How To Put Art On Your TV Easily

Can you put art on your TV? Yes, you absolutely can put art on your TV, transforming your screen into a dynamic digital canvas that complements your décor and expresses your personal style. This blog post will guide you through the simplest methods, from using built-in features to dedicated apps and devices, making it incredibly easy to display art on your television.

How To Put Art On Your Tv
Image Source: i.ytimg.com

Transform Your TV into a Digital Art Frame

In today’s world, televisions are more than just entertainment hubs; they’re becoming integral parts of our home décor. Imagine your large, flat-screen TV not just displaying shows, but also showcasing beautiful paintings, stunning photography, or vibrant digital creations. This is easily achievable, turning your screen into a sophisticated digital art frame. We’ll explore how to make this happen with minimal effort.

Utilizing Your Smart TV’s Built-in Features

Most modern smart TVs come equipped with features designed to display art or personalize your screen. These smart TV features are often the most straightforward way to begin.

Ambient Mode and Screensavers: A Simple Start

Many manufacturers have introduced “ambient modes” or enhanced screensaver functions that allow you to display curated artwork or your own photos when the TV is not actively in use.

Samsung Art Mode: Samsung TVs, particularly The Frame series, are designed specifically for displaying art. Their Art Mode allows you to choose from a vast library of artwork or upload your own photos. Even non-Frame Samsung TVs often have ambient modes that can display art.
LG Gallery Mode: LG TVs also offer similar features, often called Gallery Mode, where you can select from various art collections or display personal images.
Sony Bravia Ambient Mode: Sony’s Bravia TVs have an Ambient Mode that can show attractive images and art.
Other Brands: Check your TV’s settings menu for options like “Ambient Mode,” “Gallery,” “Screensaver,” or “Art Mode.” These are usually found within the Picture or General settings.

How to Access and Use These Features:

Navigate to Settings: Turn on your TV and go to the main settings menu.
Find Picture or General Settings: Look for a section related to picture display or general TV features.
Locate Ambient/Art/Screensaver Mode: Within these settings, you should find the option to enable and customize your chosen mode.
Select Your Art: You’ll typically have options to:
- Browse Built-in Collections: Many TVs come pre-loaded with a selection of professional artwork.
- Upload Your Own Photos: Connect a USB drive or use a companion app to load your personal photos or artwork.
- Connect to Online Galleries: Some TVs can link to online art platforms.

Photo Slideshow: Your Personal Art Gallery

A photo slideshow is a fantastic way to personalize your TV’s art display. It’s a feature that allows you to cycle through a collection of your own images, creating a dynamic and ever-changing piece of art.

Steps to Create a Photo Slideshow:

Prepare Your Photos: Ensure your photos are in a compatible format (like JPEG) and stored on a USB drive or a network-connected device (like a computer or phone).
Connect Your Device: Plug your USB drive into the TV or ensure your device is on the same network.
Access the Media Player: Most smart TVs have a built-in media player app. Open it.
Select Your Photos: Browse to the location of your photos and select them.
Start the Slideshow: Look for an option to start a slideshow. You might also be able to set the duration each photo is displayed and choose transition effects.
Set as Screensaver/Ambient Mode: Some TVs allow you to set your photo slideshow as the default ambient display.

Dedicated TV Art Apps and Services

Beyond the built-in features, a growing number of TV art apps and streaming services offer curated collections of art specifically designed for television screens. These apps can turn your TV into a high-definition gallery.

Curated Art Collections Through Apps

These apps provide access to a vast library of artwork, often categorized by style, artist, or mood. They are a great way to discover new art and keep your display fresh.

Artify: Available on platforms like Apple TV and Roku, Artify allows you to browse and stream a wide variety of art.
MUBI: While primarily a film streaming service, MUBI often features visually stunning films that can act as moving art.
Pluto TV: This free streaming service sometimes features channels dedicated to art and music.
Dedicated Art Streaming Services: Keep an eye out for newer services that focus solely on art for screens. A quick search in your TV’s app store for “art” or “gallery” will reveal many options.

