Posted this in the custom background section, but guess it couldn't hurt to post it here too...

Trying to load a custom picture on my brother's AVIC-Z1. I have read numerous posts online, and spoke to the Pioneer tech guys 4 times. Nothing seems to work.

The problem is that when you go to the display menu, the "import from disc" bar does not let you choose it.

I have tried burning discs a zillion ways. I have tried the following methods...

-making a "pictures" folder, and tried it lower case, capitol, and lower case with a capitol P. I also tried labeling the folder "BG" as I found on an old Pioneer help FAQ on their site.

-adding an EXTRA 100mb of unreadable data. I am using word, pdf and zip files to take up the space. I have tired putting this data IN the pictures folder, and tried putting it just on the disc seperate of the pictures folder.

-tried burning the disk with XP, and also on a 98 machine with an actual burner program.

-tried just putting a bunch of pictures only with no filler data, in and out of the pictures folder.

-using .jpeg only pictures, and less than the maximum size.

The parking brake wire is bypassed on this unit, you can do anything at any time you are driving. No parking brake error messages.

I noticed that when I put in a disk with the pictures folder, it recognizes the CD-ROM and says CD-ROM INSTALLED. When you don't use the pictures folder, it says UNREADABLE DISC.

I have read something about not using "compressed jpegs". I don't know what that is, maybe someone could help there?

I am pretty sure I have done everything right. It seems to ID the disc, but maybe doesn't recognize the pics? I am just not sure what else to do.

Any help would be appreciated!

• [*:q09hv5mz]JPEG compression is the setting it asks you while saving (1 - 12) smaller number = smaller filesize/more compression. I don't really think that's it though, as I've used 8 (the adopted web-standard) with no problem.
   
  [*:q09hv5mz]You might be talking about Progressive Jpegs. In normal (baseline) JPG's, the pixels are in order - the image starts at the beginning of the file and ends at the end of the file. Progressive jpg's, on the other hand, load the image in waves, so to speak - enough information to load a very low quality version of the image is right in the beginning of the file, and as the stream is read, it continues to add to the quality pass after pass. You've probably seen this on well built websites back in the modem days, as it was done to help present an image even before the full jpg was done loading.
   
  Anyway, don't use that. The Z1/2 doesn't like it. Most of the custom BG pics (all?) are in baseline format, not progressive.
   
  [*:q09hv5mz]Try adhering to the 8.3 file format. No spaces. I know, it shouldn't be necessary... but just to rule it out.
   
  [*:q09hv5mz]Are you closing / finalizing your disc?
   
  [*:q09hv5mz]try limiting the number of pictures in the pictures folder to no more than 20
   
  [*:q09hv5mz]and of course, no MP3's anywhere on the disc.

• [*:2s7y2hyb]JPEG compression is the setting it asks you while saving (1 - 12) smaller number = smaller filesize/more compression. I don't really think that's it though, as I've used 8 (the adopted web-standard) with no problem.
   
  [*:2s7y2hyb]You might be talking about Progressive Jpegs. In normal (baseline) JPG's, the pixels are in order - the image starts at the beginning of the file and ends at the end of the file. Progressive jpg's, on the other hand, load the image in waves, so to speak - enough information to load a very low quality version of the image is right in the beginning of the file, and as the stream is read, it continues to add to the quality pass after pass. You've probably seen this on well built websites back in the modem days, as it was done to help present an image even before the full jpg was done loading.
   
  Anyway, don't use that. The Z1/2 doesn't like it. Most of the custom BG pics (all?) are in baseline format, not progressive.
   
  [*:2s7y2hyb]Try adhering to the 8.3 file format. No spaces. I know, it shouldn't be necessary... but just to rule it out.
   
  [*:2s7y2hyb]Are you closing / finalizing your disc?
   
  [*:2s7y2hyb]try limiting the number of pictures in the pictures folder to no more than 20
   
  [*:2s7y2hyb]and of course, no MP3's anywhere on the disc.

How do I know if something is using those jpegs in a progressive state? I am just using pics taken off the internet and with my own camera, choosing them with the CD program, and burning them to CD.

What is the 8.3 format?

I only have about 6 pics in the folder.

The CD program shows it "closing CD" at the end of the burn, is that what you mean?

And no MP3s. I don't even own any.

How do I know if something is using those jpegs in a progressive state? I am just using pics taken off the internet and with my own camera, choosing them with the CD program, and burning them to CD.

What is the 8.3 format?

The CD program shows it "closing CD" at the end of the burn, is that what you mean?

Ok, I downloaded that 05lenor pic from the background archive. It didn't work.

This is my current state....

