Editing Policy:Images

{{policy}}
{{nutshell|<br>1. Images must be relevant to an article; BTW is not an image repository.<br>2. Images must name their source; modified images must be marked as such.<br>3. There should be only one image in the Infobox; other images should appear in a gallery and have a descriptive caption.}}
__TOC__
==Image tenets==
===Images must be relevant to an article===
Please keep in mind that the BattleTechWiki is not meant to be an image repository. Contributors are discouraged from uploading image files purely for their artistic value.

Images must be relevant to an article for legal reasons: Uploading copyrighted images for no good reason puts BTW in legal jeopardy because this may not be covered by the ''[[w:fair use|fair use]]'' doctrine and would then technically constitute a copyright violation.<br />It is important to note that essentially every image can be assumed to be copyrighted, including fan art on the internet. Importing images from other internet sites is generally discouraged.

Unless it was specifically created for BTW to improve an article, the relevance of fan work is generally questionable.

===Images must name their source===
Images must have a source or attribution listed on their description page that can be verified. If an image is not taken directly from a [[canon]]ical source then it must be marked appropriately, as per [[:Policy:Canon]]. Additional information, such as artist, page number, and year of publication, can be helpful for other editors to find and/or verify this image in its proper context, though are not required for an image to be uploaded to Sarna.

'''Note''': the following template is considered standard for usage when uploading a new image and it is expected that the editor uploading a newer image of an existing one will update the template accordingly.

<pre>
{{Image summary
| summary = 
| artist = 
| source = 
| licensing = {{fair use}}
}}
</pre>

Please note that any edit or modification to an image technically constitutes fan work, requiring attribution to the last editor (usually in addition to the original artist) and eliminating the image's canon status. BTW prefers canonical images over fan art, even if the fan art is directly based on a canonical image and merely meant to improve image quality. (Cropping is considered to be an exception to this requirement, where an image is reduced to focus in on a specific perspective. Full attribution is still required, but the image should be noted as cropped.)

===Only one image in the Infobox===
Most [[:Category:Infobox templates|infobox templates]] allow for the inclusion of an image, to provide a visual impression of the article's subject at the top of an article. This should be limited to a single informative image.

If other images pertaining to the subject exist on BTW and you feel they would improve the article although they do not belong to a specific paragraph, consider adding a gallery. As a consequence of the requirement that images must be relevant, galleries should always include a descriptive caption for each image.

===Images of living people must have permission===
Pictures of individual people can only be put up on Sarna with the depicted person's explicit consent. Consent can be assumed if the picture was provided to the public either online or in a print product either by said person himself/herself, or with their consent. Such permission must be cited with the image template embedded with the uploaded image.

Consent ''cannot'' be assumed by their image appearing in an official release nor from their presence at a public event; the permission must be explicit for posting on the Sarna BattleTechWiki site.

===Copyright License===
{{Category|Copyright templates}}
The copyright license template identifies the type of copyright that the original work is under license. This is necessary to demonstrate that the image complies with United States fair use laws.

==Uploading guide==
# Only registered users are able to upload images.
# Images must be relevant to at least one article on a particular subject, and in some way contribute to understanding the article. Please note that image galleries as such do not qualify as an article.
# All images uploaded to BTW are required to have the source (with page number, if possible) included in the '''Summary''' field of the "Upload file" page. 
# Do not upload a picture that is already available on BTW; please check this beforehand. Keep in mind that different file formats are technically treated as different images even if the visual content is identical.
# When appropriate, images should be cropped to show only the relevant portions. There is no need to include a full ''[[Warhammer]]'' image if you are only discussing the shoulder-mounted [[SRM-6]].
# Just as you write high quality article text, strive to include high-quality images.
# Images must have a relevant and descriptive name.
##Image names like '''mech.jpg''', '''bookcover.jpg''', or '''1stsol.jpg''' are not useful. Image names like '''CloudCobra-StarCommanderInsignia.png''', '''TRO3075-Cover.jpg''', '''1stSwordOfLightInsignia-3025.jpg''' are useful to editors and preferred.
##If you upload an image that shares the same name as an image already in the wiki, the new image will replace the older one.

