Particularly for those of us who prefer to use embedded MP3 tags to organize and populate our music libraries, and much in the same way Plex uses local artwork for TV Show Posters and Backgrounds, Plex should automatically scan and use (if present) properly named images stored in the root folder for each album artist. For example:
…\Music\Pink Floyd
artist-poster.jpg
artist-background.jpg
Thank you for your consideration (and prompt implementation) of this much needed feature.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Much to my delight, it seems that my request (above) has been implemented in the latest update. This is a huge development and will be a tremendous time saver.
I agree. Huge time saver! Thanks Plex team!
how do i name the files for the artist image and the background image???
@Arauco said:
how do i name the files for the artist image and the background image???
Take a look at the first post in this very thread.
There are actually more file name varieties supported. The more technically inclined can gather them from below, until a support article with nicer formatting has been published.
ext = jpg, jpeg, png, tbn
ARTIST POSTERS:
recommended structure: /artist-album/media.mp3:
artist.<ext>, artist-poster.<ext>, artist-default.<ext>, artist-cover.<ext>, artist-folder.<ext>
also supported structure: /artist/album/media.mp3:
same as above +
poster.<ext>, default.<ext>, cover.<ext>, folder.<ext>
ARTIST BACKGROUND:
recommended structure: /artist-album/media.mp3:
artist-fanart.<ext>, artist-art.<ext>, artist-background.<ext>, artist-backdrop.<ext>
also supported structure: /artist/album/media.mp3:
same as above +
fanart.<ext>, art.<ext>, background.<ext>, backdrop.<ext>
ALBUM POSTERS:
[album, poster, default, cover, folder].<ext>
ALBUM BACKGROUND:
[fanart, art, background, backdrop].<ext>
@OttoKerner - I have a question. Does the name literally have to be “artist-poster.jpg” or can is be, say “Janet Jackson-poster.jpg”?
@tikilab said:
I have a question. Does the name literally have to be “artist-poster.jpg” or can is be, say “Janet Jackson-poster.jpg”?
Actually, I have no idea. This is from a preliminary information on the feature.
I’d say test it. Take two different photos, name one as artist-poster.jpg and the other one as Janet Jackson-poster.jpg
Then update/refresh the artist. Take a look which of the two posters appears for selection when you edit the artist.
I tested it, looks like it has to be artist-poster.jpg (but there’s sometimes caveats that I end up missing so I asked). If there’s any developers reading along, it would be a little easier dealing with files in the Finder if we could use Janet Jackson-poster.jpg. I’ve got a folder full of posters (hundreds of artists) that I was adding by hand named Janet Jackson.jpg etc and it would be easier to run a script that adds the -poster part then renaming each image to artist-poster.jpg and moving them one at a time.
How will this work with iTunes Compilations? If an album is a compilation of different artists then there isn’t a corresponding root folder for each artist.
This is another example of , as yet, inadequate support for iTunes compilations. Are there any plans to fix this?
@Bunkermentality - If it’s a compilation of different artists, then what picture would you like Plex to show? I added a picture of a stack of records to indicate “Various Artists”.
If it’s a compilation of one artist, then it should show up under that artist’s name.
Is there a way to add multiple artist wallpapers and have the app circle though them during playback? Kind of like a screensaver?
@TOMillr said:
Is there a way to add multiple artist wallpapers and have the app circle though them during playback? Kind of like a screensaver?
Unfortunately not.
That would be a nice addition…
2021 clean-up: implemented (music libraries have an option to prefer local metadata and files, e.g. for artwork)
