Let's make a GENERIC online backdrop repository? [Archive]

Nazgulled

2009-04-07, 18:51

I don't know if there are people out there like me but I, for one, prefer generic backdrops than to have random backdrops of movies, TV shows or bands that are not part of my library.

I prefer to have generic stuff... But it's getting hard to find high quality 1080p generic images to use as backdrops.

Maybe we could use this thread to post generic backdrops for users that prefer them? Or maybe I'm the only one that prefers this?

Anyway, I created some sort of "repository" in my Windows Live SkyDrive account, hopefully, people can help me fill it up with high quality generic backdrops.

XBMC Generic Backdrops (http://cid-9d72c9a4c6c83967.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/XBMC%20Media%20Center/Generic%20Backdrops)

eriksmith200

2009-04-07, 20:03

I would also like generic backdrops :)

Nazgulled

2009-04-07, 23:52

I mostly created this thread for people that have some, to share, because I can't find that many...

Nazgulled

2009-04-08, 03:50

I decided to create one anyways... It's almost empty right but I hope people can help me fill it up with good quality backdrops... Check first post for link. I have a few for music that I have yet to upload, but will in a few hours.

nuzecast

2009-04-08, 05:30

If anyone is interested I've created a "General/Other" category for these types of backdrops.

http://www.htbackdrops.com/categories.php?cat_id=4

Feel free to upload (add a few relevant keywords to help people search)
1080p or 720p images welcome.

Also added a category for square music artist thumbs.

Nazgulled

2009-04-08, 06:54

I think you missed the point of these generic backdrops. One "general/other" category does not suffice, at least for me.

Like I said I would, I have updated a few music backdrops, the ones I had with me and one backdrop for games.

It's on the link above of course.

Skyweb80

2009-04-08, 11:44

How can I upload some Backdrops?
I like your idea, I prefer fix backdrop for each category, too...

Nazgulled

2009-04-08, 16:13

To the link I posted above you can't. That's my Windows Live ID account, to htbackdrops you simply need to register and upload. But if you send them to me, I'll upload them.

Nazgulled

2009-04-08, 17:20

UPDATE:
- Added 2 more to the Music section
- The "violin" one was replaced by the original 1080p image (before it was resized)
- Added 2 more to the Misc section

EDIT:
Just added 17 images to the Pictures section... These are not very "generic" because I couldn't find any "generic" pictures that would fit into the "pictures" section. I added a high resolution 1080p photos that I think look good on any skin. They are real photos (some may have little editing/montages) which I think it fits to the "pictures" name.

As for the empty folders, I have no images to add to them... :(

LaTropa64

2009-04-08, 22:50

I like actual artwork from the movies and tvshows I have but here's a few generic ones I've been using for the other areas:

Play Disk:
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3663/playdiscdvds.th.jpg (http://www.moarpics.com/images/4pee8wg2hsj2ulo5ypi.jpg)

Settings:
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5491/settingshdd1.th.jpg (http://www.moarpics.com/images/yh0kjpc0s9jwgyrvwdcl.jpg)

Videos:
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8825/videosfilmstrip.th.jpg (http://www.moarpics.com/images/051leyjczt36rp0gr1zt.jpg)

eriksmith200

2009-04-09, 00:07

Starting to become a nice collection :)
Where am I supposed to put the backdrop files? I put them in $Program Files$\XBMC\skin\Aeon\media\backdrops\default_*\ and now Aeon goes all freaky blinky rotating through the images :P

Nazgulled

2009-04-09, 00:17

You have to define in Aeon settings the folder where the images are located. That's user-configurable.

ethan_9219

2009-04-09, 02:59

Personally, i prefer fanart from the actual movies, artists etc.

But these do look good. What ones would you like generic backdrops for, though? maybe i can help.

Nazgulled

2009-04-09, 03:47

I know many people prefer the fanart (that's why this thread doesn't have much replies), but I for one, prefer generic stuff, for various reasons, but that doesn't matter...

I don't know exactly, but maybe I should quote an user on this forum:
Sorry if I wasn't clear on that. I was thinking something like the backdrops used in Mediastream.

i.e.

Movies - A picture of theater seating or a movie reel or movie camera or a marquee...

TV Shows - A picture of an LCD TV, an antenna, a remote control....

Music - CDs, music notation, musical instruments, speakers....

Photos - I'll probably just drop some of my vacation photos into a folder for this one

Weather - Weather equipment, barometer, thermometer, Anemometer, perhaps different weather situations from the weather fanart packs...

Settings - Some sort of control panel type image maybe...

I'm really just looking to give some sort of context while scrolling through.

Forget about the weather though... Unless someone wants those types of images (I don't), I can add another folder to the SkyDrive page.

HexusOdy

2009-04-09, 11:27

Ideally what you need is images that are also tied in to each other by colour scheme or style.

