Poster art as option instead of cover art for DVDpedia

[mikebe]

I am really not at all happy with the downloading of DVD box cover images. I feel that it is, in a way, a promotional device for the DVD companies.

Also, many of my DVDs are from old, classic films. The original posters, when I can find them, are much more "sympathetic" with the film than the modern DVD cover.

I realise that not everyone feels this way, so I would like to see an option for cover art: film posters or DVD covers.

Thank you.

[Nora]

DVDpedia relies on whatever cover the search site sends along but you can replace those covers with posters or other images if you prefer. To do that, either drag the new cover image into the cover image well underneath the 'Sources' at the left or use the info view's contextual menu (the one that comes up when you ctrl-click inside of it) to navigate to a web page and once again use the contextual menu to 'Make cover of selection' or if you want to keep more than one image for an entry, you can also turn the different posters and cover images into links so you can always access them later.

[mikebe]

DVDpedia relies on whatever cover the search site sends along but you can replace those covers with posters or other images if you prefer.

Thanks for your reply, Nora. Yes, I am aware that I can replace the covers, however, my point is that information for the DVD is best retrieved from sites that specialise in that information, however, these are frequently sites that also sell DVDs. There are other specialised sites that sell posters, such as, for example, Moviegoods.com or Allposters.com and DVDpedia has no option to search them for "cover art."

In order to use poster art now, I must first search to get the film information, then go to a browser to search for the cover art and, once it is found, I need to download it and replace it in DVDpedia. My request is that DVDpedia offer a separate option for art and, if poster art is selected then a separate list of sites would be searched for the poster art. I would not even mind finding the sites myself and adding them to DVDpedia if that were possible. Thanks.

[danio]

Not related to solving your 'auto-search' query, I just wanted to offer the following site for poster art (in case you weren't aware of it); I've always found it quite complete and good quality

http://www.impawards.com

[mikebe]

Not related to solving your 'auto-search' query, I just wanted to offer the following site for poster art (in case you weren't aware of it); I've always found it quite complete and good quality

http://www.impawards.com

Thanks, I've already got it bookmarked
If you are also interested, I've found four other good sites. Let me know if you want me to post them.

[Nora]

I would not even mind finding the sites myself and adding them to DVDpedia if that were possible. Thanks.

It is possible to add your own search sites to the Pedias (the programs are all extendable through a plug-in architecture) but at the moment you do need programming experience to write a plug-in. We're hoping to make this easier in the future but it's difficult to figure out a way to make the parsing simpler.

[bibliofiler]

I have been evaluating your program. It has many fine aspects. In regard to images, it would be nice to be able to add not only different posters but alternate lobby cards or star photos or whatever within the editing area (image well) so all files would become part of the pedia. I understand the linking option but would MUCH rather have everything in one "package" as sometimes other files on a hard drive can get deleted or their folders can start getting too big and cumbersome to maintain. This would also help with backing up all of the info for the said pedia. I prefer to find the images myself so poster links aren't necessary (although for some people that would be helpful). Perhaps you could add fields within the pedia app for "alternate images." A window could open and the alternate images could appear. Alternatively, the alternate images could be "filed" within the pedia for the specific movies (or music albums) and one could choose which image to display in the main or full view. This image option would help with books too. I have older books (and music) for which the cover has been redone--so downloading cover art brings up the new image but not the original cover of the book/music. I could scan the cover but it would be nice to be able to display both the cover I actually have and the current one. Or, add images such as the photo of an author/musician as an "alternate image," etc.

SORRY FOR THE MULTIPLE POSTS. My computer screen showed an error, indicating the post did not go through so I kept trying.

[Nora]

Thanks for your feedback. We want to enhance the way links handle images in the future.

I understand the linking option but would MUCH rather have everything in one "package" as sometimes other files on a hard drive can get deleted or their folders can start getting too big and cumbersome to maintain.

Once you have linked a file to an entry you can choose to move it into the Bookpedia data folder so that you have everything in one place, handy for backing up and managing files. You'll find a 'Move' button under the Links tab of the Add/Edit window.

[drjohncmac]

MikeBe:

I only use movie poster images (where they exist) in DVDPedia. I consider DVDPedia to be "MoviePedia".

When adding a new movie(I have over 3,800 titles made up of DVDs and Laserdiscs), I browse the net for "[name] Movie Poster". There are many places on the net which supply movie posters without "watermarks". I merely drag the movie poster to replace the DVD cover image. I have acquired movie posters for over 98% of my collection.

As I am not interested in aspect ratio, DVD release date, etc. (all of the DVD-type demographics), I take special care to insure the summary (synopsis) of the movie is geared to that specific movie, and not toward the content of the DVD, or what other movies the actors may have appeared in.

All of this takes some time, but I find the rewards outweigh the time taken.