Star Wars Fanon:Image policy/Tutorial

To make sure you have a strong understanding of the Star Wars Fanon image policy, this tutorial has been written to detail the specifics of the policy. As it is an extension of that policy, most of this tutorial is considered policy as well. The tutorial is written in the form of frequently asked questions; questions that have not been answered can be asked on this tutorial’s talk page, or in the Senate Hall.

Why do I have to source images?

From a technical and legal standpoint, while sourcing an image does not guarantee that you are automatically entitled to use it, it does help establish fair use for the image. More relevant to a creative wiki like Star Wars Fanon, however, it is important that all artists and/or other types of image creators be given proper credit for their work. Because this is a policy that covers all images, that also includes images that you created yourself.

What is a user-made image?

The following things are considered "user-made":

• Drawn and scanned original artwork
• Digitally-created original artwork
• Self-made models rendered and/or skinned in a 3D graphics program
• Original mixed-media artwork

The following things are not considered "user-made":

• Screenshots of video games (licensed to the game publisher)
• Screenshots of modified video game graphics, including reskins and imported 3D models
• Screenshots of movies or television episodes (licensed to publisher)
• Photographs manipulated with Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro (licensed to original artist)
• Other pre-existing visual media edited by a user (licensed to original artist)

Basically, you shouldn't try to claim your recolored Boba Fett or clone trooper image as your own work. Original artwork means that you started completely from scratch, with either a blank white screen in Photoshop, a crisp sheet of paper, or a blank render space and crafted your own piece. Manipulations of existing works are encouraged if you need to get "that certain look," however you must keep in mind that even if you edit it so that it is almost unrecognizable, there are still elements within that do not belong to you. This includes image mashups, collage scenes, and edited screenshots.

Why would I want to use an image?

Images are a major part of a wiki's content. Although the bulk of the information on any given page is textual content, images enhance what is being said, and attractive images generally enhance the content that they go along with. Adding relevant images to your articles is highly recommended, so long as they are not overused.

How do I upload an image?

There are a number of methods you can use to upload images to Star Wars Fanon. Some are a bit more complex than others, but each one will ultimately allow you to populate your articles with images.

Special:Upload

The most common method used on Star Wars Fanon is Special:Upload. The page can be used as follows:

1. Click Upload a new photo on your floating toolbar.
   • For Monobook users, this will appear as Upload photo in the Toolbox under the search field of the sidebar.
2. Click “Browse” to find the image on your computer.
3. You can rename the image in “Destination filename” if you would like.
4. Copy the {{Information}} template from the light blue box at the top of the page and paste it into the “Summary” field, where you can fill it out using the guidelines in this section.
5. Click “Upload file.”

Once you do that, you can add the image to your article.

Add images tool

Another method is uploading an image directly via the edit box in an article.

1. Click “Edit this page” on the article you are adding the image to.
2. Click on the image upload button on the toolbar. It appears as a picture with a brown frame.
3. When the pop-up box appears, you can upload an image from your computer. Additionally, you can find images already on the wiki to add to the article, as well as images on Flickr.
4. On the next screen, add the details of the image, such as a new name (if needed) and the licensing template. Note that you will need to return to the image to add the {{Information}} template.
5. Beneath the previous section is a section that allows you to customize the image’s size, choose a layout, and provide a caption. This caption should theoretically be what you will add to the “description” section of the {{Information}} template.
6. Click “Insert file” for the image to appear on the edit page. Images can still be modified in edit mode by hovering over the image and clicking “Modify,” and a pop-up window will appear.
7. Save your edit.
8. Once the image is uploaded, return to the image’s technical page (this can be found by clicking the image and then clicking the magnifying glass in the lower right-hand corner) to add the {{Information}} template. Click “Edit this page” at the top and you can add the {{Information}} template (which you can copy from this page).

Image placeholder

Unless you have chosen not to see these in your preferences, many articles are created with image placeholders. Placeholders can also be added to articles by typing [[File:Placeholder]] in place of an image. If this is used, click “Add a photo” and follow the steps beginning at #3 from the previous “Add images tool” section.

How do I fill out the information template?

The {{Information}} template is the template that the image policy requires you to use when sourcing and licensing images. It contains a number of fields for information, the most important of which are the source and licensing fields. A blank version of the template appears like so:

{{Information
|attention=
|description=
|source=
|author=
|filespecs=
|licensing=
|other versions=
}}

The following sections of the tutorial detail what each part of the template means, as well as which templates are available for licensing the images.

Definitions

We will now explore the Information template, line by line. I will attempt to keep this brief.

