Horrendous cover images

[Mossshine 0]

Is there any way to boost the cover image quality ? Your current resizing algorithm does, frankly, a terrible job. Just look at the attached comparison image, it's so bad, that even on a print screened, re-saved and compressed image it's still apparent.

It's not that the source image is low quality or blurry, quite the contrary, just look at the left "source" image and the right "scaled down" one.

Latest emby server 4.6.3.0 and this is happening across my devices - pc browser, android or my new tv.

Can you fix it or expose it's settings, so we can tweak it ourselves ? Imagine having these blurred blobs on your 55 inch tv

[ebr 16187]

Hi.  What is the actual pixel height of those images?  Not the original, but as displayed?

[Mossshine 0]

Just now, ebr said:

Hi.  What is the actual pixel height of those images?  Not the original, but as displayed?

The exact size you set with your query parameters maxHeight and maxWidth

[ebr 16187]

Just now, Mossshine said:

The exact size you set with your query parameters maxHeight and maxWidth

How can that be?  The two images you showed are the same display height but were requested at much different resolutions (one original and the other at 216x324).

[Mossshine 0]

7 minutes ago, ebr said:

How can that be?  The two images you showed are the same display height but were requested at much different resolutions (one original and the other at 216x324).

That's what I am asking you to explain and fix Original image is slightly bigger (226x318) while the requested one has 216x324. I have no idea why it requests this resolution or why it scales so terribly. I can't debug it or fix it myself either, because you are closed source.

[ebr 16187]

1 minute ago, Mossshine said:

Original image is slightly bigger (226x318) while the requested one has 216x324

You are saying that is the display size of those two examples or that your original poster for that item is only 226x318?

[Mossshine 0]

Just now, ebr said:

You are saying that is the display size of those two examples or that your original poster for that item is only 226x318?

My original poster is only 226x318 (it's downloaded from a site via plugin)

[ebr 16187]

1 minute ago, Mossshine said:

My original poster is only 226x318 (it's downloaded from a site via plugin)

Okay, so that is probably the issue then.  Most posters are more like 1000x1500 in original size and a resize of that to a display height like above works fairly well.  Trying to re-size from such a small original is probably producing pretty bad quality.

Do you have an items with larger original images?  Do they look better?

[Mossshine 0]

Just now, ebr said:

Okay, so that is probably the issue then.  Most posters are more like 1000x1500 in original size and a resize of that to a display height like above works fairly well.  Trying to re-size from such a small original is probably producing pretty bad quality.

Do you have an items with larger original images?  Do they look better?

To be honest I don't have HQ covers as they are managed by plugins. So whatever they download I use. Emby should check image size and if it's under a certain threshold it should not resize it, but simply use it. The correct sizing is managed by CSS anyway.

[ebr 16187]

1 minute ago, Mossshine said:

The correct sizing is managed by CSS anyway.

The reason they are resized is for performance and bandwidth constraints.

I suppose it could be possible to not resize images that are "close enough" to what is being requested...

[Mossshine 0]

15 minutes ago, ebr said:

The reason they are resized is for performance and bandwidth constraints.

I suppose it could be possible to not resize images that are "close enough" to what is being requested...

You are already compressing them (I guess) with your other query parameter, so perf and bandwidth should not be to worry. Please add the "close enough" option. Either forced or as toggle, idrk which way.

Edited June 27, 2021 by Mossshine

[Carlo 4561]

Not to distract from what's asked for here but I have to wonder why you are downloading such small images to start with?  Why not change this in your download program to download original size posters like the rest of us do?

[Mossshine 0]

Fine question. I can write my own cover downloader - scrap google images and whatnot, but why should I need to? The server should be smart enough to properly determine, if the image should be resized or not, or there should be a minimal size restriction.

I want fix for a core system. Not to make a workarounds, like saving huge images, just to allow emby to make pretty thumbs.

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

24 minutes ago, Mossshine said:

Fine question. I can write my own cover downloader - scrap google images and whatnot, but why should I need to? The server should be smart enough to properly determine, if the image should be resized or not, or there should be a minimal size restriction.

I want fix for a core system. Not to make a workarounds, like saving huge images, just to allow emby to make pretty thumbs.

I wonder why it matters much. Do you actually spend time "watching" the interface? Personally, I watch content and if the interface is good enough to allow me to find what I want to watch then it is good enough. Emby's interface is MUCH better than just "good enough" it is not perfect but it does not need to be,

Edited June 27, 2021 by Gilgamesh_48
Error in text

[Carlo 4561]

33 minutes ago, Mossshine said:

Fine question. I can write my own cover downloader - scrap google images and whatnot, but why should I need to? The server should be smart enough to properly determine, if the image should be resized or not, or there should be a minimal size restriction.

I want fix for a core system. Not to make a workarounds, like saving huge images, just to allow emby to make pretty thumbs.

Keep in mind that Emby generally does handle this fine because it will download the full size covers itself.
It can also use posters and meta-info pulled down by 3rd party programs with NFOs etc as well. Programs such as Tiny Media Manager and other also pull down full size posters.

That of course doesn't mean the code can't be adjusted to handle your use better!  But anyway you cut it starting with a smaller image will produce most likely an inferior looking graphic so even if the code is changed to handle this better, you personally still might achieve far better results pulling down full size posters.

It's worth considering.

[Luke 42083]

Quote

I have no idea why it requests this resolution

It tries to match the display size, but yes we can look at improving it. Thanks.