images are stored.
   Note: If your catalog type saves or exports the full path to the XML file you don't even need a cover images path*.*
2. Picture Handing - match the method you use in your movie catalog
   • Full path - if you do not use Relative path picture importation in AMC Preferences, or if your catalog type exports only the cover name (e.g. Harry Potter.jpg). 
   • Relative Path - if you use Relative path picture importation in AMC Preferences 
   • Folder.jpg - if you store your film covers as folder.jpg in each movie folder
3. Picture Prefix - if you use relative path picture handling in AMC, the relative path will be added here. You may also choose to add your own prefix to the picture name, such as the Config name. This is useful if you have multiple configurations or databases with all covers stored in the same folder - you can easily see which covers relate to which database/configuration. 
4. Default Cover - If you wish to use your own custom cover as the Default Cover when no cover is available, click the cover image and select the image you wish. Press the [X] button to revert to the MyFilms Default Cover. 
5. Reset Cache - images in MyFilms are cached to improve performance. if you manually replace existing covers with your own images, recache them. This does not delete your original cover images, only the cached images.

Views Images

You can display view images in the same position as cover images when you select a view, such as Category (Genre), Country, or Year 

Note: MyFilms installs Category View images in

...\MediaPortal\Thumbs\MyFilms\ViewImages\category

You can change these images, add your own, or add images to other views if you wish. See Views Setup for details.

In the Views section:

1. Enable Images for views - Check the box to enable (default=enabled)
2. Use for all Views - Check if you wish to use the Default View Image for Custom Views (other than person views) (default=enabled)

3. Views Images Path - click the Browse button [...] to select the folder where your Views images are stored. Default is

   ...\MediaPortal\Thumbs\MyFilms\ViewImages\

   however,  you may store these images anywhere you wish. # *Use default image for missing thumbs* \- Check to display a default image when Images for Views are enabled but no thumb is available.  (_default=enabled_) # *Default View Image* \- preset to

   ...\MediaPortal\Thumbs\MyFilms\DefaultImages\Views.jpg 

   Click the Image to select a different image of your choice anywhere on your hard disk drive. Clice the [X} button to revert to the MyFilms Default Image. See Custom View Images below for more info on adding/selecting your own default view images.

4. Reset Cache - My Films caches images in

   ...\MediaPortal\Thumbs\MyFilms\ThumbsCache

   subfolders to improve performance. If you have removed or changed images, use the Reset Cache button to clear the cache. All images will be regenerated the next time you enter My Films.  This may cause a few seconds or more delay the first time you load a view, depending how many images you have.

Person Images

You can display images for people in your database such as actors in the Actors view, or a custom view you may define for Directors, Producers etc.

Note: When you use the Setup Wizard most Artwork options are preset for you based on your catalog type.  However, if you use custom folders in your catalog, such as a sub folder for pictures in Ant Movie Catalog, you may need to customize these settings.

On the Artwork tab, under Thumbs for Persons:

1. Enable Images for  persons - check if you have actors or other persons images which you wish to display in the Actors or other custom person views such as Director or Producer  (default depends on catalog type - enabled for AMC catalog types )

2. Person Images Path - click the Browse button [...] to select a path where your person images are stored. Default is based on catalog type, if it supports persons images, otherwise 

   ...\MediaPortal\Thumbs\MyFilms\PersonImages

   however,  you can store person images anywhere you wish.

3. Use default image for missing thumbs - some skins provide a default image for missing thumbs, however you may select the DefaultArtist.jpg provided with My Films in the

   ...\MediaPortal\Thumbs\MyFilms\DefaultImages

   folder, or your own default image instead.

4. Default Person Image - If you wish to use your own custom image as the default Person Image when no image is available, click the Image to select it. Use the [X] button to revert to the MyFilms default image.

5. Reset Thumbs - My Films caches images (in

   ...\MediaPortal\Thumbs\MyFilms\ThumbsCache

   subfolders) to improve performance. If you have removed or changed persons images, use the Reset Cache button to clear the cache. All person images will be regenerated the next time you enter My Films, and this may cause a few seconds or more delay, depending how many person images you have.

Fanart

Unfortunately different catalog types (and even different MediaPortal plugins) store and name fanart differently. MyFilms can download and display multiple fanart images (as many as you wish). However, if you already have fanart for your movie catalog and use that fanart folder to display your existing fanart, in most cases only one fanart image will display. 

In the Fanart section:

1. Enable Fanart - default=enabled for most catalog types
2. Fanart path - click the Browse button [...] to select the folder where you wish to store your fanart, OR where you may already have fanart for your movies.
   Note: Fanart images are stored in sub folders for each film so that multiple images can display in the Detail view.
3. Use random Fanart - displays random fanart for a film or group in Main window. If fanart is enabled for Views, displays random fanart for the films in that view, e.g. Action films when in the Action Category view as films, or films in which an actor plays when in Actors view. 
4. Use default image for missing Fanart - Check to display a default fanart image when fanart is enabled but no image is available.
5. Use movie cover for missing Fanart - Check to use the movie cover when fanart is enabled but no fanart image is available.
   Note: Default cover images are often poor quality when 'blown up' to fanart size, and are a different resolution. My Films will zoom and center the image to attempt to produce the best possible display. However, often skins provide a default backdrop which will display when no fanart is available.You may also 'Create Fanart' within MyFilms for films that do not have fanart available. See Using MyFilms > Fanart.

6. Use Fanart for Default Views - select if you enable random fanart, or have manually downloaded fanart you wish to use for Views like Category (Genre) etc.  My Films will create subfolders automatically within the

   ...\Fanart_Views

   folder where you can store your fanart images. For example, the default fanart folder for views fanart:

   • ...\MediaPortal\thumbs\MyFilms\Fanart_Views

7. Use for all Views - displays fanart images for custom views as well, not only default views like Category, Year, etc. 

8. Default Fanart Image - preset to

   ...\MediaPortal\Thumbs\MyFilms\DefaultImages\DefaultFanartImage.jpg

    Click the Browse button [...] to select a different image of your choice.

What's Next

See Using MyFilms > Cover Manager; Fanart; Views; Actors - Persons Views; Box Sets, Groups to learn more about displaying artwork in MyFilms

See the Setup Guides to learn more about how to setup import/download options and custom artwork. 

Related

• MyFilms Setup