Pokémon Wiki:Image use policy

The following guidelines are strongly encouraged when uploading images for use in this encyclopedia.

• For brand new images uploaded to the Pokémon Wiki via the upload file page:
  • PNG is the preferred format as it retains the highest level of quality.
  • JPG is generally only desirable for photographic images and movie or TV screenshots.
  • GIF files are desirable in the case of animated images.
  • SVG is a great alternative to PNG for things like symbols and logos, where available.
• As a general rule, files should be uploaded in the format they were found in (with the exception of formats not supported by the wiki, which should be first converted to PNG). Otherwise, converting between formats either sacrifices image quality or bloats the file size without increasing quality. Screenshots found in the JPG format and uploaded as such are also easily identifiable, when aiming to source higher quality PNG replacements.
  • JPG artwork with solid color, patterned, or scenery backgrounds should also not be converted for the sake of replacing them with transparent backgrounds, as this can lead to leftover off-color edge pixels as a result of bad transparency, which are easily visible when viewed on a different color background. Such images should just be uploaded as they are without any modifications to the backgrounds whatsoever.
  • Re-uploading existing images solely to optimize file size or convert the image format (e.g. from GIF to PNG) is discouraged. These practices ultimately take up more storage space on the server while the result has no discernible visual difference.
• When taking screenshots, note that some emulators can alter the display beyond what the actual hardware supports. Screenshots with a resolution close to that of the actual hardware are preferable, but upscaled shots are tolerated if there's no high-quality alternative available. However, video filters (such as 2xSal) and forced aspect ratio changes are not acceptable in any form.
  • If a screenshot contains any black borders which would not normally be seen on a television display, those borders should be cropped-out.
  • If a screenshot needs to be cropped from the hardware output to remove black borders or have transparency added (if a game element overlaps the border), this should be noted in {{aboutfile}} parameter #4.
• When uploading a file, be sure to give it a straightforward and meaningful name, as this makes it easier to use, is better for searching purposes and looks more professional.
  • In general, names should include the title of the game/show/etc. (or an abbreviation), what kind of image it is (profile art, screenshot, boxart, etc.), and what the image is of (i.e. the name of the character pictured, the name of a level a screenshot is taken from, something notable about the image's contents, etc.). This is not a strict standard: the order can be changed and different images may require more or less information. That being said, aiming to have those three pieces of information is ideal, but as long as a file name is accurate enough to be useful for knowing what the image is and how it could be used on the wiki, it will be allowed. For example, a name like "Screenshot-82.png" is vague and nonspecific, while "FRLG Screenshot - Starter Pokemon Choices.png" is too cumbersome for a file name; instead, "FRLG Starter Pokemon screenshot.png" would both be an appropriately succinct yet informative name choice.
  • Using abbreviations is often preferable to the full names of games and other media, however abbreviations and any other shorthand used must be well-known and easy to use. For instance, "Pikachu FRLG artwork.png" is instantly understandable, whereas "FRLGPikachuART.jpg" is not nearly as clear.
  • If the file name is already accurately describing the image, it shouldn't be moved unless absolutely necessary, such as fixing the extension.
  • Avoid using punctuation (parenthesis, colons, dashes, etc.), superfluous words, conversational names, and any other padding that may make names longer and more complicated than they need to be. If the file's name uses any hyphens, dashes, exclamations, or apostrophes that are used in the subject's title, they can remain.
  • Don't use symbols (stars, hearts, etc.), foreign characters/alphabets (i.e. Japanese kana or Greek letters), accented letters (é, ü, etc.), or any other specialized characters. These are often difficult to type for many users and may even render as unicode rather than the proper symbols, making the images even harder to understand and use.
  • Unless subject material is in another language (i.e. the German Club Nintendo comics), please use English for the file names: this will ensure everyone will be able to understand.
  • Names should be serious and professional. As such, inappropriate or offensive material should be avoided, words should not be intentionally misspelled or garbled, and any other attempts at humor, mockery, or sarcasm would be best saved for userspace.
  • Filename extensions should be lowercase (e.g. "Example.png" and not "Example.PNG") and ".jpg" is preferred over ".jpeg".
• When in the process of uploading files, the syntax for {{aboutfile}} automatically appears in the summary box. This should be formatted correctly, and repeatedly not doing so is considered an offense. A {{reminder}} should be issued to users that repeatedly upload files without correctly formatting the template.

Personal images

Here at the Pokémon Wiki, we encourage users to personalize their user pages so that all of us in the community may get to know each other. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and so users are permitted to upload a prescribed number of images to the server for no use other than to decorate their user pages, subject to the following standards:

• Each user is allowed ten personal images. A personal image is defined as one not in specific use by the project. (Generally, this means that the image is only in the User namespace.)
• Additionally, a user may include their images in their signature. The images must not be taller than 35 pixels when scaled to fit the signature, and should be roughly square. See Help:Signature for more information.
• Images should not be profane or inappropriate. Kids as young as 7 are surfing this website, we don't need to see any nudity, blood, or violent weapons.
• All personal images must be used within one day (24 hours) of being uploaded. Otherwise, they will be subject to deletion as unused images.
• Users are allowed to upload audio and video files for their user pages, with each media file being equivalent to one personal image (i.e. no more than a total of five personal images and media files combined may be held by a user at a given time).

Images in use

To help us keep track of images in use, please use {{personal-image}} as shown below:

For normal personal images:
{{personal-image|Username}}

This image is being used as one of the personal images allowed to Bawitdaba.

For images intended for signatures:
{{personal-image|Username|sig=y}}

This image is a personal image in the signature of Bawitdaba.

For images being URL linked to various pages (user sub-pages, monobook, etc):
{{not-unused}}

This image is not unused. It is currently being used as a URL-linked image and appears as an unused image.

Unless said image(s) is being used for wiki matters (style backgrounds, project images, etc.), please mark them as personal images.

Abandoned images

A user may abandon a personal image. Once this happens, the user who uploaded it may mark it for deletion, with the reason being "Abandoned PI" or "Abandoned personal image".

Before labeling an image as abandoned on behalf of another user, please ensure that they do not intend to continue using it in the near future (especially if the user is still under the numerical limit). Abandoned images should not be linked to from any page. Currently we are not mass-deleting abandoned images, but please note that they may be deleted at any time, and we will honor requests for deletion by the user who uploaded the file. (Note: We will also delete unused personal images that are the wrong format or that are of a poor quality, the same as any normal image.) Abandoned images may be claimed by another user, at which time the new user takes responsibility for the image.

Images in use by more than one person

If more than one user is using the same image, then it should only be attributed to one of them:

• Attribute it to the person who uploaded it if they are using it.
• Otherwise attribute it to the person who has been using it the longest.
• For abandoned images, link to the user who used it most recently.