Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images

Example caption

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To produce this box, use:
[[File:Example.png|thumb |alt=Example alt text |Example caption]]

Wikipedia contains millions of illustrative images and other electronic media. This page gives a very brief overview of how images are used in Wikipedia; for more information, see Image use policy, and see Help:Files on how to upload and include an image.

Making images available

Images uploaded to Wikipedia are automatically placed into the file namespace, formerly known as the image namespace. This means that names of image pages start with the prefix "File:".

Inline linking

"WP:HOTLINK" redirects here. For guidelines on hotlinking images on Wikimedia servers, see commons:Commons:Reusing content outside Wikimedia#Hotlinking.

Inline linking of images on external sites for display on Wikipedia is disabled for several reasons:

1. inline linking to images on other sites is often considered "leeching"; content sites where the image is stored and from which it is retrieved may not like the new placement
2. allowing inline image linking makes it easier for vandals to post images from shock sites
3. allowing inline image linking makes it easier to introduce copyrighted images without obtaining an acceptable free license
4. inline linking to an image stored on another site increases the bandwidth use of that site, even though the site is not being viewed as intended

Instead, to place an image on Wikipedia, you will need to upload it.

Obtaining images

All images on Wikipedia must comply with the image use policy. This means that they must be free for commercial use and alteration. However, some fair use of non-free content is allowed in limited circumstances.

Making images yourself

You may take a photograph with your digital camera, scanner, or integrated mobile phone, draw an image or graph digitally, perhaps with a graphics tablet, or scan drawings and photos taken with a camera and then upload the image.

Try to avoid including text in images or diagrams; you can use Template:Annotated image to add text (and links) that users can interact with.

Finding images on the Internet

An extensive list of free image resources by topic can be found at: Public domain image resources. In addition to Wikimedia Commons, the Wikimedia Toolserver has a Free Image Search Tool (FIST), which automatically culls free images from the Wikimedia sister projects, Flickr and a few other sites. Several other useful, general purpose image search engines include: Google Image Search, Picsearch and Pixsta. Creative Commons licensed images with Attribution and Attribution-ShareAlike as their license may be used on Wikipedia. Images with any license restricting commercial use or the creation of derivative works may not be used on Wikipedia.

If you find an image on the Internet that is not available freely, you can email the copyright owner and ask for their permission to release it under a suitable license, adapting the boilerplate request for permission. If you cannot find a suitable image, you may also list your request at Wikipedia:Requested pictures, so that another contributor may find or create a suitable image.

Requesting images from others

See

• Wikipedia:Requesting copyright permission
• Wikipedia:Donating copyrighted materials
• Wikipedia:Declaration of consent for all enquiries
• Wikipedia:Requested pictures (for requesting Wikipedians to take photos etc.)

Editing images

The goal of editing an image is to improve its utility or quality. This may be done through cropping the image to focus on the relevant information, cleaning up artifacts from scanning printed images, correcting the color balance, removing the red-eye effect, or making other adjustments.

Readers won't understand this image if you don't tell them that you've zoomed in and cropped the image to show the details.

Some types of edits should be described in the image's caption. Generally, these are changes that the readers need to be informed of to understand what they are looking at. For example, if you crop an image to show an enlarged view of a small area, then you should explain that edit in the image's caption.

Other types of edits should not be described. Generally, these are changes that improve the presentation without materially altering the content. For example, if you slightly rotate a snapshot because the photographer held the camera at a crooked angle, or if you correct the contrast in a poor-quality scan, or if you blur the background to make the subject more prominent, then your changes should not be described in the Wikipedia article's caption. (It is still appropriate to identify your changes in the image's own description page.)

Some types of edits should not be made. Generally, these are changes that materially mislead the viewer about the subject of the image. For example, photographs of artwork and images containing text should not be reversed, even though it is normally acceptable to reverse or rotate an image of objects whose orientation is unimportant or arbitrary, like soap bubbles or bacteria. If the colors are integral to the image, such as in images of many traffic signs and animals, then you should not change the colors. It is usually appropriate to de-speckle or remove scratches from images, but such an action might be inappropriate for certain historical photographs. Editors must use their best judgment to determine when their changes improve the utility or quality of the image, and when their changes deceive the readers about significant facts.