CD-R disc, "pictures" folder, with 7 images in it including the 05lenor picture inside, along with an extra 116mb of data. That data is in zip, pdf, and word file formats.

That's how I have currently tried it this time. Is there a different method you'd suggest?

make sure that there are ONLY pictures in the pictures folder. Junk can go anywhere else on the disc, but not in \Pictures\

make sure that there are ONLY pictures in the pictures folder. Junk can go anywhere else on the disc, but not in \Pictures\

I'll try that.

Still no good. Put the pictures folder on the disc with just the pics in it, and all the junk files outside the folder.

"Unreadable Disc" throws a flag for me....It is picky about how you burn these disc...I've had issues getting it to read my disc right as well, even though I had done it several times in the past...But never did it say unreadable disc...It would just sit there saying disc inserted....Have you tried a different brand of disc? If I remember correctly, the last time I got a good disc was on a Sony CD-R...

-Try Nero...burn as slow as possible...Mode 1...Finalize

-You can try my pictures folder as well...it's helped a couple of members in the past...so who knows

download:

http://flemdawg.com/Pictures/pictures.zip

"Unreadable Disc" throws a flag for me....It is picky about how you burn these disc...I've had issues getting it to read my disc right as well, even though I had done it several times in the past...But never did it say unreadable disc...It would just sit there saying disc inserted....Have you tried a different brand of disc? If I remember correctly, the last time I got a good disc was on a Sony CD-R...

 

-Try Nero...burn as slow as possible...Mode 1...Finalize

 

-You can try my pictures folder as well...it's helped a couple of members in the past...so who knows

download:

http://flemdawg.com/Pictures/pictures.zip

It only says "unreadable disc" if I don't label the folder "pictures". Otherwise it says "CD-ROM INSERTED".

I have tried Staples and Memorex CD-Rs.

What program are you using to burn?

What program are you using to burn?

Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4

can you CONFIRM that you're finializing your CD?

can you CONFIRM that you're finializing your CD?

Hmm, you may have something there... are you saying that when a CD is "finalized", that you cannot write any new data to it? If so, I think that's my problem.

BTW, you also have to create the folder "PICTURES" and make sure to CAPITOLIZE the letters.

I made the folder "pictures" and the Z1/Z2 would not recognize it but once I made the folder capitolized into "PICTURES" , it worked.

I just tried adding some pics using Easy CD Creator 5.3...No tango. I switched over to Nero 6.0 and it worked like a charm. Inserted the disc, got the obligatory "CD-Rom Inserted" and hit the MENU button. The Import from disc button was available.

I used 106 MB of pdf files in the top level and had 18 pics in a folder named "Pictures".

Hey guys, I was talking to an audio buddy of mine today, and he said I needed to come to this site, and download a file that has to be loaded to the AVIC to "turn on" the feature to use a custom background.

Does that sound right, or is he wrong?

Hey guys, I was talking to an audio buddy of mine today, and he said I needed to come to this site, and download a file that has to be loaded to the AVIC to "turn on" the feature to use a custom background.

 

Does that sound right, or is he wrong?

He's wrong. I didn't need to turn anything on...It's just an option that's available.

Did the Z1 have that option. I don't know why I was thnking it wasn't available until the Z2.

If that is the case, then he may be referring to the Z2 image.

Did the Z1 have that option. I don't know why I was thnking it wasn't available until the Z2.

 

If that is the case, then he may be referring to the Z2 image.

 

Only for the splash screen. The AV and MAP backgrounds have been changeable since Z1.

Guys, I downloaded Nero 8 trial version. Where would I look for the option to finalize the CD? I am not seeing anything.

Guys, I downloaded Nero 8 trial version. Where would I look for the option to finalize the CD? I am not seeing anything.

My version has a "More" option on the "Final Burn Settings" window (the window where you finally select the "Burn" button). Under "More" I select "Disc-at-Once" and then check the "Finalize" Button.

Thanks all, I finally got it. Downloaded Deepburner free burner program (supposed to be even better than Nero and free) and it worked like a charm!!

BTW, anyone know the proper pixel dimentions, or picture ratio to fill the screen properly?

Thanks all, I finally got it. Downloaded Deepburner free burner program (supposed to be even better than Nero and free) and it worked like a charm!!

 

BTW, anyone know the proper pixel dimensions, or picture ratio to fill the screen properly?

Good job!!

ratio is 25:12

Suggested sizes are 500x240 and 1000x480 pixels

Pioneer says not to go larger than 2592x1944 pixels

i dont know why they say put 100mb of crap on the disc. I tried one time with just about 15 pics in a pictures folder, burned with nero using data settings and viola. not hard at all.