User blog:Inept Wiki User/Reminders: Images and References (11/07/2020)

As you may well know, we've got a lot of stuff which we are working on at the moment, and our progress has been delayed due to both the overwhelming volume and external circumstances.

One of the tasks on our list is an overhaul of the guidelines and how-to guides, including the ones for Images and References, as well as potential protocol and format updates. It'll probably be a while before the revisions are complete, but given problematic edits observed on the wiki last month, I thought it would be an idea to remind people of key parts of the current general procedures for images and references on the Toaru wiki - a stopgap measure until the guide overhauls are complete.

The actions which have prompted these reminders, be it through lack of knowledge/clarity, through plain laziness and carelessness, or more, have to be amended, are increasing the overall workload and delaying progress, and are detrimental to the wiki as a whole.

Images
Many of the guidelines and procedures are detailed in the Uploading Guide (written in late 2018, around the start of Index III).

Uploading
Pre-Uploading:
 * First of all, before uploading, check through the existing images on the wiki to make sure that the image you are about to upload is not already on the wiki.
 * If there is already a file with the image you wanted to upload to the wiki, compare the version you wished to upload and the version which is already on the wiki, taking into account the purpose of the images. Are the images and their purposes distinct enough for the new images to be uploaded separately? If they are near identical in terms of picture and purpose, then uploading it as a new version of the existing file might be more appropriate.


 * If you are uploading a new version for an existing image, before proceeding, make sure that the version which you are uploading is better than the version which it is replacing. Also, if the new version of the image comes from a different source than the previous version, please update the Source information in the Summary.
 * Images should not be uploaded haphazardly, needlessly or without restraint. Before uploading, consider the content of the image, the other images already on the wiki, as well as the purpose and context concerning the intended use, and use these factors to assess whether the image would be appropriate for the situation and if another image already on the wiki would fulfill the same purpose to a better extent.

Uploading:
 * When uploading an image, try to make it appropriately sized for its purpose (not too small, not excessively large).

Description: Source: Purpose:
 * If uploading a new image, make sure that it is named properly, according to the subject matter and existing patterns present on the wiki (though bear in mind, that some of the older patterns are set to undergo revision) and of appropriate length.
 * DO NOT use a random string of numbers/letters, just a number, default camera-assigned name, or a non-descriptive generic name (e.g. Screenshot 1 etc).
 * When uploading, make sure to include information regarding the image being uploaded (when uploading via Special:Upload, this is done by typing it into the 'Summary' input box, and after uploading, it can also be done through manual editing, adding the information at the top under section header ==Summary== ). Also, make sure to specify the Licensing which the image falls under (using the drop-down menu before the summary input box).
 * Many people have neglected to include this information in the past and this remiss conduct has caused major problems further down the line for the primary contributors. The sheer volume of images lacking information has necessitated a huge and tedious operation in order to properly organize and document the images.
 * For the Summary, the Source of the image must be included, along with a Description of the image. The Purpose of the image should also be included. Aside from these three at the minimum, information about the portion of the original image used, whether the image is replaceable and under what conditions, uploader's notes and any other applicable information.
 * If there are considerable problems in obtaining and providing the information (NOT because of laziness), at the very least, use the tag where the information would have gone - this template is being used in the image processing operation to track images which are currently in need of information and where the information is needed.
 * The Summary information should follow this format (which information for previous images are being processed into in the sorting operation):

Post-Uploading:
 * After uploading, you must categorize the image (using either the editor or the option on the category bar at the bottom of the page), putting it into the appropriate categories according to its subject matter.

Usage
Currently compiling


 * The galleries in the section Character Art Design and variants such as Concept Art Design are meant for images illustrating character/concept designs for their subject, and not just any old image.

Other
If you have any questions regarding these reminders and the general procedures they are describing, please ask them in the comments below.