Uploading images

Logged in users with autoconfirmed accounts (meaning at least four days old and at least ten edits) can upload media to Wikipedia. It is recommended that only free licensed media, not fair use media, be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. Media on Wikimedia Commons can be linked to in the same way as media of the same name on Wikipedia. To upload media to the English Wikipedia, go to special:upload and for Wikimedia Commons, go to commons:special:upload. For preferred file formats see Wikipedia:Preparing images for upload.

Each image has a corresponding description page. On that page, one should document the source, author and copyright status of the image, using one of the pre-defined image copyright tags. It is important to add both descriptive (who, what, when, where, why) and technical (equipment, software, etc.) information at the time of creating the page, which will be useful and highly informative to later editors and readers. Also, WikiProject Sexology and sexuality has a very important guideline on WIP images, that should be reviewed before uploading.

Consideration of image download size

In terms of physical memory on a computer, typical images on Wikipedia can range in size from a few kilobytes to several megabytes. Thus, images can easily form the primary bandwidth component of an article download. This can be a problem for readers on a low bandwidth connection. Slow downloads can lead to user frustration, so the article's memory footprint should be minimised.

Wikipedia aids the download performance by converting full images into thumbnails before they are transmitted. However, not all image formats provide a significant size reduction through this technique. In most browsers you can review the memory footprint of downloaded images by moving the cursor over the image, right-clicking, then selecting Properties. The resulting window will show the resulting file size in Kb or Mb. For best results, you may want to focus on reducing the size of the largest image files on a page, particularly when they are disproportionately large compared to other images.

There are several image file formats available, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. One method of reducing the image downloaded time is to change the chosen format.

• GIF images with a frame size larger than 12.5 million pixels (measured as pixel height × pixel width × number of frames in the animation) cannot currently be displayed in thumbnail form in Wikipedia articles. A thumbnail of a GIF image can be considerably larger in filesize than the original image. For the best results, try to upload GIF images in the framesize that you intend to use in the article.
• Animated GIF images have a few additional restrictions. Images larger than 12.5 million pixels (measured as pixel height × pixel width × number of frames in the animation) currently will only show the first frame of the animation in a thumbnail. When not using a GIF animation at its original frame size, consider creating an Ogg Theora movie of the animation.
• The PNG format is useful for storing graphics that contain text, line art, or other images with sharp transitions. It can achieve the same graphical results as a GIF file, and in many cases do so with a higher rate of file compression. For this reason, PNG format files are usually preferred to the GIF format. (However, for certain types of images, PNG thumbnailing is not as efficient as GIF thumbnailing, when Wikimedia GIF thumbnailing is enabled.)
• A JPEG or other compressed image format can be much smaller than a comparable GIF or PNG format file. When there is no apparent difference in quality, such as with a photograph that has no sharp graphical transitions, a compressed image format such as JPEG may be preferable for reasons of download performance. Wikipedia is often able to achieve much better compression of JPEG photograph thumbnails than comparable PNG images, and with little perceptible loss of quality.
• Where an image consists solely of line art, charts text and simple graphics, an SVG file can be significantly smaller than other graphics formats. This is because the data is encoded as a series of drawing commands, rather than as raster graphics. There are open source applications available for rendering graphics in SVG format. However, SVG thumbnails are rendered as PNGs.
• Rather than including an image gallery on an article, which could add significantly to the download size, consider creating a gallery/category on the Wikipedia Commons instead.

Image usage

See also: Picture tutorial

Image syntax

To incorporate an image into an article (either a local image or any image that is at the Wikimedia Commons), you will need to use image syntax. As an example in a simple form, in order to reproduce the image at the top of this page, insert the following text into an article:

[[File:Example.png|thumb|alt=Example alt text|Example caption]]

• The first parameter is the full name of the image, (i.e., File:Example.png). You must reproduce the exact name of the image file including its capitalization, spacing and not omit its file extension such as .jpg.
• The second "thumb" parameter forces the creation of a thumbnail, and must be in lower case.
• The third parameter, "alt=Example alt text", can be modified to specify suitable alt text. Alt text is meant for readers who cannot see the image. It summarizes the image's appearance, not its meaning, and is therefore unlike the caption. Alt text also helps search engines find Wikipedia articles.
• The last parameter, "Example caption", can be replaced with any suitable caption.

