WebHelp:Album Art/5.0: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:30, 27 May 2021

Wiki Home > MediaMonkey 5 Help > Editing Files > Editing Artwork

Artwork can be edited in a few different ways: via the Preview window, via the Properties dialog's Artwork tab, or via the Auto-Tag function. In all 3 cases, it is possible to save Artwork directly to the tag or to save Artwork files to a specified directory.

Artwork Settings

Under Tools > Options > Tags & Playlists you can configure how MediaMonkey saves Artwork for your Media Files.

Playlist Settings and Tags explained

Image Location allows you to set if Artwork should be saved to the files tags, to a folder as an image file or both.
- Image to tag will embed the Artwork file into each media file it is associated with. The big benefit is that Artwork will always stay with the media file, no matter where you copy, move, rename or sync the media file. This method does require a bit more disc space as each media file associated with the Artwork will have a copy of it. This method only works for File Types that support this. If a File Types doesn't support the Artwork will be saved as an image file instead.
- Save to file folder will save the Artwork as an image file. This method requires a good organization of media files, so that the Artwork file is saved in the same folder as the media files it is associated with and that no other media files are in the same folder. You may get the Artwork associated with all media files in that folder on scanning (disable Scan file directories for Artwork under Tools > Options > Library from the Main Menu to prevent this).
First Image per Album/Series is the filename to be used for the first Artwork you associate with the media file(s).
Format for multiple images is used when associating any additional Artworks with the media file(s).

Using External Album Artwork Files

If you have external Artwork files you can have MediaMonkey associate them with your files on scanning. Under Tools > Options > Library from the Main Menu enable the option to Scan file directories for Artwork. When enabling this option make sure that you organize your media files and Artwork files together in a separate folder per Album/Series/Movie for the best results. Proper Album and Album Artist tags are also important when having external Artwork automatically associated with your media files.

If you choose to store Artwork outside of the Album/Series/Movie folder (like all Album Artworks in a single folder) there is no method to automatically import this into MediaMonkey. You can manually associate the correct Artwork with the correct Album, but MediaMonkey can't automatically associate the correct Artwork with the correct Album/Series/Movie.

This is why the recommended organization when using external Artwork is to have the Album/Series/Movie media files and their associated Artworks in the same folder with no other Album/Series/Movie files in that folder. Then Scanning can automatically associate Artworks with their respective media files when Scan file directories for Artwork is enabled.

Note that some other software (Windows Media Player/Windows are known for this) can create multiples Album Artwork files per Album which would all be automatically associated with your files in MediaMonkey if you enable MediaMonkey to scan for external Artwork.

Automatically Looking up Artwork

You can enable Artwork under Tools > Options > Metadata lookup from the Main Menu and MediaMonkey will try to automatically lookup Artwork when the file is played. MediaMonkey Gold users can have the Artworks automatically saved to the tags by enabling Update tags.

Edit Artwork via the Properties Dialog

To edit multiple Artworks, use Edit > Properties from the Main Menu on selected media files you want to edit, and select the Artwork tab in the Properties Dialog. All Artworks that are associated with the selected files(s) will appear.

MediaMonkey Properties dialog Artwork tab

You can Drag & Drop the Artworks shown to re-arrange the order. MediaMonkey will use the first listed Artwork to display in MediaMonkey.
You can delete any Artworks associated with the media files using Remove from the right click Context menu on the Artwork.
Each Artwork shows the dimensions, size and where it is saved. When Artwork is embedded it will show as Stored in tag.
You can set what Image type the Artwork is considered to be and add a description of the Artwork.
You can Drag & Drop Artwork files from outside of MediaMonkey onto the Artwork area in the Artwork tab to add the Artwork to the selected media files.
You can do an online lookup of Artwork using the Lookup image button if the selected files are from the same Album/Series/Movie. Click on the YYYxYYY size information to see an enlarged version of the found Artwork. Select a found Artwork and click OK to associate it with the selected media files.
You can manually add files from your PC by using the Lookup image button and then the Browse button on the Image search dialog.
If multiple files are selected you can select Apply to all selected to have all displayed Artworks saved to all selected media files. Use this with caution when editing multiple files not from the same Album/Series.
If you're editing a sub-set of files from an Album/Series you can select Apply to all files in the Album/Series to have all displayed Artworks saved to all the files on the Album/Series even when they weren't selected for editing. Use this with caution when editing files that aren't properly tagged with Album/Album Artist or Series.

