PWpedia:Wiki Style Guide/Image Policy

Images can really round out an article and help to explain things easier when words might not be enough. However, it is important to keep in mind the size, placement, and frequency of images. Images are intended to be an aide to existing information rather than replace it, and are supposed to flow with the text so as to not distract people from the content that has been written. This article serves as a set of guidelines on how to properly use images within the wiki.

For help on uploading images, see Basic images and Advanced images.

Image Content

 * Images should be related to Perfect World International or they will be deleted. Concept art from other versions of Perfect World of existing (not upcoming) features on the International version of the game is acceptable as this is sometimes used by Perfect World International themselves however it should not be overused. Avoid using in-game screenshots from other versions of Perfect World as often the primary language in other versions are different to ours.
 * Do not use images from private servers; most private servers have altered content (such as different NPCs, customization, mounts, etc) and may lead to confusion for those who play on the official servers.
 * Images should comply with Perfect World's rules of the ToS, forums, etc. In short, this means don't use inappropriate images or anything that might suggest rule-breaking, or your image will be deleted and a possible ban on your wiki account.
 * Avoid using images of tables in articles, such as the Nuema Listings window that can be found in game. This kind of information can be easily inserted into actual tables instead. It also helps to keep the style of tables consistent.
 * Avoid using images for the purpose of "layout" like you would use on a forum guide, such as a banner or other graphics. It may appear to make the page look pretty but makes the page inconsistent with other articles, and does not fit the overall style of a wiki.

If an image you have uploaded is deleted, check first to see why it has been deleted; do not continue to re-upload the image as there's usually a reason for it being deleted. You can usually find a summary under the file page (File: ) for why it was deleted, or an admin may leave a message on your profile or talk page explaining why it was removed. If you cannot find a summary or want to appeal the deletion, message one of the Community Administrators or post a topic on the Admin noticeboard.

User Images
Do not upload images for the purpose of setting a display picture or avatar for your wiki account or they will be deleted. Gamepedia uses Gravatar to display an avatar based on your email address. Visit gravatar.com to change your avatar.

Currently the wiki also does not allow for custom images to be uploaded for use on user pages.

Image Quality
Try to make sure the quality of your image is decent - for example it should not be blurry or a photo of a computer screen. If it is, it will be replaced. A general guideline of how to keep image quality high in your images:
 * Save your image as a  if possible. If not, then save it as a   instead, though try to avoid losing too much quality by doing this. Free image editors such as GIMP can control this.
 * Try to avoid marking the image with extra text or circles or arrows. Your image will be scaled down on the page as a thumbnail, so text and other markings won't show clearly to readers. If the subject of an image is not clear to readers, improve the image by cropping out unnecessary things or use article text to your advantage to complement the image. For example if you are describing which button the player should click, describe it in text (e.g. "The button at the bottom-right of the window").

Using Screenshots
Using screenshots within the game itself is acceptable, however make sure to follow these guidelines if you plan to do so:
 * Remove the UI from your screenshot (unless part of the UI is the main feature of the image). This can be done either by pressing Alt + H, or pressing F9 and ticking the "Hide UI" box before clicking the "Screenshot" button.
 * Try to use high-quality graphics settings in your screenshots. Things like maximum effects, textures, distance, water, flora, etc. Try to have sharpen enabled as well; soften is optional but recommended.
 * Remove names settings (your name, other's names, monster names and NPC names). Usually if you're including an image of an NPC or a monster, you would include their name in the caption. Images should not be used to put characters in the spotlight or to "be famous", so all names must be removed (including yours) when taking a screenshot where possible.
 * It is understood that sometimes removing a name is not possible (such as in the Book Demon window). This is the only exception that should be made. Please do not blur or block out names if they cannot be removed.
 * Cropping images is acceptable in many situations, such as an image of a boss or NPC, as it can help show the subject to the reader a lot better and reduces on file size. Do not alter your screenshot in other ways (e.g. using filters, decorational graphics, etc).
 * If yours or other player's genies are blocking the view of your screenshot, you can disable them. You can do this by going into your optimization settings, either found to the top-left corner of your client (the wrench icon), or by navigating to it via the System Settings with the U key, going to the "Game" tab, and clicking the "Features" button. The setting to disable genies is in the "Settings" tab of the instant optimization window.