Additional points:

• The full set of options is more complex; however, the vast majority of images should be able to be displayed by using the above format.
• If the image does not show up and you are sure the syntax is correct, it may have been blacklisted. See MediaWiki:Bad image list for a list of such images.
• The "File:" prefix may be used interchangeably with "Image:":

[[Image:Example.png|thumb|alt=Example alt text|Example caption]]

Forced image size

See also: Image use policy on displayed image size

As a general rule, images should not be set to a larger fixed size than the 220px default (users can adjust this in their preferences). If an exception to the general rule is warranted, forcing an image size to be either larger or smaller than the 220px default is done by placing a parameter in the image coding in the form |XXXpx, where XXX is replaced by a number of pixels, for example:

[[File:Example.png|thumb|120px|alt=Example alt text|Example caption]]

• Lead images should usually be no wider than "300px" ("upright=1.35").
• Sometimes a picture may benefit from a size other than the default. Where size forcing is appropriate, larger images should generally be a maximum of 500 pixels tall and 400 pixels wide, so that they can comfortably be displayed on the smallest displays in common use.
• "upright=1.2" (or "|frameless|upright=1.2" for plain pictures) resizes an image to approximately the given multiple of a user's preferred width. An image should generally be no more than 500 pixels tall and 400 pixels ("upright=1.8") wide; an image can be wider if it uses the "center" or "none" options to stand alone. The {{Wide image}} and {{Tall image}} templates display images that would otherwise be unreasonably wide or tall.
• Images in which detail is relatively unimportant (for example, a national flag) can be smaller than usual.
• Images containing important detail (for example, a map, diagram, or chart) may need larger sizes than usual to make them readable.
• Images in which a small region is relevant, but cropping to that region would reduce the coherence of the image, may need to be larger than normal.
• Large, panoramic images, which may require larger sizes to make them viewable or readable.

Forced left justification

In most cases, images should be right justified on pages, which is the default placement. If an exception to the general rule is warranted, forcing an image to justify on the left side of a page is done by placing a parameter in the image coding in the form |left, for example:

[[File:Example.png|thumb|left|alt=Example alt text|Example caption]]

Location

Multiple images in the same article can be staggered right-and-left (for example, Timpani). However, avoid sandwiching text between two images that face each other, or between an image and an infobox.

Do not place images on the left at the start of any section or subsection. Images on the left must be placed somewhere after the first paragraph.

It is often preferable to place images of faces so that the face or eyes look toward the text. However, images of people need not be reversed simply to make the person's face point the text, and should not be done if the reversal would materially mislead the viewer (e.g., by making the subject of the article or section appear to have a birthmark on the left side of his face, when the birthmark is actually on the right side).

Avoid referring to images as being on the left or right. Image placement is different for viewers of the mobile version of Wikipedia, and is meaningless to people having pages read to them by assistive software. Instead, use captions to identify images.

Pertinence and encyclopedic nature

This is not the best photograph to show what a helicopter or what the Sydney Opera House looks like.

Images must be relevant to the article that they appear in and be significantly and directly related to the article's topic. Because the Wikipedia project is in a position to offer multimedia learning to its audience, images are an important part of any article's presentation. Effort should therefore be made to improve quality and choice of images or captions, rather than deleting them—especially on pages which lack visuals.

Images are primarily meant to inform readers by providing visual information. Consequently, images should look like what they are meant to illustrate, even if they are not provably authentic images. For example, a photograph of a trompe-l'œil sculpture of a cupcake may be an acceptable image for Cupcake, but a real cupcake that has been decorated to look like something else entirely is less appropriate. Similarly, an image of an unidentified cell under a light microscope might be useful on multiple articles, so long as there are no visible differences between the cell in the image and the typical appearance of the cell being illustrated.

Articles that use more than one image should present a variety of material near relevant text. Three uniformed portraits would be redundant for a biography of a famous general – a map of a battle and a picture of its aftermath would provide more information to readers. You should always be watchful not to overwhelm an article with images by adding more just because you can. Unless clearly better or more appropriate images are available, the existing images in the article should be left in place.

