How to replace all movie posters in library by tmdb posters

[rancid merlin]

Hi all, I installed PMM on unraid, added the API keys in the config yaml, tested it on 1 small library and the IMDb top 250 etc is now added. All good.

But what I want to do with PMM is to always use OG theatrical posters for movies and not those "modern" artworks that Plex tries to push. How would I achieve this?
I've added 2 lines for "metadata_files" in the config, see screenshot line 8 and 9. But this doesn't seem to do anything. The /config/assets folder is also still empty after running the python line. I would also be open to use the IMDb posters btw, doesn't have to be TMDb. As long as they're the classic theatrical ones.

Additionally, I would like to add some overlays to my 4K library. Those would need to be done on the tmdb posters as well, not on the Plex posters. How do I ensure that the order of application (first replace posters, then add overlays) is handled correctly?

Thanks

[fleet spruce]

Welcome @rancid merlin!

It looks like you have not yet completed #938455615741775902, this will allow us to help you quicker.

Someone from <@&938443185347244033> will assist when they're available.

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[hollow lotus]

It doesn't work like that at all.

[rancid merlin]

Ok how does it work?

[hollow lotus]

First, PMM does not, except in limited and specific circumstances, populate the assets directory with images. The only time it will do so is if you specify posters via URLs in a metadata YAML file and then set download_url_assets: true.

Second, this:

    - pmm: tmdb

is a reference to YAML file that will create some collections based on charts at TMDB:
https://metamanager.wiki/en/latest/defaults/chart/tmdb/

It's not a metadata file and has nothing to do with setting posters.

If you want to put TMDB posters on your movies, you have a couple options. One would be to use a library operation:

libraries:
  Movies:
    operations:
      mass_poster_update:
        source: tmdb

That would set the art on every movie in the library to the default art from TMDB, falling back to Plex' default art if that attempt failed.

Or a library attribute:

libraries:
  Movies:
    reset_overlays: tmdb

Either of those options will use the TMDB default artwork, not some specific artwork.

In either case, if you have overlays configured, the artwork will be reset before overlays are applied, so you typically don't have to worry about order of operations.

[rancid merlin]

Wooow ok I was totally on the wrong path lol

[hollow lotus]

If you want to set the art to a specific type of art, there's no settings-based way to to that.

I have a couple scripts that can download all the art options from Plex, then give you a basic clickable UI to choose the theatrical onesheets and put them into the asset dir.

[rancid merlin]

You say that PMM doesn't populate the asset directory, but then what does mass_poster_update do? It will fetch all the movie posters, no? But it won't save them in the assets directory, is that what you mean?

[hollow lotus]

Exactly that. It tells Plex, "hey dude set the art for Star Wars to this URL from TMDB"

[rancid merlin]

Ahhh ok that's even better, then I don't have to store them myself. BUT... what Plex does tend to do is change the movie posters again by itself, no?

Would I have to run it every day or so?

[hollow lotus]

Not normally, no, unless you change agents and refresh metadata.

When PMM sets the art it locks the field.

[rancid merlin]

It locks the field, ok good

[hollow lotus]

When PMM sets anything it locks the relevant field.

BTW; these images do end up in your Plex metadata directory.

Even if Plex is given a URL

[rancid merlin]

Ok they are stored in Plex metadata, that's ok

I'm still confused what you meant by the library attribute though:
reset_overlays: tmdb.

I would like overlays as per the wiki like this:
overlay_files:
- pmm: resolution
And maybe also HiFi sound like Atmos/TrueHD if that's possible.

But what does reset_overlays have to do with this?

Or do you use the "overlay" system just as a way to replace the posters, since the posters on tmdb don't have any overlays? Like a trick

[hollow lotus]

I want PMM to put resolution overlays on the current posters in Plex:

libraries:
  Movies:
    overlay_files:
      - pmm: resolution

I don't like the current posters in Plex, so I want PMM to reset all those posters to TMDB's default and THEN put resolution overlays on those posters:

libraries:
  Movies:
    overlay_files:
      - pmm: resolution
    operations:
      mass_poster_update:
        source: tmdb

If you want to be sure that Plex [and by extension PMM] always uses the Drew Struzen onesheet for Star Wars, put that image in an asset directory [or point to it in a metadata file].

[rancid merlin]

Very very cool. The mass poster update already worked actually, I'm sure the overlay will too.
What are the other parameters does "overlay_files" accept other than "resolution"? I don't see that in the wiki: https://metamanager.wiki/en/develop/config/libraries/#attributes

[rancid merlin]

Ok very specific haha, I will do this for a handful of movies perhaps, but generally I'm fine with the tmdb posters

[hollow lotus]

All discussed in detail starting here:
https://metamanager.wiki/en/latest/defaults/guide/

[rancid merlin]

Ah ye here: https://metamanager.wiki/en/latest/defaults/overlays/#content-rating-overlays

Will read up on this

One more question: if the mass update is done, how do I then I apply the operation for new movies only on those new movies?

[hollow lotus]

You don't; it's a mass update.

[rancid merlin]

Because the collection_files will recognize the old movies, but the mass updates actually don't, they update everything again

Ok so how would I go about it then? A new movie is added and I want Plex to change the poster to the TMDb poster.

Just do the whole library again? 😄

[hollow lotus]

either that or set that one manually.

Or set up the plex agents to prefer tmdb.

[rancid merlin]

Hmm ye ok gotcha. What is the advantage of setting one manually through the assets folder in PMM, rather than just updating it manually in Plex?

[rancid merlin]

Maybe this will solve all my problems actually. Any reason why I shouldn't do this?

I now have "Plex agent" as agent

[hollow lotus]

If you change a poster manually in Plex after overlays have been applied, you need to also remove a label on the movie to get PMM to use that new image and not revert it.

If you set the asset this doesn't happen; the asset is the source of truth.

Also, if you need to rebuild your library for whatever reason, all the clickety-click you did in the UI is lost while the assets will restore that custom art in a single run.

[hollow lotus]

Ah, never mind, I guess that isn't possible anymore.

[rancid merlin]

This makes a lot of sense, thx

[rancid merlin]

Why do you say that?

[hollow lotus]

I went and looked for the control I was thinking of in the UI and it isn't there anymore.

[rancid merlin]

Don't you mean this? TMDb is there for me

[hollow lotus]

You could change the agent, sure. I'm recalling a way to drag TMDB to the top of this priority list:

[rancid merlin]

Oh ok, that's something else then, idk. I think I will try the TMDb agent ye, should be fine and saves me some trouble

[hollow lotus]

I'd experiment with that agent on a small test library first.

[rancid merlin]

And you've shown me the part of the wiki for overlays, so will dig into that

[rancid merlin]

Good idea

[hollow lotus]

that's generally advisable with any of this. No need for a multi-hour run only to find out you want to move that overlay 2 pixels to the right.

[rancid merlin]

Ok thanks for all the answers, my turn to work it out now 🙂

Should I archive this?

[hollow lotus]

sure

[rancid merlin]

!archive

hmm