Improve image quality of thumbnails assigned to LargeIcons and Filmstrip views

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Currently the images assigned to SmallThumbs, LargeThumbs and Filmstrip are
all the same quality. I think the image assigned to LargeThumbs and
Filmstrip should be differentiated and be better quality esp. for large
LCD/Projector screens.

Assigning better quality images will take a hit on performance so perhaps
this can be offloaded onto another thread when entering the facade. 

If image loading is done on another thread it would be nice if the items
around the last selected facade item get priority first, so its transparent
to the user that the facade images are still loading in the background
while they navigate.

Another point to raise regarding image quality is that its hard for the
user to determine the best quality image they should use without
sacrificing on quality. What could solve that is allowing the skinner to
determine this, after all they control the size of the thumbs on screen and
will know what the best image quality settings that should be applied.
Advanced users could possibly override this.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by damien.haynes@gmail.com on 4 Dec 2009 at 6:04

[GoogleCodeExporter]

So basically this would load the images in the facade asynchronously and at a 
higher 
resolution. Higher resolution coming into play for things like filmstrip view 
or large 
thumbnail view.

I think this is a good idea, but I also think this will be non-trivial. 
Although we 
might be able to base some of the logic off of TV-Series code.

Original comment by conrad.john on 4 Dec 2009 at 4:51

• Changed state: Accepted
• Added labels: Component-Cornerstone, Component-GUI, Milestone-1.3.0, Priority-Medium

[GoogleCodeExporter]

hi, i will love to see this issue get higher priority , the quality of the 
cover in filmstrip is rally worse , and you can see it if you comper my tv 
seires plugin filmstrip view with moving pictures filmstrip view ,
thanks,

Original comment by ysm...@gmail.com on 15 Oct 2010 at 3:43

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Original comment by conrad.john on 31 Jan 2011 at 1:22

• Removed labels: Milestone-1.3.0

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Some discussion here: http://bit.ly/l0udvM

Going to reschedule this for 1.3 as this causes some problems with high 
resolution skins that prominently display artwork using something like 
CoverFlow.

Original comment by conrad.john on 29 Jun 2011 at 3:00

• Added labels: Milestone-1.3.0, Priority-High
• Removed labels: Priority-Medium

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Attached is a patch that allows the user to set the width of the thumbnails in 
advanced settings (located under Tweaks).

You have to delete the cover thumbs (ProgramData\Team 
MediaPortal\MediaPortal\thumbs\MovingPictures\Covers\Thumbs) when changing this 
value. New thumbs will be created on plugin start.

Original comment by ncohrt@googlemail.com on 1 Jul 2011 at 8:26

Attachments:

• setThumbnailWidth.patch

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Thanks ncohrt! Going to pull this up to 1.1.5 since this looks like a fairly 
stable solution.

Original comment by conrad.john on 1 Jul 2011 at 2:07

• Added labels: Milestone-1.1.5, Patch
• Removed labels: Milestone-1.3.0

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Attached is a fixed version of the patch above. I forgot one file...sorry

Original comment by ncohrt@googlemail.com on 3 Jul 2011 at 10:09

Attachments:

• setThumbnailWidth.patch

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Applied your patch (with a tiny bit of cleanup) in r1320. Thanks a ton nchort!

I have opened Issue #1038 for a possible user interface on the main config 
panel to make this more accessible to the common user. Please direct 
conversation regarding user interaction over there.

Original comment by conrad.john on 30 Jul 2011 at 3:58

• Changed state: FixedCompleted