View Full Version : htbackdrops.com (Home Theater Backdrops) for Music, Weather, and Games FanArt
nuzecast
2008-08-02, 08:15
Gamester17 suggested I start a new thread on this.
Just letting everyone know I've started a site for music fanart/backdrops.
http://www.htbackdrops.com
There are games and pictures/weather backdrops as well but the focus is mainly bands/musicians.
There's no scraping capability so you need to download manually.
Starting out with about 350 backdrops, about half I gathered from posts here and on Meedios forum, half are my own.
I also use these as folder.jpg so they show up as the artist thumbs; nice images and uniform size.
Hopefully if there are enough contributers the skinners out there might consider using artist backdrops for music the same way they are using TV and movie backdrops now. :;):
I realize most people have a varied music collection with some "non-top 40" selections , but if you are a fan of a certain band or singer then maybe you would consider uploading some artwork.
Right now I'm using an open source photo cataloging system, but I'm open to suggestions to make it more usable or scraper-friendly.
It's tag-based so you need to search but it indexes all the tags so it's fast enough, at least so far.
I'm out of town for the weekend so if anyone has any feedback I'll reply then.
Gamester17
2008-08-02, 17:26
Hope you consider adding the database schema backend and XML API from TheTVDB.com:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/tvdb/
http://thetvdb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Programmers_API
...so that your site can be scraped from XBMC (and other HTPC software) in the future.
:wink:
great site, very useful, seeing as movies/tv shows are freely available on other threads... great job
Nuka1195
2008-08-02, 21:00
http://www.sherylcrow.com/
Sheryl Crow not Cheryl Crowe
Hey nuzecast,
great job with the site. thanks for taking the initiative and creating a site to centralize all of these backdrops that seem to get lost in the forums. it is an awesome start, and hopefully with some help from a few others, will be up and scraping in no time!
one suggestion i wanted to make, if possible, was a way to credit the creator of each backdrop. as it looks, you spend plenty of time on the site itself, and on individual backdrops, but i also noticed a few that myself, as well as others created. it is not a big deal, i am not asking for recognition or anything, but i think it would be a good option to keep track of who is making which backdrops and will help with requests, etc.
just a suggestion. but thanks once again, cant wait to populate my music backdrop folder!
Isn't something like this a fine line?As in so many people are copyrighting their images.I love the way the site looks.I also love the whole concept.But if what I say is true,you have your work cut out for you.If I am wrong please correct me.
http://www.sxc.hu/home
Also a very good site with High def pictures.One(at least)Aeon backdrop came off this site.The video reals picture if I remember right.Very classy site.I was amazed at the variety and quality.
do i have your permission to scrape the site?
do i have your permission to scrape the site?
Been a while I've read the legal usage/publishing of provided images, but almost every image is royalty free.
For more Legal information about using the images provided on the site, check this article on the site;
http://www.sxc.hu/help/7_2
chrislee149
2008-08-05, 00:41
Been a while I've read the legal usage/publishing of provided images, but almost every image is royalty free.
For more Legal information about using the images provided on the site, check this article on the site;
http://www.sxc.hu/help/7_2
I would assume spiff means the OP's site...
nuzecast
2008-08-06, 07:30
do i have your permission to scrape the site?
Certainly.
As far as crediting the creators of the backdrops, the script I use can show the uploader, but I turned it off because it looked like I was taking the credit for the images.
Since I grabbed most of the initial backdrops from file drop sites I really wasn't sure who the creators were.
I will enable the uploader field and if anyone sees their images on the site, let me know the image numbers and your username (you will have to register) and I will change it in phpmyadmin.
digitalhigh
2009-01-02, 19:37
Edit:
Just added 170+ images to the music section.
Gamester17
2009-01-11, 05:23
@nuzecast, have you given any further thoughts to adopting the TVDB (http://sourceforge.net/projects/tvdb/) database schema and website framework (with its open API?)?:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/tvdb/TVDB - Online TV Database
A web/XML interface and database schema for managing TV series information and user-submitted graphics. Will be interfaced by a number of HTPC plugins and software. Currently used by plugins for Meedio, Media Portal, and XBox Media Center.
The database schema and website are open source under the GPL.
This is the same open source website feamework that http://thetvdb.com and http://themoviedb.org uses.
???
nuzecast
2009-01-11, 07:09
I'd like nothing more, but I just don't have the skills.
I've downloaded it and installed it but I'm getting SQL version errors when attempting to register as a user.
I have zero programming skills so it would probably be impossible anyway for me to change it (simplify the structure) to just serve images.
I am willing to pay someone to set this up but I couldn't afford a lot.
digitalhigh
2009-01-11, 07:13
I'd like nothing more, but I just don't have the skills.
I've downloaded it and installed it but I'm getting SQL version errors when attempting to register as a user.
I have zero programming skills so it would probably be impossible anyway for me to change it (simplify the structure) to just serve images.
I am willing to pay someone to set this up but I couldn't afford a lot.
I'd imagine that somebody would probably be happy to do it just to help get music fanart off the ground. Hell, if I knew anything about SQL, I'd offer to do it myself.
