SmashWiki:Images

This page documents an official SmashWiki policy, a widely accepted standard that all users should follow. When editing this page, please ensure that your revision reflects consensus. If in doubt, consider discussing changes on the talk page.

Images are an integral part of every wiki, and SmashWiki is no exception from this rule. However, there must exist a set of guiding policies regarding the inclusion of pictures on the wiki. The goal of using pictures in an encyclopedic wiki is to clarify the topic at hand and improve the quality of understanding one can achieve from reading an article. This policy exists as a guide to what images are allowed on the site and where to use them properly. If you need help in the uploading and insertion of images into articles, please go to Help:Images.

Primary Rules

• Mainspace articles should have at least one image, with few exceptions. Stages, characters, moves, techniques... all of these need pictures to help show the article's content. Exceptions and variations are explained below.
• Images must be relavant. If a page about a Sonic combo needs an image, do not simply add a general picture of Sonic. Make the images as focused on the article's content as possible.
• Image size and location are important. Images should make an article more readable and understandable. The main idea of this policy is ignored if images are too distracting or force the text into odd shapes.
• There is such a thing as too many pictures. While having a few pictures is ideal, some articles may not need five images to make the content clear.
• Use a gallery. Usually, more than one or two pictures can overwhelm an article. For additional images, try using the <gallery> tags.
• Wherever applicable, include at least one image per game. Fireball should include images of the move from all three Smash games, Vegetable should have pictures from Melee and Brawl, etc.
• Usage of the "image-needed" template. Add {{image}} to mark an article as needing additional or higher-quality images, and it will show this:

Additionally, it will add the article to this category.

Exceptions to the Mainspace Rule

The following mainspace articles might not require images:

• Crews. Many a crew may not be well-enough known or sufficiently active to require an image. However, if possible, articles about major tournaments should have images, perhaps of a prize ceremony or other major event.
• Articles not explainable with a still image. Certain techniques or glitches may not be apparent by simply a still image. The recommendation is to use an animated .gif file. See Yoshi Bomb or Shield Jump for examples. Some articles, such as those depicting complex techniques or glitches with intricate set-up methods, would be better off by an external link to a video, or else usage of one that has been uploaded.

Personal Images

SmashWiki does not allow personal images, with only a few exceptions.

• Small images that can fit within a single line of text are allowed for the purposes of signatures. For further details see here.
• Pictures that are used for a page in the Smasher namespace. However, creation of a Smasher page only to allow an image is prohibited. See SmashWiki:Notability for the rules about Smasher page notability.
• Uploaded images already used in the wiki may be used as personal images.

Appropriate Image Naming

• An image's name should be relevant to the image itself. For example, an image used for a specific user, such as a signature image, should be named Image:user_Example_sig or something similar. Pictures of images to be used in articles should be named for the article it is being used in, such as Image:Kencombo_ex or Image:Summit_sliding.

Not acceptable

• Codes names. For example, Mball 70482397vs4. This tells searchers nothing about the image's feature.
• Inappropriate names. Things like "LOL Lucas" or "F*ck yeah! Beedril!" are inappropriately named. These will be deleted and renamed, or if the image itself is inappropriate, not uploaded again.

Other concepts

• Redundant or unused images will be deleted; do not upload a duplicate image.
• Fanart should not be uploaded.
• No image can "belong" to any user or group of users. Images "belong" to the wiki once uploaded; if not needed or against this policy, they will be deleted.