Images should be large enough to reveal relevant details without overwhelming the surrounding article text. Similar types of images within an article often look appealing if they appear at the same pixel size. Poor quality images (too dark, blurry, etc.) or where the subject in the image is too small, hidden in clutter, ambiguous or otherwise not obvious, should not be used.

Contributors should be judicious in deciding which images are the most suitable for the subject matter in an article. For example:

• An image of a White-tailed Eagle is useless if the bird appears as a speck in the sky.
• Gloria Steinem looks best as a portrait photograph of herself alone, not with other individuals.
• A suitable picture of a hammerhead shark would show its distinctive hammer-like head, to distinguish it from other species of shark.
• A map of Moldova should show its frontiers with Romania and Ukraine, so people may know where the country actually is, in relation to its neighbors.
• Rice is best represented with an image of plain rice, not fried rice.
• Intangible concepts can be illustrated; for example, a cat with its claws out portrays aggression, while a roadside beggar juxtaposed with a Mercedes-Benz shows social inequality.

Image description pages

To maximize the utility and educational value of an image, please describe its contents as fully as possible on the image's description page. For example, photographs of artwork benefit from documentation of the artist, title, location, dates, museum identification numbers, and so on. Images that are described only in vague terms (for example, "a cuneiform tablet" or "a medieval manuscript") are often less useful for Wikipedia and less informative to our readers. Reliable sources, if any, may be listed on the image's description page. Generally, Wikipedia assumes in good faith that image creators are correctly identifying the contents of photographs they have taken. If such sources are available, it is helpful to provide them. This is particularly important for technical drawings, as someone may want to verify that the image is accurate.

Offensive images

Main page: Wikipedia:Offensive material

Including information about offensive material is part of Wikipedia's encyclopedic mission. Wikipedia is not censored. However, images that can be considered offensive should not be included unless they are treated in an encyclopedic manner. Material that would be considered vulgar or obscene by typical Wikipedia readers should be used if and only if its omission would cause the article to be less informative, relevant, or accurate, and no equally suitable alternative is available. Per the Foundation, controversial images should follow the principle of 'least astonishment': we should choose images that respect the conventional expectations of readers for a given topic as much as is possible without sacrificing the quality of the article.

In 2004 there was a proposal to introduce a content rating system. It was rejected.

In August 2011 there was an Image filter referendum. The results were announced on September 2011.

Life cycles of images

Eventually, some of the images reach the end of their life cycle. They may be superseded or replaced by an image with a friendlier copyright policy. If you come across an image that needs to go for copyright, invasion of privacy, or other serious reasons, then list it on Files for deletion. However, superseded images should be kept to preserve Wikipedia's historical record. The history of articles can be difficult to assess if images and templates have been deleted over the years.

Conversely, if you have contributed or found an image that stands out from the crowd, you are invited to nominate it for inclusion on the Featured pictures list.

Image preferences

Logged in users can set their default viewing size of thumbnails in the "my preferences" area under "appearance", which offers an opportunity to customize "files". The default size for users that are not logged in is 220 pixels. Logged in users can choose from widths between 120px and 300px. Also under "files" in the "appearance" tab of "my preferences" area, one can set the size limit of images shown on image description pages. By default, if either the width or the height exceeds 800px or 600px respectively, then the image is reduced in size until it fits within those dimensions. This can be enlarged.

See also

• Exchangeable image file format
• Image editing
• mw:Extension:Bad Image List
• mw:Extension:ImageMap
• Wikipedia:Extended image syntax
• Wikipedia:Finding images tutorial
• Wikipedia:Guide to image deletion
• Wikipedia:How to create graphs for Wikipedia articles
• Wikipedia:How to improve image quality

• Wikipedia:Image use policy
• Wikipedia:Image quality requirements (historical proposal)
• Wikipedia:Images with missing articles
• Wikipedia:No 3D illustrations
• Wikipedia:Picture tutorial
• Wikipedia:Public domain image resources
• Wikipedia:Ten things you may not know about images on Wikipedia
• Wikipedia:Uploading images
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Images and Media