Add artwork to movies/films on itunes library

Question

Level 1

4 points

Add artwork to movies/films on itunes library

Hello. I've been using iTunes for several years, without any problems. Recently i bought the apple tv and an external harddrive, to sync all my music and stream all of my collection of dvds.
But, in some movies, just in some, i'm not able to place the artwork for the movie (to be seen on the apple tv) I go to "get info -> artwork -> add -> ok" and nothing happens, while in other movies (all of my movies uses m4v extension codec h234 to run on the apple tv) it works just fine. The artwork I get it from google for example, and it's a JPG picture. So it should work....What am I doing wrong... can someone help me?
Thanks... sorry for my poor english

iMac 24'', Apple Tv wi-fi with built in airport

Posted on Jun 9, 2010 2:47 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jun 9, 2010 3:16 AM in response to Hfnascimento

you can add artwork by going these routes:

1) individual tracks

right-click and +get info+ on the file, go to the artwork tab and click on add. navigate to the image file on your HD. or, drag the image file into that artwork window.

2) multiple items

select them all in iTunes, +get info+, copy the image out of Safari or Preview, click once into the artwork box and paste the image into it. or, drag the image file into the artwork box.

J GG

Reply

Answer 2

Hfnascimento Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2010 3:47 AM in response to Hfnascimento

Hi

I've tryed those ways, and also "drag and drop" directly into the artwork area (bottom left of itunes screen)... and it works for some movies but it still doesn't work for other movies, even thougth they are the same kind of files, location, size, etc, etc... Already tryed one picture that worked as artwork into another movie (one of the problematic ones) and still doesn't work...
I'm a little bit lost in here....:(

Reply

Answer 3

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jun 9, 2010 3:50 AM in response to Hfnascimento

check if you have read & write permissions for your music folder. in finder, right-click on it and +get info+. unlock the little padlock (you may have to enter your admin password) and change the permission settings. next, click on the little gear-shaped icon and +*apply to enclosed items+* like so

you may also give everyone read & write access.

now try again adding the artwork.

J GG

Reply

Answer 4

Hfnascimento Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2010 5:15 AM in response to Hfnascimento

I'm not on my mac rigth now, but i'm the single owner and user of that mac, so I think that I have all the permissions. Even so, why does it happen only with some movies and not with all of them (Note: the artwork where I'm having problems is with movies/films and not music), in spite of all the movies have the same format (codec) etc... It's really strange... Any other idea? please!!!!

Reply

Answer 5

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jun 9, 2010 5:20 AM in response to Hfnascimento

Hfnascimento wrote:
I'm not on my mac rigth now, but i'm the single owner and user of that mac, so I think that I have all the permissions.

you should try my suggestion anyways.

Even so, why does it happen only with some movies and not with all of them (Note: the artwork where I'm having problems is with movies/films and not music), in spite of all the movies have the same format (codec) etc.

it takes just one folder inside the music folder with incorrect permission settings to give you this problem. just be sure you *apply to enclosed items* !

J GG

Reply

Answer 6

Zappb

Level 1

0 points

Jun 9, 2010 6:08 AM in response to Jolly Giant

I'm having the same problem.
My iTunes and iPod Touch were working fine. Last week I lost my iPod Touch so bought a new one. When I synced the new iPod some of the artwork was missing for the movies, tv shows and music videos. All the music album artwork is fine.
When I go into iTunes to edit/add artwork for videos it only takes effect on certain videos. I'm using Vista and have checked permissions, comparing a file who's artwork can be added with one who's cannot and there are no differences.
This is really frustrating as it makes my videos look all disorganised and inconsistent.
Why is this problem suddenly occurred and how can I fix it???

Reply

Answer 7

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jun 9, 2010 7:23 AM in response to Zappb

Zappb wrote:
I'm using Vista

you really should start a new thread over @ the iTunes *for winsloth* forum.

J GG

Reply

Answer 8

Hfnascimento Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2010 2:26 PM in response to Hfnascimento

Sorry about my late response. I've just got home from work and tryed what you sugested (check the permissions on the folders) and everything is set to "read and write". And "random" movies allow me to set the artwork, but some others still don't... what am I doing wrong....

Reply

Answer 9

Hfnascimento Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2010 2:34 PM in response to Hfnascimento

Just got it!!!! Before "get info" from the file that I want to change the artwork I have to start playing it and pause it (in order to get the small "speake" icon before the name of the file on the iTunes) and THEN I'm able to change the artwork of the movie!!!
Hope that this may help others with the same issue.
Thanks a lot for your help (and patience) 🙂

Reply

Answer 10

Zappb

Level 1

0 points

Jun 9, 2010 6:46 PM in response to Hfnascimento

Hfnascimento wrote:
in order to get the small "speake" icon before the name of the file on the iTunes

Huh??

Reply

Answer 11

Hfnascimento Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 10, 2010 4:41 AM in response to Zappb

I meant "speaker" sorry.... but still this way isn't perfect, because it doesn't appear on the atv, even after sync

Reply

Answer 12

Feb 27, 2011 6:23 PM in response to Jolly Giant

In Windows 7, the same applies where you can't edit artwork until you allow Read Write permission. In my case the movie file was set to 'Read Only', un-checking that box and clicking OK allowed me to save my artwork to the movie within iTunes.

Reply

Answer 13

jormsby

Level 1

21 points

Mar 25, 2011 10:43 PM in response to robertg77

I am having the same problem but on my Mac. I used to be able to add artwork to TV episodes and Movies in iTunes but now I can't. The may appear to work briefly, however as soon as I click off of that particular movie/TV episode, the image is gone again.

I have tried the permissions recommendation but that did not fix it.

This used to work fine but now it doesn't. I hope someone can make a recommendation on how to get this working again.

Regards,

John

Reply

Answer 14

May 2, 2011 4:55 PM in response to Hfnascimento

For movies the following works consistently for me (xp sp2, itunes 10.2.2, atv 1, atv 2):

I use VLC to start the movie, shift-s to create snapshot (png file) then in itunes, right click getinfo, select artwork tab, add snapshot. Other ways than VLC to obtain the snapshots are probably fine too.

*Every other method* to input the snapshot does not work consistently. iTunes is very un-apple-like.

BTW, you can have multiple artworks, only the first one shows as poster (you can drag to change the order). No idea if the other snapshots are used at any point.

FYI, For my ripped cd's I have a complicated method (google: python covertArt) involving redirection of iTunes own get artwork requests and feeding it googled images.

Hope this helps,

Marcel

Reply

Answer 15

gerwen1

Level 1

8 points

Feb 4, 2013 10:45 AM in response to Hfnascimento

I was having the same problem. No matter how I tried to add artwork to the movie, it wouldn't 'stick'. I could change other metadata (like the name, or other info) and it would work.

What solved it for me, was to start the movie playing in iTunes, then stop it.

After that, I could add artwork.

Strange, but there it is. Worked on two movies that I had just added.

Reply