==Using images in articles==
# Images in an article (either thumbnails or galleries) should always have a descriptive caption, unless as part of an infobox.
# "Infobox pages" (used by combat units, combat commands, and weapons among others) should only have one image in the infobox. 
# If more than 4 thumbnail images (not counting one displayed in the infobox) are to be included, if the article is too small to allow an easy fit of additional images or if the images are over-sized, a gallery of images will be inserted following the primary text of the article (but before the References section).
# Avoid using repetitious images in the gallery unless comparing differences.
# Images on pages without an infobox should appear next to or near the topic they are discussing. For example, the [[Colonel]] page shows the rank insignia for each faction is shown near the header. Maps in the [[Fourth Succession War]] article would be included in the relevant section for each front or wave.
# If too many images are present in relation to the text (including those within a gallery), the least-relevant images may be 'stored' on the article's talk page in order to solicit feedback or until that time the article has been suitably lengthened to accomodate more images.
# Please do not use animated images.

===Thumbnails===
It is sometime appropriate to add an image to occur within the text of the article, generally when it is providing visual demonstration of an object discussed within the text. Articles should be limited to no more than four of these 'thumbnails', and less if the article is short. They can be located on either on the left or the right of the text and sometimes have to be placed within the 'code' of the text in order to be properly placed.

To create a Thumbnail, all you need to do is edit your page and include this code:
<pre>
[[Image:imagename|left|thumb|caption]]
</pre>

Guide to thumbnails:
#First field (on the left of the first pipe (|): replace "imagename" with the image's file name. Don't forget the extension (ex: .jpg, .gif, .png, etc.).
#Second field (after the first pipe): change to "right" if you want it to appear on the right side of the article. If an infobox is present on the page, the picture may have to be on the left side.
#Third field (after second pipe): this is required to create a thumbnail; leave it be.
#Fourth field (after the last pipe): This is the caption, and is required. Replace "caption" with your text. Wikilinks will work here, if deemed appropriate.

The ''[[Warhammer]]'' page uses a Thumbnail to the left of the ''WHM-8D'' entry, to provide a visual for that variant.

===Galleries===
For pages with an infobox and a lot of images please consider adding a "Gallery" section to the page. This will do a few things:
# Present the images in a nice, consistent way.
# Keep the images and text separate so Editors can find what they're looking for.
# Add a link to the Table of Contents so everyone can see your images easily.

Using a gallery is particularly useful on pages where the unit has many variants and images of them, like the ''Warhammer'' page.

To create a Gallery, all you need to do is edit your page and include this code:
<pre>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:IMAGEFILENAME1|Image1 caption text
File:IMAGEFILENAME2|Image2 caption text.
</gallery>
</pre>

The ''[[Warhammer]]'' page uses this method to bring the images together using this code:
<pre>
==Sample Gallery==
<gallery>
File:WarhammerInternalSchematics.jpg|The internal schematics of a ''Warhammer''. Note the pilot on the right.
File:Warhammer.jpg|''Warhammer'' from the cover of the original box set.
</gallery>
</pre>

This code displays like this in the article:
===Sample Gallery===
<gallery>
File:WarhammerInternalSchematics.jpg|The internal schematics of a ''Warhammer''. Note the pilot on the right.
File:Warhammer.jpg|''Warhammer'' from the cover of the original box set.
</gallery>

==Images as sources==
There exist occasions where a reference may point to an official proclamation (such as from the BattleTech Line Developer) that declares something to be canon, apocryphal, or inclusive of information that does not exist in available products. Sometimes these proclamations exist within various forums (such as the official CGL forums or public social media), which themselves can be only temporarily available. An editor that wishes to secure a long-lasting reference for future use may upload a screen capture of the proclamation to Sarna, presuming it is immediately embedded either within an article or a relevant talk page. In that case, the template below should have the following information provided:
<pre>
{{Image summary
| summary = a concise but informative description of the captured reference, to include the participants' names/screen names, and the statement, "Image retained for use as a source for citation."
| artist = the creator of the screen-capture (usually the editor conducting the image upload) 
| source = the source of the proclamation, discussion, chat, etc, with the date.
| licensing = {{public domain}}
}}

[[Category: Images for Citation]]
</pre>

Here is [[:File:Tamar Rising coordinates 2021-06-16 (CGL).png|an example of an image serving as a source]].