How to Use TV Art Apps:

Access Your TV’s App Store: Navigate to the app store on your smart TV.
Search for Art Apps: Use keywords like “art,” “gallery,” “digital art,” or specific art styles.
Install the App: Download and install the app of your choice.
Subscription (if applicable): Many art apps offer a free trial or a subscription model for full access.
Browse and Display: Open the app, explore the art collections, and select what you want to display. Some apps allow you to set them as your screensaver or ambient display.

Using Your Phone or Tablet to Cast Art

Many art apps and even cloud photo services allow you to cast content directly to your TV using technologies like Chromecast or AirPlay. This offers another layer of flexibility.

Casting Steps:

Ensure Compatibility: Make sure your TV and your phone/tablet support casting (e.g., Chromecast built-in, AirPlay).
Open the Art App/Service: Launch the app on your mobile device.
Find the Cast Icon: Look for the cast icon (usually a rectangle with Wi-Fi waves).
Select Your TV: Choose your TV from the list of available devices.
Choose and Display Art: Select the artwork you want to display. It will stream from your device to your TV.

The Power of a Digital Canvas: Beyond Static Images

Your TV can be more than just a static digital art frame. With the right tools, you can explore dynamic art forms.

Animated Art and Videos

Some apps and services specialize in animated art or even relaxing visualizers. These can add a unique, moving element to your room.

Moving Art: Services that offer videos of nature scenes, ambient landscapes, or abstract animations can create a soothing atmosphere.
Music Visualizers: If you use your TV for music, many apps or streaming services can generate dynamic visualizers that react to the sound.

HDMI Art Display: Connecting External Devices

For ultimate flexibility and access to a wider range of content, you can use external devices that connect via HDMI art display.

Using a Computer for Art Display

Connect your laptop or desktop computer to your TV via an HDMI cable. This gives you access to virtually any art you can find online or any software you use to create art.

Steps for HDMI Computer Connection:

Gather Your Cables: You’ll need an HDMI cable.
Connect: Plug one end into your computer’s HDMI port and the other into your TV’s HDMI port.
Select Input Source: On your TV remote, select the correct HDMI input source (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.).
Configure Display Settings:
- Mirror Display: Your computer’s screen will be duplicated on the TV.
- Extend Display: The TV becomes an additional monitor, allowing you to display art on it while using your computer for other tasks. Access this by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting “Display settings.”
Open and Display Art: Open your web browser, art software, or a photo viewer on your computer and display your chosen art on the TV screen.

Media Streaming Devices (Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV)

These devices offer a gateway to a vast ecosystem of apps, including those dedicated to art.

Using Streaming Devices for Art:

Connect the Device: Plug your streaming device into an HDMI port on your TV and connect it to power and your Wi-Fi.
Install Art Apps: Go to the device’s app store and search for art-related applications (similar to the smart TV app section).
Access and Display: Open the apps and choose your art. Many of these devices also support casting from your phone or tablet.

Raspberry Pi or Dedicated Digital Signage Players

For a more advanced setup or for businesses, devices like Raspberry Pi can be configured to loop art or play specific content. Dedicated digital signage players are also an option for professional art displays.

Optimizing Your TV Picture Settings for Art

The way your TV displays art can be significantly improved by adjusting TV picture settings. The goal is to ensure the colors are accurate and the image is presented beautifully.

Calibration for Art Viewing

While professional calibration is ideal, you can make significant improvements with basic adjustments.

Picture Mode: Many TVs have specific picture modes like “Art,” “Cinema,” or “Calibrated.” These modes often provide more accurate color reproduction than “Vivid” or “Standard.”
Brightness: Adjust the brightness so that the dark areas of the artwork are visible but not washed out.
Contrast: This controls the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of the image. A moderate contrast setting often works best for art.
Color and Tint: Fine-tune the color saturation and hue to ensure the artwork’s colors appear as the artist intended.
Sharpness: For most art, you’ll want to turn sharpness down or off. Excessive sharpness can introduce artificial edges and artifacts.
Motion Smoothing (e.g., TruMotion, MotionFlow): Turn off or reduce motion smoothing features. These are designed for video and can make artwork look unnatural, creating the “soap opera effect.”

