* You can specify an Image Asset Directory per Metadata/Playlist/Overlay File when calling the file. See [Path Types](../../config/paths.md#asset-directory) for how to define them.
* By default [if no `asset_directory` is specified], the program will look in the same folder as your `config.yml` for a folder called `assets`.
## How assets are run
## Applying assets
Assets are searched for only at specific times.
Assets can be applied to collections [managed or unmanaged], playlists, and media items [movies, shows, seasons, and episodes].
1. Collection and Playlist assets are searched for whenever that collection/playlist is run.
2. Item assets and Unmanaged Collections assets are searched for whenever the `assets_for_all` Library Operation is active.
Managed Collection and Playlist assets are applied whenever that collection/playlist is run. You do not have to specifically enable assets for these items; PMM will always search for and apply them.
Item [movie/show/etc] assets and Unmanaged Collections assets have to be specifically enabled before PMM will search for and apply them. Do this by enabling the `assets_for_all` Library Operation:
```yaml
Movies:
operations:
assets_for_all: true
```
* If you want to silence the `Asset Warning: No poster or background found in an assets folder for 'TITLE'` you can use the [`show_missing_assets` Setting Attribute](../../config/settings.md#show-missing-assets):
```yaml
@ -35,6 +42,10 @@ Assets are searched for only at specific times.
show_missing_assets: false
```
## Asset interaction with overlays
If a media item has an asset associated with it, that asset image is taken as the source of truth for what artwork the item should have, and the overlay pipeline will no longer download and back up the base artwork from Plex. Using the Asset Directory to assign custom art is the simplest and safest way to ensure that the overlay pipeline doesn't unexpectedly overwrite your custom artwork in Plex.
## Asset Naming
The table below shows the asset folder path structures that will be searched for. There are two options for how Plex Meta Manager looks at the files inside your Asset Directories. Choose an option with the [`asset_folders` Setting Attribute](../../config/settings.md#image-asset-folders). Note that `asset_folders` is a toggle; you can't put some images in folders and some not in a context where it is enabled.
@ -50,14 +61,105 @@ The table below shows the asset folder path structures that will be searched for
* For **Collections** replace `ASSET_NAME` with the mapping name used with the collection unless `name_mapping` is specified, which you would then use what's specified in `name_mapping`.
* For **Movies** replace `ASSET_NAME` with the exact name of the folder the video file is stored in.
* i.e. if you have `Movies/Star Wars (1977)/Star Wars (1977) [1080p].mp4` then your asset directory would look at either `assets/Star Wars (1977)/poster.png` or `assets/Star Wars (1977).png` for the poster.
* For **Shows**, **Seasons**, and **Episodes** replace `ASSET_NAME` with the exact name of the folder for the show as a whole.
* i.e. if you have `Shows/Game of Thrones/Season 1/Game of Thrones - S01E01.mp4` then your asset directory would look at either `assets/Game of Thrones/poster.png` or `assets/Game of Thrones.png` for the poster.
* When `asset_folders` is set to `true` movie/show folders can be nested inside other folders, but you must specify how deep you want to search because the more levels to search the longer it takes.