Images of Interfaces
Try to use images of the User Interface (UI) sparingly. In some cases it may be necessary, such as on User Interface pages. For other pages, describing how to open the window is sufficient enough (e.g. Open the Quest Log using the Q key). There is a Key Press template which can format keystrokes to make it easier for players to read.

When using UI images for a subject, avoid using every single interface image available for that subject. For example a page for the Character Info window should only include an image of the Character Info window; it should not also include the windows for Ancient Tome, Titles, Orders, or the PWI Chronicles as these are different subjects. Some interfaces may have multiple views such as the Star Chart interface - images on interfaces such as these should be used sparingly as it is easy to clutter up the article and are not necessary.

Also, be prepared to explain components inside of an interface that you are showing; some functions in interfaces may not be immediately apparent to players. The Star Chart interface is a good example of this, as many players may not understand what the difference between Stargazing and Starshifting is, for example. Some interfaces may not be well-formatted in-game, such as the repair interface in an NPC's sale window which has multiple "Repair" buttons. In this case it is essential to explain the difference between the two "Repair" buttons.

Image Names
When uploading an image, make sure to use an image name that is clear and gives an idea of what it actually is. So for example, "Wraithgate Map" is a more meaningful name for an image than "asdfsdfadgdg". Using a clear name makes it easier to find for the purpose of adding the image to a page. Images that do not have suitable names will be renamed or removed if the subject is not known.
 * Some images may not be easy to name such as concept art. In cases like these, use a generic name for the image. For example concept art for the Genesis expansion could be named "Genesis Concept Art".
 * If the name of the image you are uploading can't possibly be clear enough to explain what it is/its purpose on the wiki, you can also write a description for the image on its file page. A good example of this is the image File:TT Material Icon 1.png - it does not exactly say what material it is from the name, but the description on the file page clearly states what materials the image is for.

Inserting Images
When inserting images into an article, use. Do not use, as   is deprecated and may be phased out in the future.

When placing images, use the following syntax:

This will place a scaled down image onto the right-hand side of the page, and text will wrap around it. Adding a caption is optional but highly recommended so that readers know what they are looking at. Images should not be placed in the middle of a page as it abruptly cuts text off and generally does not look good on an article.

Image Placement
When inserting images, try to line them up with the text that it goes with. Usually this would be at the beginning of a section, so the file code would go before the content, just like in the section above. Remember to use the  parameter when inserting an image.
 * Do not center images. This usually breaks up the text which makes it harder to read.
 * Do not make your images large on the page unless it is absolutely necessary, though this is rarely the case. Readers are able to click on smaller or thumbnail-sized versions of images to view a larger version of it.
 * If a thumbnail appears large on the page you can resize it to make it smaller by placing  for horizontal and   for vertical in the file code e.g..
 * Avoid referring to the placement of an image in written content, such as "The image below..." as it may not always show that way for readers. Readers that are not logged in or are using the mobile site may see the article differently.

Image Frequency
Images should be limited to roughly 1 per section, unless each section is quite short. Placing several images on your article can severely clutter a page and may unintentionally push other images down the page, meaning that the placement of those images are no longer accurate. Remember, images are aides to information and should not be used for "layout" purposes.
 * If images are absolutely necessary but are not lining up properly with the content due to the size or frequency of some images, you may place the thumb to the left of the page by using.
 * Take care to avoid placing an image to the left and right of the page in the same paragraph. This can unintentionally create a "sandwich" of text which can look rather strange on articles.
 * In some cases an image may push others down but may not be appropriate to resize or remove. In this case you can use  at the end of a section to avoid text from wrapping around below the thumbnail. Avoid using this as a solution for overcluttering, or if it creates a large gap between sections.

If you want to add lots of images about a subject, such as images from the Perfect Chronicles in game, then you can use the  feature instead.

Gallery
If you have a lot of images you would like to use for a particular page, like maybe artwork on wizards, then it is highly recommended to use the Gallery feature as this makes it possible for you to show dozens of images rather than having to select a few. To do this, create a  section towards the bottom of your article and include this code:

Captions are optional in galleries, but recommended.

Displaying Maps
If you are including an image of a map, create a section named  and use the   feature. Usually maps are included towards the top of the page, and including them in a thumbnail may place them under an infobox and therefore not line up very well with the rest of the article. Maps also tend to be very big and by using the gallery feature prevents the map from taking up a huge amount of space on the article. It also allows you to display multiple maps on an article if applicable (such as Nation Wars maps.)