Table: Recommended TV Picture Settings for Art Display

Setting	Recommendation	Notes
Picture Mode	Cinema, Art, Calibrated, or Custom	Avoid Vivid, Standard, or Dynamic modes.
Brightness	Adjust to room lighting; ensure dark details show.	Too high can wash out colors; too low hides details.
Contrast	Moderate; aim for natural black levels.	Do not set to maximum; can clip detail in bright areas.
Color	Slightly below maximum; aim for natural tones.	Over-saturation can make art look garish.
Tint/Hue	Neutral (usually centered).	Adjust only if colors appear to have a green or magenta cast.
Sharpness	Low or Off.	Prevents artificial edge enhancement and artifacts.
Motion Settings	Off or Minimum (e.g., Off, Low).	Prevents unwanted motion smoothing or artifacts on static images.
Color Temperature	Warm (or preset like “Warm 1” or “Warm 2”).	Cooler settings can make colors appear blueish.
Gamma	2.2 or 0.0 (depending on TV settings).	Affects mid-tone brightness; 2.2 is standard for most viewing.

Considerations for Different Types of Art

Paintings: Focus on accurate color reproduction and avoiding digital artifacts. Lower sharpness is key.
Photography: Adjusting brightness and contrast to bring out detail is important.
Abstract/Digital Art: These can often handle more vibrant colors and might benefit from slightly higher saturation, but always with good taste.
Moving Art/Videos: Motion smoothing might be desirable here, but it’s still best to experiment.

Creating Your Own Digital Art Display

You don’t need to be a professional artist to create compelling art for your TV.

Utilizing Photo Editing Software

Software like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP (free), or even mobile editing apps can help you enhance your photos or create new digital art.

Resolution: Aim for high-resolution images that match your TV’s native resolution (e.g., 1920×1080 for Full HD, 3840×2160 for 4K) for the sharpest display.
Aspect Ratio: Ensure your art matches your TV’s aspect ratio (usually 16:9) to avoid cropping or black bars.

Simple Creation Tools

There are many user-friendly online tools and apps that allow you to create digital art with templates, stickers, and text.

Canva: A popular online design tool with many templates suitable for screen display.
Mobile Apps: Numerous apps allow you to create collages, edit photos, and design simple graphics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the best way to display art on my TV?
A1: The best way depends on your TV and your preference. For built-in options, explore your smart TV features like ambient mode or screensavers. For more variety, TV art apps or casting from your phone are excellent. Connecting a computer via HDMI art display offers maximum flexibility.

Q2: Can I display my own photos as art on my TV?
A2: Yes, most smart TV features allow you to create a photo slideshow from your own images, often via USB or network sharing.

Q3: Do I need a special TV to display art?
A3: No, you don’t need a special TV. While some TVs like Samsung’s The Frame are designed for art, any smart TV can be used as a digital art frame using its built-in features or apps.

Q4: How do I make my TV look like a piece of art when it’s off?
A4: Utilize your TV’s ambient mode or screensaver features, which are designed to display artwork or photos when the TV is idle.

Q5: What are TV art apps?
A5: TV art apps are applications available on smart TVs or streaming devices that provide access to curated collections of digital art, often with subscription options for a wider selection.

Q6: How do I adjust my TV settings for displaying art?
A6: Select an appropriate picture mode (like Cinema or Art), adjust brightness and contrast carefully, turn off motion smoothing, and lower sharpness to ensure the best presentation of the artwork. Consult the TV picture settings section of this guide for detailed recommendations.

Q7: What is an HDMI art display?
A7: An HDMI art display refers to the method of connecting a device, such as a computer or media player, to your TV via an HDMI cable to display visual content, including art.

Q8: Is there a way to display art that moves on my TV?
A8: Yes, some TV art apps and streaming services offer animated art or videos that can add movement to your digital canvas.

By following these steps and exploring the various options available, you can easily transform your television into a beautiful and dynamic display of art, enhancing your living space and reflecting your unique taste.