Any changes to the media files will be made only after clicking OK on the Properties dialog.

Unsaved Artwork

When MediaMonkey uses auto-lookup for Artwork it will show this Artwork in the Properties > Artwork tab. This Artwork isn't yet saved to the file.

If you want to associated the Artwork use the Save Icon on it and the Artwork will be saved according to your settings.
If you associate any other Artwork the auto-lookup Artwork will be removed (so save it first if you want to keep it, use Lookup Image to find it again).

Edit Artwork via the Preview Window

The Preview window allows you to quickly Add/Remove/Edit Artwork a single Artwork at a time, for the Selected file or Playing file (depends what the Preview window is set to). With it, you can quickly:

Copy and Paste or Drag & Drop an Artwork file from anywhere on your PC onto the Preview Window.
Right-click on the Artwork and use Lookup image from the Context Menu to add a new Artwork file.
Right-click on the Artwork and use Remove image from the Context Menu to remove the Artwork that appears.
Right-click on the Artwork and use Properties from the Context Menu to access the Properties > Artwork tab (for instruction on use see above).
Right-click on the Artwork and use Images from the Context Menu to choose which associated Artwork the Preview window will display.

Related Information:

About File Properties

English

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{WebHelpHeader|Album Artwork}}
+[[Main Page|Wiki Home]] &gt; [[{{WebHelp:Links|Content}}|MediaMonkey 5 Help]] &gt; [[{{WebHelp:Links|Editing Tracks}}|Editing Files]] &gt; Editing Artwork
-Album Artwork can be edited in a few different ways: via the Art & Details window, via the Properties Dialog's Artwork tab, or via the Auto-Tag from Web function. In all 3 cases, it is possible to save Album Artwork directly to the tag or to save Album Artwork files to a specified directory (configurable via '''Tools''' &gt; '''Options''' &gt; '''Library''' &gt; '''Tags &amp; Playlists''' ).
+----
+{{WebHelpHeader|Editing Artwork}}
+Artwork can be edited in a few different ways: via the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Exploring_Tracks}}#Interface|Preview]] window, via the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Editing_Track_Properties}}#Edit_via_the_Properties_Dialog|Properties]] dialog's Artwork tab, or via the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Getting_Track_Information_from_the_Internet}}|Auto-Tag]] function. In all 3 cases, it is possible to save Artwork directly to the tag or to save Artwork files to a specified directory.
+== Artwork Settings ==
+Under '''Tools &gt; Options &gt; Tags &amp; Playlists''' you can configure how MediaMonkey saves Artwork for your Media Files.[[File:Wiki-MM5 Options Tags & Playlists.jpg|796px|center|MediaMonkey Options Tags & Playlists]]<div style="text-align: center;">[[{{WebHelp:Links|Exporting_Playlists}}#Playlist_Export_Setting|Playlist Settings]] and [[{{WebHelp:Links|Editing_Track_Properties}}#Tagging_Settings|Tags]] explained</div><br><br>
+*'''Image Location''' allows you to set if Artwork should be saved to the files tags, to a folder as an image file or both.
+**''Image to tag'' will embed the Artwork file into each media file it is associated with. The big benefit is that Artwork will always stay with the media file, no matter where you copy, move, rename or sync the media file. This method does require a bit more disc space as each media file associated with the Artwork will have a copy of it. This method only works for [[{{WebHelp:Links|About Track Properties}}|File Types]] that support this. If a [[{{WebHelp:Links|About Track Properties}}|File Types]] doesn't support the Artwork will be saved as an image file instead.
+**''Save to file folder'' will save the Artwork as an image file. This method requires a good organization of media files, so that the Artwork file is saved in the same folder as the media files it is associated with and that no other media files are in the same folder. You may get the Artwork associated with all media files in that folder on scanning (disable ''Scan file directories for Artwork'' under '''Tools &gt; Options &gt; Library''' from the Main Menu to prevent this).