Gamester17
2009-01-12, 17:00
I'd like nothing more, but I just don't have the skills.
I've downloaded it and installed it but I'm getting SQL version errors when attempting to register as a user.
I have zero programming skills so it would probably be impossible anyway for me to change it (simplify the structure) to just serve images.
I am willing to pay someone to set this up but I couldn't afford a lot.Maybe team up with one or more other web designers/developers who have SQL experience? :;):
Perhaps even ask the guys behind TheTVDB.com (http://www.thetvdb.com) and themoviedb.org (http://themoviedb.org) if they like to start a joint site? ...I know that guys behind themoviedb.org (http://themoviedb.org) bought the domain "themusicdb.org (http://themusicdb.org)" in case they would ever want to start a such project in the future, but I doubt that they would want to run it alone, (as they are as far as I know only two person working on themoviedb.org (http://themoviedb.org) today), it is probably too large of a project for one person so teamwork is almost certainly required.
There is no reason that it 'only' has to hold FanArt, it could be made to a complete music database someday, you could possibly start a such priject by copying some metadata from freedb.org (http://freedb.org) and musicbrainz.org (http://musicbrainz.org), then get album cover images, and artist pictures from community uploaders. Free to all users and community driven meta data content is the key I think, however website adds, sponsors, and donations to pay for everything is OK.
I suggest you post a public plea for help on the forums of the sites who will use it (XBMC, MediaPortal, MeediOS, etc.)
:nod:
digitalhigh
2009-01-12, 17:15
Maybe team up with one or more other web designers/developers who have SQL experience? :;):
Perhaps even ask the guys behind TheTVDB.com (http://www.thetvdb.com) and themoviedb.org (http://themoviedb.org) if they like to start a joint site? ...I know that guys behind themoviedb.org (http://themoviedb.org) bought the domain "themusicdb.org (http://themusicdb.org)" in case they would ever want to start a such project in the future, but I doubt that they would want to run it alone, (as they are as far as I know only two person working on themoviedb.org (http://themoviedb.org) today), it is probably too large of a project for one person so teamwork is almost certainly required.
There's actually three of us now...or is it four. I've been an official editor for a week or two now. ;)
I'm so dumb...I'll say something about this on the forums over there...
This is the same open source website framework that http://thetvdb.com and http://themoviedb.org uses.
I think themoviedb site uses different code and its certainly not for the faint hearted to run a site like this. I think Travis posted there were 12 million API requests last month :)
Gamester17
2009-01-12, 20:20
Be great though if the website (frontedn/backend/API) code could be re-used for a such site, ...no need to reinvent the wheel if you do not have to, right?
:grin:
crash123
2009-01-24, 09:50
Hi I was wondering if there was any development in a scrapable site for music? I am fully willing to help with running of the site or anything else I can do to help.
Cheers
problem with htbackdrops.com is that it requires cookies and js execution since the returned search url's are relative to a 'search' album. if htbackdrops could provide real url's in its search (i.e. those with album=2) it would work just fine. without, it unfortunately requires a full browser to be usable
Any chance the original 1080p images are kept on the site anywere? The "Download original file" link still takes me to 720p images. :-(
nuzecast
2009-03-19, 22:55
So I've redone the site using a more scraper-friendly script.
Spiff thinks this will work OK so I moved all the images out of the old one and into this one.
http://www.htbackdrops.com
I'm sorry to say all image uploader credit was not transferred (not enough time to go through each image one by one) so if any of you wish to have your images credited to you please register again and let me know which ones are yours and I will assign them to your account.
Right now it looks like all images were uploaded by me when this is certainly not the case.
I know there were several big-time contributors and I apologize for this but hopefully it is worth it to allow XBMC to scrape the site successfully.
Oh, and this script has been set up to NOT do any downsizing of 1080p images
If you spot any bugs please let me know.
Nuzecast
digitalhigh
2009-03-19, 23:32
So I've redone the site using a more scraper-friendly script.
Spiff thinks this will work OK so I moved all the images out of the old one and into this one.
http://www.htbackdrops.com
I'm sorry to say all image uploader credit was not transferred (not enough time to go through each image one by one) so if any of you wish to have your images credited to you please register again and let me know which ones are yours and I will assign them to your account.
Right now it looks like all images were uploaded by me when this is certainly not the case.
I know there were several big-time contributors and I apologize for this but hopefully it is worth it to allow XBMC to scrape the site successfully.
Oh, and this script has been set up to NOT do any downsizing of 1080p images
If you spot any bugs please let me know.
