How Emby makes use of the various image types (i.e., Primary, Backdrop, Banner, Logo, etc.)

[jeff90099 2]

I'm somewhat new to Emby. Pretty comfortable with almost everything except how Emby makes use of the various image types. I've searched this forum and the internet for a clear explanation of how exactly Emby uses the various image types to no avail and experimentation hasn't taken me very far either. I am still struggling to understand this. Please confirm or correct what I think I understand at this point..

1) Primary and Backdrop images are the only images used by the Emby web client on Windows and I'm assuming they are probably used by all other client types as well. If you spend time adding Primary and Backdrop images that cannot be retrieved automatically by the agents you will not be wasting your time, all Emby clients will make use of these image types. 

2) You can also add images of type Banner, Disc, Logo, and Thumb, but before wasting your time you should confirm that your client(s) will make use of these additional image types. There is a very good chance you would be wasting your time adding these image types.

3) Images of type Banner, Disc, Logo, and Thumb may or may not be used in various Emby clients like the Emby Roku app, Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox, etc., the situation varies from one client to the next.

4) Finally the main point: It seems to me that to avoid wasting time adding images that will never be used the best approach is to stick to Primary and Backdrop images only unless you know your client app can make use of one or more of the other image types.

(NOTE: I know that libraries can be set to display whatever image files are in the folder as well but that gets pretty messy. Also, I have seen documentation explaining what image formats and dimensions work best for the various Emby image types but it did not mention HOW and WHERE the various image types are actually used by the various Emby clients)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Abobader 3464]

Hello jeff90099,

** This is an auto reply **

Please wait for someone from staff support or our members to reply to you.

It's recommended to provide more info, as it explain in this thread:

Thank you.

Emby Team

[crusher11 1101]

Thumbs are used in Continue Watching. Discs are used in some CoverArt treatments I believe. 

[GrimReaper 4740]

You can use any image type as your Library view setting. Logos are also used in any Item Detail view. 

[jeff90099 2]

Thanks, you're right. I missed that because it will use the primary image if no custom thumbnail image has been added.

[jeff90099 2]

Crusher11-Thanks, you're right. I missed that because it will use the primary image if no custom thumbnail image has been added.

GrimReaper76-Thanks, I see that now.   

What I should have done was create a set of image files, one for each image type, containing only the word for the image type i.e., "Thumb" or "Logo" or "Banner" etc. and watch and see where they populate. Could have saved me a lot of time.

 

[Carlo 4561]

I've just started working on a new KB article that will cover images in 4.6
It's a work in progress but fits this thread so:

https://emby.media/support/articles/Image-Editing.html

Edited November 6, 2025 by GrimReaper
KB article link updated

[jeff90099 2]

Thanks, that's very helpful.

[crusher11 1101]

The logo also appears on the top left of the OSD during playback. 

[Ugnaughts 53]

i noticed in the search results for series picture it shows primary and it looks off compared to the episodes in the results.

is there a way to make it choose backdrop instead of primary for series image in search results?

[GrimReaper 4740]

Top Results is concatenation of all search results (Movies, TV Shows, episodes, People, Albums etc...) and respective Primary-type images which are different (aspect ratio/orientation) across all of them - there's is no one-size-fits-all approach. Switch to relevant category tab for more uniform presentation. 

That said, personally wouldn't want backdrop there - if anything, it should be Thumb, but preferably it stays just as it is as it is distinctive enough. 

Edited February 15, 2025 by GrimReaper