+*'''First Image per Album/Series''' is the filename to be used for the first Artwork you associate with the media file(s).
+*'''Format for multiple images''' is used when associating any additional Artworks with the media file(s).
-Most users prefer to have Album Artwork stored in their files' tags, however, this is not supported by all [[{{WebHelp:Links|About Track Properties}}|File Types]]. An alternative is to store Album Artwork in the files's folder, however, this should preferably be done after first organizing Tracks into /Album/ directories--failure to do so may cause Album Art to be associated to files from other albums on rescans.
 == Using External Album Artwork Files ==
-If you have external Album Artwork files you can have MediaMonkey associate them with your files on scanning. Under '''Tools > Options > Library''' enable the option to ''Scan file directories for Artwork''. When enabling this option make sure that you organize your media files and Album Artwork files together in a separate folder per Album for the best results. Proper Album and Album Artist tags are also important when having external Album Artwork automatically associated with your files.
+If you have external Artwork files you can have MediaMonkey associate them with your files on scanning. Under '''Tools &gt; Options &gt; Library''' from the Main Menu enable the option to ''Scan file directories for Artwork''. When enabling this option make sure that you organize your media files and Artwork files together in a separate folder per Album/Series/Movie for the best results. Proper Album and Album Artist tags are also important when having external Artwork automatically associated with your media files.
-Note that some other software (Windows Media Player/Windows are known for this) can create multiples Album Artwork files per Album which would all be automatically associated with your files in MediaMonkey if you enable MediaMonkey to scan for external Artwork.
-== Looking up Album Artwork ==
-You can enable ''Search for missing Artwork automatically'' under '''Tools > Options > Metadata Lookup''' and MediaMonkey will try to automatically lookup Artwork when the file is played. You can also use [https://www.mediamonkey.com/addons/browse/management/metadata-lookup/ Addons] with Auto-Tag from Web to lookup Artwork manually.
-== Edit Album Artwork via the Properties Dialog ==
+If you choose to store Artwork outside of the Album/Series/Movie folder (like all Album Artworks in a single folder) there is no method to automatically import this into MediaMonkey. You can manually associate the correct Artwork with the correct Album, but MediaMonkey can't automatically associate the correct Artwork with the correct Album/Series/Movie.
-To edit multiple Album Art images, click '''Edit''' &gt; '''Properties''', and select the '''Album Art''' tab in the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Editing_Track_Properties}}|Properties Dialog]]. All images that are common to the files(s) will appear; simply click '''Add''' or '''Remove''' to change the images associated with the track, and optionally choose whether to apply the displayed Album Artwork to all other files on the Album, or other selected files. You can do this on 1 file or multiple selected files.
+This is why the recommended organization when using external Artwork is to have the Album/Series/Movie media files and their associated Artworks in the same folder with no other Album/Series/Movie files in that folder. Then [[{{WebHelp:Links|Adding_Existing_Files_to_the_Library}}|Scanning]] can automatically associate Artworks with their respective media files when ''Scan file directories for Artwork'' is enabled.
-The changes to the files will be made only ''after'' clicking 'Ok'.
-== Edit Album Artwork via the Art & Details Window ==
+''Note that some other software (Windows Media Player/Windows are known for this) can create multiples Album Artwork files per Album which would all be automatically associated with your files in MediaMonkey if you enable MediaMonkey to scan for external Artwork.''
-The Art & Details window allows you to quickly Add/Remove/Edit Album Artwork a single image at a time, for the selected file and optionally all other files on the Album. With it, you can quickly:
-* Copy and '''Paste''' or drag and drop an Album Artwork file from anywhere on your PC into the Art & Details Window.
+== Automatically Looking up Artwork ==
-* Right-click '''Add Image''' to add a new Album Artwork file.
-* Right-click '''Remove Image''' to remove the Album Artwork that appears.
-For more involved operations such as editing of multiple images, right-click on '''Edit Album Art Properties'''. This will bring you to the Properties Dialog (see above).
+You can enable ''Artwork'' under '''Tools > Options > [[{{WebHelp:Links|Getting_Track_Information_from_the_Internet}}#Auto_Metadata_Lookup|Metadata lookup]]''' from the Main Menu and MediaMonkey will try to automatically lookup Artwork when the file is played. [[{{WebHelp:Links|Upgrading_to_the_Gold_Version}}#Gold_Features|MediaMonkey Gold]] users can have the Artworks automatically saved to the tags by enabling ''Update tags''.
-== Properly Passing Album Art to Converted-To Files ==
-When '''converting audio files''' to a new folder, as opposed to replacing existing tracks, the album art is carried forward in the same format:
+== Edit Artwork via the Properties Dialog ==
-) A song with art stored as ''per-track metadata'' gets converted with the original art also embedded in the metadata of the converted-to copy.
+To edit multiple Artworks, use '''Edit &gt; Properties''' from the Main Menu on selected media files you want to edit, and select the '''Artwork''' tab in the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Editing_Track_Properties}}#Edit_via_the_Properties_Dialog|Properties Dialog]]. All Artworks that are associated with the selected files(s) will appear.[[File:Wiki-MM5 Properties Artwork.jpg|588px|center|MediaMonkey Properties dialog Artwork tab]]<br><br>
+* You can Drag &amp; Drop the Artworks shown to re-arrange the order. MediaMonkey will use the first listed Artwork to display in MediaMonkey.
+* You can delete any Artworks associated with the media files using ''Remove'' from the right click Context menu on the Artwork.
+* Each Artwork shows the dimensions, size and where it is saved. When Artwork is embedded it will show as ''Stored in tag''.
+* You can set what ''Image type'' the Artwork is considered to be and add a description of the Artwork.
+* You can  Drag &amp; Drop Artwork files from outside of MediaMonkey onto the Artwork area in the Artwork tab to add the Artwork to the selected media files.
+* You can do an online lookup of Artwork using the '''Lookup image''' button if the selected files are from the same Album/Series/Movie. Click on the YYYxYYY size information to see an enlarged version of the found Artwork. Select a found Artwork and click ''OK'' to associate it with the selected media files.
+* You can manually add files from your PC by using the '''Lookup image''' button and then the '''Browse''' button on the ''Image search'' dialog.
+* If multiple files are selected you can select ''Apply to all selected'' to have all displayed Artworks saved to all selected media files. Use this with caution when editing multiple files not from the same Album/Series.
+* If you're editing a sub-set of files from an Album/Series you can select ''Apply to all files in the Album/Series'' to have all displayed Artworks saved to all the files on the Album/Series even when they weren't selected for editing. Use this with caution when editing files that aren't properly tagged with Album/Album Artist or Series.
+Any changes to the media files will be made only after clicking '''OK''' on the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Editing_Track_Properties}}#Edit_via_the_Properties_Dialog|Properties]] dialog.
-) A song with art stored at the ''folder level'', gets converted with a copy of the folder.jpg art.
-This leads to a complication.  Media Monkey users with playback hardware that does not support automated synchronization can use the convert format tool as a means of quickly copying playlists of individual tracks from many different albums into a new single folder, which they can then move to their portable playback device.  In this case, the set of copied songs each have the correct art work only if each source song had its art stored per track as metadata.  Otherwise -- if any copied-from song had its art stored at the folder level -- then the new single folder of song copies will have as many instances of "folder(#).jpg" as there were distinct folders in the copy-from set.  (And in this case, there is no link between the new song files that lack metadata art to their original folder art .jpg.  Instead, the metadataless songs will display the album art for only the first folder.jpg copied.)