• {{Information
• |attention= — For the most part, this section is ignored. Some images, particularly those images that you had created yourself and are offering up for free use, may include a statement saying so, such as "This image is free for anyone to use." Otherwise, skip this field.
• |description= — What does this image depict? If the image depicts a Jedi Knight, then describe the image as such.
• |source= — Where did this come from? This field is IMPORTANT!!! (Three exclamation points mean business!) If this came from an official source, such as The Essential Atlas, then you need to list the source of this image. This is a required field. If you took a screen shot from Star Wars Galaxies, then you need to list that as the source. If you made the image yourself, then say "User-made image." Please see above for a comprehensive definition on user-made images.
• |author= — Who created this image? For reference book images, you would need to find the original artist and put their name here. For fan-art that you did not create, you need to find the original artist. If you created the image, you would list your name. If the image is a screenshot, ignore this field.
• |filespecs= — If you made an edit(s) to an image, list those, such as cropping, color changes, copy/pasting, etc.
• |licensing= — Licensing templates go here! This is important, so there will be exclamation points used! You need to license your image! For the most part, you can use {{Fair use}}. If you are using a screenshot, use {{screenshot}}. If it is a comic panel, use {{comicpanel}}. If you created the image yourself, you can use {{PD-self}}, {{CC-BY-SA}}, or even {{Usercopyright}}. Whatever you use, you need to license your images!!!
• |other versions= — This is if you have duplicate images. Most of the time, this field will be ignored.

}}

And there you have it! The Information template explained field by field. Hopefully all your questions have been answered up to this point, but as always, if you require further assistance, feel free to ask one of our helpful administrators.

Copyright templates

There are a number of image copyright templates used on Star Wars Fanon, several of which were already mentioned above. For further clarification, here they are again. The full set of copyright templates can be found in here. This section will only detail the templates you will use most often.

{{Fair use}}

That template will produce:

This work is copyrighted. The individual who uploaded this work and first used it in an article and subsequent persons who place it into articles assert that this qualifies as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.

What this template means is that the image is copyrighted and that its usage in your article classifies as fair use under the aforementioned United States copyright law. This is the most commonly used template. If you're unsure of an image's license, use this template.

{{Comicpanel}}

That template will produce:

What this template means is that the image is a single comic panel or part of a comic panel from a single issue of a comic book. The image copyright is owned by either the publisher or the writer and artists that produced the image. By law, you are permitted to display a single comic panel. However, displaying an entire comic page (unless you wrote and drew it yourself) is not permitted. Keep comic scans limited to one or two panels.

{{Promotional}}

That template will produce:

This template is used for promotional images, such as those from OfficialPix. Much like the Fair Use template, this template asserts that your usage of a promotional image is permitted under the United States copyright law.

{{Screenshot}}

That template will produce:

This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast or film. It is believed that screenshots may be exhibited on Star Wars Fanon under the fair use provision of United States copyright law.

This template is used for screenshots only. Screenshots can be of video games, cartoons, television shows, or films. Even if you took the screenshot yourself, you need to use this template.

Templates for user-made images

The following templates are to be used for user-made images only.

{{cc-by-sa}}

That template will produce:

This template is for images that are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution. This template is for images that you do not want to copyright and are willing to allow others to use that image without your permission.

{{Pd-self}}

That template will produce:

This template is used if you wish to release the image into the public domain. By doing so, you are granting other users permission to use that image without your permission.

{{Usercopyright}}

That template will produce:

[[Category:Images by {{{1}}}]]

To add your name, do the following: {{usercopyright|Your username}}

This template asserts that the image you made is owned by you, and therefore no one can use the image without your permission. If you draw your own images and wish to retain ownership of those images, it is recommended that you use this template.

Are there any other image rules?

There are a few more things to keep in mind when uploading images. These are mostly courtesy calls, or else related to our content policy. Basically, it goes like this:

• Do not use works in your articles that were uploaded by other Fanoneers without their permission, unless they have opted to use the Public Domain license for their original work
• Do not upload images of an overtly sexual nature, including images of pornography
• Do not upload images which depict gratuitous violence; battle scenes are acceptable, while blatant gore is not
• Do not upload images designed to shock or otherwise upset (no images of pig entrails, burned corpses, etc.)

This is mostly common-sense anyway. We're a PG-13 site, which means that while there's inevitably going to be some killing, loving and other "mature" (massive finger quotes here) content, one would be wise not to get carried away. One rule of thumb to keep in mind is this: if similar material has appeared in a canonical source (that means, a source that would be listed on Wookieepedia), then it's probably okay. Use a bit of discretion when you choose an image to upload, and you won't have to worry about a thing.

How do I use an image in an article?

Wookieepedia:Guide to image use

What does the policy's violations section mean?

Like any other policy, failing to follow the image policy has consequences; specific consequences are laid out in the blocking policy. Administrators will most certainly assume good faith when your first uploaded image may not be sourced or licensed, or the sourcing and licensing has mistakes, but that is why there are warnings. When that warning is given, it becomes up to you to understand what you did wrong and to learn how to do it right. You are not alone, though. There is a whole community of your fellow Fanoneers willing to help you! Feel free to ask the administrator who warned you for help in understanding the image policy; you can also ask other users or post a topic asking for help in the Senate Hall.