TV Series specific backdrops and folder icons....

[magicstorm]

Over the course of time (lots of time), I have tried many different solutions as a front end for my media collection. After many months of experimentation with Media Browser, OML, myTV, just plain Media Center, and several others, for me, Media Browser is the best.

I have been using it for some time mainly for my movies. However, now that I am on Windows 7 x64 RTM, I have abandoned all the other front ends and have integrated my TV series collection.

I am NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, a Photoshop-type expert. I couldn't even be qualified as a hack. As a result, I have been using many of the various folder icons and backdrops that have been created by and graciously posted by others. For that, I thank you all. To a degree, I have tried to keep my MB UI (with icons and backdrops) relatively simple and straight-forward. I am not using any of the various 3D or Stark-type covers. I am pretty much sticking with simple folder icons, genre backdrops, and movie backdrops. And for movies, all that is available is great. Outstanding actually.

But, therein lies my dilemma. What is available from others, as far as I have been able to find, is mostly targeted at movies. While there is some stuff out there for TV series, in the end, there seems to be a relative small amount compared to movies. And, since I am not Photoshop expert, I cannot create my own.

I am looking for a source for folder icons and genre backdrops that are specifically targeted at TV series.

Anyone have any thoughts.

Thanks in advance for help.

Media Browser is awesome. I am looking forward to newer builds.


Ron....

[tmb4016]

Hi Roy,

I raised the same question here ....http://www.mediabrowser.tv/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2250&start=70#p23682. me23 did not dismiss it and I have sent him a pm with examples but i am sure more would be welcome. Lets hope they are on the way

Tim

[magicstorm]

I too hope that more TV specific items are created. I would love to be able to do them myself (and make them available as others have done) but, as I said, I am incompetent when it comes to Photoshop (or other similar software).

[jcalton88]

If you post some examples of folder icons I might be able to help out, I'm not great but I can hold my own if given proper ideas, lol. I am ok with the software, just suck at coming up with ideas.

So post a few examples of what you'd like the icons to look like, and I can see what I can do.

[jcalton88]

And possibly some shows that you think would accurately represent the genres, I'll see if I can come up with anything

[magicstorm]

Ok. Rather than paste in a bunch of backdrops and icons, I have created a public folder at my Live SkyDrive where I uploaded some examples of both. Below is the URL to the SkyDrive folder

http://cid-0b7fe48d107f6a11.skydrive.li ... 20Examples

In the case of the genre backdrop examples, you will see by the file name what I have found as both movie genre backdrops and TV genre backdrops. They are each similar in nature using snapshots from either movies or TV series, blended together to represent a genre.

I have also included some movie and TV folder icons (of the type I favor). Again, based on the file name you will see which is which. You can see that, sometimes a folder icon is specific to movies because movie characters have been blended into the icon. These would be inappropriate for using with TV series. In the case of the "war movies" icon, this icon could be used for either movies or TV with the exception of the word "movies" that is blended into the icon. As a result of the word "movies", this icon cannot be used for TV series. In the case of the "drama" icon, this two can be used for both movies and TV series. However, I have not yet found an icon for the "Comedy-Drama" genre. In the case of the "western" icon, this too can be used for either movies or TV as it is generic in nature. Lastly, there is a "TV Series" icon that I use in my main media type categories screen. In the case of TV series folder icons, as far as I am concerned, the folder icons could be generic such as the "westerns" icon. However, if one wanted to be more creative, each TV series genre folder icon, the icon could contain banners for TV series that fit a specific genre blended into the icon as a whole as shown in the "TV Series" icon. The banners that could be used can be had from the tvdb.com site.

As for the genres themselves and a list examples of these genres, below is my genre breakdown and what I consider good examples of each genre. For sure, it can be argued that these shows could/should be placed in a different genre on the list. I placed the series examples in the genre categories having checking with the various sources such as IMDB.com, TV.com, TVDB.com, etc. and then used my best judgement call.

Action
• Airwolf
• Riptide
• The A-Team
• Remington Steele

Adventure
• MacGyver
• The Lost World
• Relic Hunter
• Robin Hood

Animation
• The Tick
• Kim Possible
• Jonny Quest
• Tom & Jerry

Comedy
• Hogan's Heroes
• Soap
• Friends
• Two and Half Men

Comedy-Drama
• Chuck
• Psych
• Gilmore Girls
• Desperate Housewives
• Boston Legal
• Ugly Betty

Crime-Drama
• Bones
• Burn Notice
• Hawaii Five-O
• In Plain Sight
• Veronica Mars

Drama
• House
• Joan of Arcadia
• Lost
• Prison Break
• 7th Heaven

Reality
• MythBusters
• Ice Road Truckers
• Deadliest Catch
• Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Sci-Fi
• Firefly
• Stargate (any of the series)
• Star Trek
• Battlestar Galactica
• Cleopatra 2525

War
• Black Sheep Squadron
• China Beach
• Combat

Westerns
• The Wild Wild West
• The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
• Have Gun, Will Travel
• Gunsmoke
• Bonanza
• Maverick

I hope this all helps.

Magicstorm....

[jcalton88]

Wow, ask for examples and get a novel, :P . That'll give me plenty to work on, I have a couple projects due for a couple courses, but as soon as I get those wrapped up I'll see what I can do. Again, not making any promises but I'll give it a good shot

[me23]

Those are good examples. These along with the ones tmb4016 sent me, I will try and use them.
I have been busy of late with work and about to have a new baby in the coming weeks.
I will try and work on some this weekend.

[magicstorm]

Wow, ask for examples and get a novel, :P . That'll give me plenty to work on, I have a couple projects due for a couple courses, but as soon as I get those wrapped up I'll see what I can do. Again, not making any promises but I'll give it a good shot

LOL. Well, I thought that if I was going to respond to your request I should do a good job. Sorry for the novel. I understand about "no promises" as I never expected any.

Thanks.

Magicstorm....

[magicstorm]

Those are good examples. These along with the ones tmb4016 sent me, I will try and use them.
I have been busy of late with work and about to have a new baby in the coming weeks.
I will try and work on some this weekend.

Wow. Congratulations on the new baby. Such a joy but lots of work. I have four but they are mostly grown and gone.

Thanks too for your help.

Magicstorm....