While Steam-bought games will auto-populate with artwork in your library, non-Steam games don’t get the same treatment unless users add custom images.
One of the cool things about the Steam PC game launcher is that you can add external game executables to your library and run them through it. Not only do you get the added convenience of the in-game overlay, with access to your friends and screenshots while playing, but it’s also a great way to keep your entire PC collection consolidated in one visible spot.
The only downside to this feature is that, when you add a non-Steam game to your Library, it shows up as an empty box with the name of the program in it. While not necessarily a problem, it does clash quite a bit with the neat and orderly aesthetics of a populated Steam library’s layout. Luckily, Valve thought of that and added the option for users to add custom library art, allowing you to keep your library in tip-top shape and allow gamers to get a little creative, should they wish.Library art types in Steam
Every game in your Steam library grid, including both games you bought on Steam and non-Steam games you added yourself, has four visual elements you can customize: the icon, cover, background, and the logo. The icon is the little picture that appears to the left of a game’s name in the library sidebar. Icons in Steam are usually pulled from whatever icon the actual game executable is using, but it can also be changed.
The cover is the vertically-aligned rectangular artwork that represents a game in the library’s grid view. It’s comparable to the covers you’d see on a physical game box, hence the name. The background is the large rectangular art that appears at the top of a game’s individual page. The logo is the art in front of the background showing the game’s name. If there’s no logo, the name is just written in plain text.Adding custom icons and covers
If you’re adding official game executables to Steam, such as DRM-free games or those purchased from a different storefront, you don’t usually need to worry about the icon.