The best images I can think of are,

TV - An image of a TV with action on screen spilling out of the TV into the "real world"

Film - Like the image on page one, something like the cine film.

Games - Similar to TV but with a console and gamepad in there.

Picture - Something with a SLR Camera. Maybe like the Movies image where you can see the filmroll and the images on the film.

Nazgulled

2009-04-10, 03:53

UPDATE:
- Added 2 more to the Misc section
- Added 2 to the Movies section
- Added 1 to the Settings section

Two of the above 5 are courtesy of LaTropa64 (http://xbmc.org/forum/member.php?u=15404) as posted above. I decided not to upload the "settings" one that he posted because to me, hard drives have nothing to do with "settings" or "preferences" and the photo itself is nothing special to look at it, maybe it's just me...

Anyway, I think this is going to be that last update posted on this topic because I realized that people without a Live ID account cannot download the files, you need to be signed in to be able to download any files. I don't know why, I have all the correct permissions and options in place, everyone should have access to download any files on that specific folder.

This does not mean that I won't update the SkyDrive folder with new backdrops if I find (or someone sends me) some cool ones; meaning, I'll be updating the SkyDrive folder if I have something nice to update it with.

If someone wants it, they can upload them to htbackdrops.com of course, these ware not mine, I'm just storing them and everyone can download them and upload them to some place else.

Nazgulled

2009-04-10, 21:35

I seems that now, the folder is really accessible to anyone, even those who don't have a Live ID account. Someone please confirm if they can access and download any images without a Live ID account, without being signed in.

If that's the case, I've added 5 more images to the "Movies" section...

FernFerret

2009-04-10, 21:53

Finally! I've been looking for a HDD image! thanks so much LaTroupa!

Also thanks for using my InternetTV mod of eQUIV's awesome swirly things!

In a side note we should get this and other similar resources put in the WIKI so new users can find them, your repo and my Studio Media Flag repo as two examples (http://www.fernferret.com/xbmc/mediaflags)

ekim232

2009-04-11, 20:31

I have a nice pack of background images in my link below. I use them for PM3.HD home page.

Images (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=3aabe51af86876ffd956df2962098fcbe04e75f6 e8ebb871)

Jezz_X

2009-04-12, 05:01

Just want to put my support behind this idea its one thing to use Fanart for backgrounds but most people only want fanart they know (more so with music) its nice to have a set of generic work with anything images

Nazgulled

2009-04-12, 07:11

I have a nice pack of background images in my link below. I use them for PM3.HD home page.

Images (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=3aabe51af86876ffd956df2962098fcbe04e75f6 e8ebb871)
Thanks, but 95% of those images are low quality/resolution and they are not that pretty either. I may use one or two and upload them to the usual place and I appreciate your help.

I would love to find more pictures as the ones you have the "TV Series" folder, they look awesome for that category and that's the kind of pictures I wanted. But in 1080p resolution of course...

Nazgulled

2009-04-12, 18:38

UPDATE:
- Replaced image 0002 (720p) on the Music section by the original 720p (before it was resized)
- Added 3 more to the Music section
- Added 1 more to the Movies section

Discaciate

2009-04-12, 19:35

i have quite a few back home. I'm on a work trip, but as soon as I get home I will upload some images.

Does your windows ID gallery has a limit of images or does it automatically compress them? Since I'm a photographer, I have a full account on flickr. We can use mine if you have limited storage on your account.

Nazgulled

2009-04-12, 21:52

LaTropa64

2009-04-13, 01:09

What is everyone using for the shutdown menu? That's the only one I can't find a decent 1920x1080 image for.

Discaciate

2009-04-13, 05:23

It has a storage of 25Gb and I have barely used it, it only compresses and crops the images/thumbnails that are displayed on the website, but the full resolution ones can be easily downloaded.

It doesn't have all the the features flickr has of course...

Sounds pretty good. Don't think you need the flickr features.

I packed the backdrops I have in a .zip file. Some of them are band related, but I added them anyway because in my opinion the ones on the .zip files are generic enough.

Get them and post them on your gallery:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1clfek

diemos

2009-04-13, 18:44

thanks for the backgdrops, some real good ones here.

Nazgulled

2009-04-13, 23:41

Thanks Discaciate!

iddqd

2009-04-16, 20:58

Some very nice backdrops... thanks!
I used this until I got some of yours :laugh:

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2710/pic01n.th.jpg (http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pic01n.jpg) http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/244/pic02x.th.jpg (http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pic02x.jpg)

iddqd

2009-04-16, 20:59

For the pictures of course... the rest you already have on your website :grin:

Discaciate

2009-04-17, 16:55

Keep up those uploads.
Don't let this great idea die.