Nuzecast
AWESOME. Long overdue. ;)
As far as credit for the uploads I did...I've got somewhere in the neighbourhood of 170-180 uploads. Want me to just PM you with a list of the filenames in the archive? Regardless...I'm not too concerned. Just happy to have them accessible to as many ppl as possible.
now all we require is someone to add some metal bands and i will commit this to svn =P
i'll try to throw out some req's, who knows =)
darkthrone, aura noir, dhg, satyricon, entombed, audio pain, virus, 1349, orcustus,
these arms are snakes, voivod, jr ewing, motorpsycho, emperor
digitalhigh
2009-03-23, 18:23
i'll try to throw out some req's, who knows =)
darkthrone, aura noir, dhg, satyricon, entombed, audio pain, virus, 1349, orcustus,
these arms are snakes, voivod, jr ewing, motorpsycho, emperor
Looks like I'll be able to find sources for about 75% of these...I've downloaded a few HQ images already, but I can't get to photoshop till I get home. So, I'll make them for you for the sake of getting this baby off the ground.
Now...what do I have to do for you to get proper support for tv studios? ;)
wait patiently and not pm me with nagging is a good start ;P
i guess you're about to scratch my itch so i will atleast attach a diff to the trac shortly. :) but it won't hit svn before 9.04 i'm afraid
digitalhigh
2009-03-23, 19:05
wait patiently and not pm me with nagging is a good start ;P
i guess you're about to scratch my itch so i will atleast attach a diff to the trac shortly. :) but it won't hit svn before 9.04 i'm afraid
Wasn't intended to be nagging...more of a "Hey, if you get a chance, could you check this out?" sorta message. ;)
Edit: Allright...uploaded. The pics just need to be approved, then they should be visible.
Thanks for the site setup and scraper support mods.
Support for this is currently in MIP's test builds and will be bundled up at the end of the week into the new install version.
DarkHelmet
2009-03-27, 21:16
The function sort images by date doesn't seem to have an effect. Can anyone confirm? I'd like to search through the music artwork by the date the images were added to see if any new images have been added.
nuzecast
2009-03-27, 22:21
The function sort images by date doesn't seem to have an effect. Can anyone confirm? I'd like to search through the music artwork by the date the images were added to see if any new images have been added.
OK. When you are in a category there is now a dropdown at the bottom of the page that allows you to change your preferred sort order for that browser session.
Please test and see if it works OK for you.
DarkHelmet
2009-03-27, 23:56
Working great. Thanks a lot :laugh:
Well I uploaded 1 backdrop to this site, but I am finding it very hard to find high quality images to make into backdrops for the artists I have. ???
Nice site thought, keep up the good work.
Nazgulled
2009-04-12, 17:47
I found out a problem about htbackdrops and the music scrapers on XBMC, they can be fixed either in the XBMC side or htabackdrops side.
The problem:
Scraping for artists thumbs or fanart for artists with more than a word, for instance, A Perefect Circle (that's the band I used to find out about this problem). The artist thumb on htbackdrops has spaces in the file name, the fanart is called "A_Perfect_Circle.jpg" but the artist thum is actually "A Perfect Circle.jpg".
Fixing:
Either fix this in the scraper/XBMC to handle spaces or make htabackdrops uploads automatically replace the spaces by _ (or something like that).
Nazgulled
2009-04-13, 23:44
works, thank you!
What do you mean? That wasn't an answer to me was it?
Nazgulled
2009-04-14, 00:38
I just talked with spiff on IRC and we agreed that this should be fixed on the server side and he said he could provide me a fix (and anyone else of course) but we wouldn't put it on the trunk. And like I said, I agree with me. The URL should be sanitized in the server side and the spaces should be gone or replaced by some char like '-' or '_'.
Can you take a look at that nuzecast?
Has this been implemented in to xbmc??
it's just I can't find any way to save music fanart within xbmc for xbox
Athena07
2009-07-19, 13:23
I give this thread 2 thumbs up!
Nice link and nice work guys. :grin:
I can't wait to check the sites thoroughly.
It's so nice to be here!
PunkyMatt
2009-08-25, 13:12
(this is the message i've wrongly posted in the xbmcstuff thread...)
Hi everybody
i've started to use htbackdrops last week to add music fanarts to my collection and it's a great site, thanks for it !
But as i'm french i listen to a lot of french music and didn't find many of backdrops so, i've started to make my own and then i uploaded them to the site (it was last thursday i think), and since then they're all waiting for approval, how long does it normally take ? or maybe my backdrops were refused ? is there a mail notification or anything else to warn people when the fanarts are accepted or refused ?
thanks again for this site ;)
stokedfish
2009-08-25, 14:45
Yeah, I was wondering about the same thing. It seems the site owner is on holiday so we'll have to wait. It would be nice to have more than 1 admin for that site, though.
stokedfish
2009-09-08, 21:28
Although I've started to not use scrapers anymore and add everything manually I love to see how the site is growing. 2816 artist fanarts already...not bad! :D
stokedfish
2009-09-22, 22:52
Again: shouldn't this site have more than one user with the permission to accept fanarts? I don't want to criticize the admin (the opposite, very happy that you started htbackdrops!) but sometimes it's a bit slow and it might stop people from uploading more...
stokedfish
2009-09-29, 09:04
Looks like noone cares... *sigh*
:(
bblauritzen
2009-11-12, 18:49
Looks like noone cares... *sigh*
:(
If you look at the amount of images you can see that it's growing (slow, but steady)
Perhaps a couple of admins to help nuzecast would speed up the progress..