[mythtv-users] Wallpaper for thetvdb.com

[Colin McGregor]

> clifford at snowandsnow.us wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 3:21 PM, Colin McGregor
> > wrote:
>
>> Robert does make a fair comment, anyone with more artistic talent than
>> me should likely take other routes than starting with a screen shot ...
>> This noted, to answer Clifford's question, here is how I took a screen
>> shot to act as the basis for my fan art:
>>
>> - Logged into my "main" Linux desktop box running KDE (as opposed to Gnome)
>> - Downloaded an episode of the show I was interested in from my MythTV
>> box to my desktop box
>> - Started Totem Movie Player and loaded in the TV show I was interested in
>> - Played and then paused at the image that I wanted as my fan art
>> starting point
>> - Started up KSnapshot and set a snapshot delay of 10 seconds
>> - Clicked on "New Snapshot"
>> - QUICKLY brought Totem Movie Player back up and toggled full screen mode.
>> - Waited long enough to make sure the snapshot was taken and exited
>> full screen mode.
>> - Saved the image from KSnapshot.
>>
>> There you are, a way to get a TV show / movie screen shot, ugly but
>> workable... But to put a bit of emphasis on Robert's point the above is
>> not the route to great fan art (usable, tolerable maybe, but not great
>> stuff...).
>>
> Thanks for the help. I did find artwork online, but I am worried about
> copyright. The movie database has been updated with my modification of
> the images. But in the future I hope to find a way to generate my own
> images. Or at least images directly from the video. I downloaded
> videocut to see if it will allow high quality images directly from the
> video. Once I have a chance to play with the software, I will post my
> results here.

When it comes to using artwork found on-line you need to get into the topic of "fair use" (or as it is known in some nations "fair dealing"). A summary of the "fair use" rules in the US can be seen here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

One still image from a TV show would easily pass all four tests US law requires for "fair use" (read using one still image would CLEARLY be legal). As for other nations, well, I am not a lawyer, but I expect most (all?) places would consider the use of one still from a TV show to be "fair use" or "fair dealing". Still, if this is something that REALLY concerns you, check with a local lawyer...

Colin McGregor

> Clifford