Nazgulled

2009-04-17, 22:12

Discaciate

2009-04-17, 23:24

I'm sorry but I'm without time, I don't to upload everything people send me otherwise it would be just another site with a bunch of backdrops. And I actually take care to edit and crop some of them to make them look better I also try to compress the big ones without loosing quality. But like I said, I don't have time for this right now...

I have all the ones you posted here on my HDD though, for whenever I get the change, to take a look at them, but not at the moment, sorry...

Thx but I wasn't talking about you... Afer all, I already have the ones I sent, so no hurry. :;):

I'm asking for more people to share their generic backdrops. I'm pretty sure other people also have them...

I will soon upload more generic backdrops.

And also thx for maintaining that great repository!

Nazgulled

2009-04-18, 01:35

Oh, ok...

Maybe a proper service than my SkyDrive account would be better so anyone could upload? Of course, it wouldn't have any quality/size control and I'm trying to do just that in "my repository".

ppic

2009-04-18, 18:42

you could use http://fanarts.fr to store your collections ;)

we're trying to centralized fanart and backdrops.

everyone can upload, no size limit.

update already on start !

Discaciate

2009-05-05, 21:15

This topic has been pretty slow lately...
As a amateur photographer I use a lot of the "Pictures " functionality. So here are the backdrops I have (mostly photos of cameras and lens):

http://www.mediafire.com/?5mjftyjo1nm

Hope you guys like it.

Discaciate

2009-05-05, 21:17

Double post. Sorry (blame my slow internet for it).

Gamester17

2009-05-05, 21:40

FYI; htbackdrops.com (http://htbackdrops.com) does host generic backdrops though they are currently not categorized, checkout:
http://www.htbackdrops.com/categories.php?cat_id=6&sessionid=1e28b3580d530adaa76e189963bdeffb

I suggest that you submit a feature request to nuzecast (http://xbmc.org/forum/member.php?u=28343) (htbackdrops.com admin) to setup categories under the generic section, that way they will all be located in one place, at a community that contribute backdrops for most areas.

Discaciate

2009-05-05, 21:51

nuzecast

2009-05-06, 16:47

Gamester17

2009-05-06, 23:49

I've reorganized the generic section as requested.

http://www.htbackdrops.com/categories.php?cat_id=6

Let me know if I've missed anything or if you feel any further changes need to be made.

NuzecastCool, thanks! I guess the next request would be to categorize the weather category as well for weather condition specific FanArt, checkout:
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40709
and this Weather FanArt Pack (Backdrops with different weather conditions, about 800 images here):
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41650

:;):

nuzecast

2009-05-07, 17:50

Since I don't use weather fanart can someone let me know the sub-categories that would be needed for the weather category?

Gamester17

2009-05-07, 23:43

Since I don't use weather fanart can someone let me know the sub-categories that would be needed for the weather category?http://rapidshare.com/files/170820865/weather.rar
There is a total of about 800 images there.

The categories are:
00 Rain/Lightning
01 Windy/Rain
02 Same as 01 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 01)
03 Same as 00 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 00)
04 Same as 00 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 00)
05 Cloudy/Snow-Rain Mix
06 Hail
07 Icy/Clouds Rain-Snow
08 Icy/Haze Rain (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 39)
09 Haze/Rain
10 Icy/Rain
11 Light Rain (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 39)
12 Moderate Rain (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 39)
13 Cloudy/Flurries
14 Same as 13 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 13)
15 Flurries (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 13)
16 Same as 13 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 13)
17 Same as 00 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 00)
18 Same as 00 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 00)
19 Dust
20 Fog
21 Haze
22 Smoke
23 Windy
24 Same as 23 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 23)
25 Frigid
26 Mostly Cloudy
27 Mostly Cloudy/Night
28 Mostly Cloudy/Sunny (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 26)
29 Partly Cloudy/Night
30 Partly Cloudy/Day
31 Clear/Night
32 Clear/Day
33 Hazy/Night
34 Hazy/Day (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 21)
35 Same as 00 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 00)
36 Hot!
37 Lightning/Day (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 00)
38 Lightning (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 00)
39 Rain/Day
40 Rain (In Weather Fanart Pack: Same as 39)
41 Snow
42 Same as 41 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 41)
43 Windy/Snow
44 Same as 30 (In Weather Fanart Pack: same as 30)
45 Rain/Night
46 Snow/Night
47 Thunder Showers/Night

:;):

Nazgulled

2009-05-08, 02:25

That's a very nice pack, I think that's the one I'm using... The only problem though, is that there are many pictures that don't quite fit the category they are in or they could be interpreted as multiple weather conditions.

When I get the chance, I intend to look through them all and delete/move the ones that don't fit to proper places.

For instance, it happened a few times that the weather icon had a few clouds with a sun behind, still, the picture displayed in the background had a clear sky, not right :P

Other than that (and the fact that not all of them are 1080p, I'm very picky) it's a great work and great pack, congrats to whoever did it :)