How to change the icons of movie files?

I use this method to display the DVD cover in Explorer + Ensure DVD cover is also displayed on X-Box/WMC when I browse my library.

Here's my method:
1- Download the DVD cover image, save it to your library location
1a- Ensure the image and movie have the exact same name (except suffix)
2- Open new project in Windows Live Movie Maker
3- Click Add Videos and photos
3a- Add the DVD cover image first
3b- Add the movie itself after the DVD cover
** This basically makes the DVD cover image the first ~5 seconds of the movie
4- Save Movie
4a- It will save in WMV format.
5 (optional) Convert the WMV file to any other format you like (I use WinFX to convert to .AVI)

Voila!

I know I'm not allowed to use foul language on this forum, but you can use iTunes to add cover art to mp4 video files.

Since my last post I have found two small programs that seem to do the job of adding jpeg images to video files, AudioShell and Tag&Rename. When I first tried these programs they seemed to lock up and not respond once I started the image transfer, but it turned out if you have a large video file and/or a slow connection to your network hard drive, this process can take several minutes. If you look in the folder where the transfer is taking place, you'll notice a newly created .tmp file and once it reaches the same size as your video file, the process is complete and the .tmp file is deleted.

If you would like more information on AudioShell click here.

I'm running Window 7, 32-bit.

I know this thread was made a while ago, but for anyone else looking to do this. iTunes is the easiest way.
It doesn't matter what OS you are using.

1. Download iTunes, install and set it all up.
2. Find the drop down menu (usually top right of window) and find the "Add file to library option
3. Find the movie you want to change (it may be in your "home videos" tab if its not in the "My Movies" tab
4. Right click the movie and click "Get Info", then under the "Artwork" tab you can add your own artwork.

This will change the thumbnail for the video where ever its saved. Unfortunately you still have to go and save all the images you want to you (you used to be able to drag and drop, but that's been removed)

Arc said:

Do you want something like this ?

Attachment 79276

Actually I dont know how to add an album art in a video file ( I know how to do it for a music file), but there is a way to do the same thing, though a bit laborious . I am describing the steps below :
1. Download an album art for your video (I use google image search for it)
2. Make it square using any image editor. Dont crop, just resize, say 400x400 pixels
3. make a folder for your video, put the resized image in it, name it folder.jpg, and hide it.
4. You are done

Now look the explorer folder, add those to media player or media center, and see the change

If there is any trouble doing it, make me know

Forgive me for bumping this old thread but I couldn't find a way to PM the user. I looked if I am a blind please let me know.

Arc how do you get the pictures of movies to fit exactly on the folders without cutting off the title of the movie? Every time I follow your instructions no matter how small I make the image the title of the movie words get cut off.

Please help. Thanks.

ng4ever said:

Forgive me for bumping this old thread but I couldn't find a way to PM the user.

Welcome to the forum,

You can't PM as a new member, I notified Arc of your question though. :)

Arc said:

Do you want something like this ?

Attachment 79276

Actually I dont know how to add an album art in a video file ( I know how to do it for a music file), but there is a way to do the same thing, though a bit laborious . I am describing the steps below :
1. Download an album art for your video (I use google image search for it)
2. Make it square using any image editor. Dont crop, just resize, say 400x400 pixels
3. make a folder for your video, put the resized image in it, name it folder.jpg, and hide it.
4. You are done

Now look the explorer folder, add those to media player or media center, and see the change

If there is any trouble doing it, make me know

Arc said:

ng4ever said:

Arc how do you get the pictures of movies to fit exactly on the folders without cutting off the title of the movie? Every time I follow your instructions no matter how small I make the image the title of the movie words get cut off.

Please help. Thanks.

I dont do anything else other than what I said, mate. :)

Doing it right now to check .... a hypothetical movie folder ....

And it worked again.

Are you cropping the image during resizing?

I don't think I am cropping the image during resizing why ?

This is what mine looks like.





See the title of the movie is cut off. It is called The Return the other name is in Russian.

This is what is should look like.