+=== Unsaved Artwork ===
-There are two workarounds for this:
+When MediaMonkey uses [[{{WebHelp:Links|Getting_Track_Information_from_the_Internet}}#Auto_Metadata_Lookup|auto-lookup for Artwork]] it will show this Artwork in the Properties > Artwork tab. This Artwork isn't yet saved to the file.[[File:Wiki-MM5 Properties Artwork Unsaved.jpg|588px|center|MediaMonkey Properties Artwork Unsaved]]<br><br>
+* If you want to associated the Artwork use the Save Icon on it and the Artwork will be saved according to your settings.
+* If you associate any other Artwork the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Getting_Track_Information_from_the_Internet}}#Auto_Metadata_Lookup|auto-lookup Artwork]] will be removed (so save it first if you want to keep it, use '''Lookup Image''' to find it again).
-A) Do such conversions only at the album level, so that each conversion is to a separate new folder, each containing one copy of the original album art.  This only works if you wish your playback device to have whole copies of the albums, as opposed to a select playlist of specific songs.  It is also manual labor intensive, especially-so for large libraries.
-B) Alternatively, before doing the conversion of the source playlist, copy each track's album art into metadata art (only necessary for each track ''in the playlist'').  This is also very manual labor intensive, but at least it allows users to create a song set for their portable device that selects just certain songs.
+== Edit Artwork via the Preview Window ==
-Users have requested a new option in the conversion tool, that would ''automatically embed folder-level album art from source files as metadata art in the converted-to files''.  For users with large playlists, this would ensure correct art in their portable device song sets, ''with no manual labor by the user''.
+The [[{{WebHelp:Links|Exploring_Tracks}}#Interface|Preview]] window allows you to quickly Add/Remove/Edit Artwork a single Artwork at a time, for the Selected file or Playing file (depends what the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Exploring_Tracks}}#Interface|Preview]] window is set to). With it, you can quickly:
-Strictly, there is a third work-around: C) When initially building your song library, users can store all album art as per-track metadata.  This is reasonable for users with no anticipation of future storage space limitations.  However, Media Monkey users tend to be serious music collectors.  Their libraries grow very large, especially over years of use.  Further, some MM users also prefer to store higher quality art as part of their enjoyment of their libraries.  In such cases, storing roughly 12 redundant copies of every track's art can consume a lot of memory.  For such users, the above-noted requested software enhancement is the best answer.  For everyone else, work-around C is probably the best option.
+* Copy and '''Paste''' or Drag &amp; Drop an Artwork file from anywhere on your PC onto the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Exploring_Tracks}}#Interface|Preview]] Window.
+* Right-click on the Artwork and use '''Lookup image''' from the Context Menu to add a new Artwork file.
+* Right-click on the Artwork and use '''Remove image''' from the Context Menu to remove the Artwork that appears.
+* Right-click on the Artwork and use '''Properties''' from the Context Menu to access the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Editing_Track_Properties}}#Edit_via_the_Properties_Dialog|Properties]] > [[{{WebHelp:Links|Album Art}}#Edit_Artwork_via_the_Properties_Dialog|Artwork]] tab (for instruction on use see above).
+* Right-click on the Artwork and use '''Images''' from the Context Menu to choose which associated Artwork the [[{{WebHelp:Links|Exploring_Tracks}}#Interface|Preview]] window will display.
 Related Information:
-[[{{WebHelp:Links|About Track Properties}}|About Track Properties]]
+[[{{WebHelp:Links|About Track Properties}}|About File Properties]]
 {{WebHelpFooter}}