Image Policy

Non-standardized images
(See the section on standardized images for information on making, uploading, and naming images that show up on many pages, or have a related picture on many pages.)

Image titles and names
Descriptive file names are useful. A screenshot of a Kinokojin could be called "Kinokojin.png", but it's likely that many different images of Kinokojin will be useful on the wiki. When appropriate, be more specific in the name about the contents or use of the image. For example, if the point of the new image is to show a close-up of the creature's face, use something like "Kinokojin close-up.png" or "Kinokojin mask.png". If the point of the new image is to show different types of Kinokojin side-by-side, call it something like "Kinokojin comparison.png" or "Kinokojin three examples.png".

Avoid special characters in filenames or excessively long filenames, though, as that might make it difficult for some users to download the files onto their machines. Note that names are case sensitive, "Africa.PNG" is considered different from "Africa.png". For uniformity, lower case file name extensions are recommended.

In-game screenshots
Whenever you can, use +  to hide the game's user interface (toolbar, cursor, and so on) before taking a screenshot. In most cases, if your image is made to feature objects, items, or creatures in the game, the user interface is irrelevant, and likely also distracting.

Some screenshots will likely be seen in comparison to others: a Crude Hammer screenshot will frequently show up next to screenshots of the other tools. For these images, use the  command to standardize the lighting before taking the screenshot.

Standardized images
Pages for the same type of object tend to have the same pictures. For example, all tool pages have two images: a picture of the tool on the ground, and the icon that the game uses in the inventory and the toolbar slots.

Because the standardized pictures from many pages will be frequently shown side-by-side to compare the items, it is important to minimize the differences in lighting, background, and aspect ratio.

File names for these standardized images have a standardized naming convention: this makes it easier for editors to predict the name of a tool's inventory icon image without looking it up. Newly uploaded images should always match the conventions already in use.

It is also important that every page have similar contents for a particular type of standardized image. For example, all terrain images should show the terrain block as it occurs naturally in the world. They should not show the cubic blocks created when players use the material for building.

Sometimes, an already existing game file should be used instead of a screenshot. For example, texture map images should be taken from the game folders, not created by taking or editing a screenshot. This way, all texture map images will look the same. It also allows editors to avoid extra work when an image already comes with the game.

Standards and conventions
These are the types of standardized images that should be on every page of a similar type:

Items that can be picked up
(including Natural Resources, tools, weapons, and similar)

Objects in the world
(including critters, trees, and similar)

Terrain, building materials, and building blocks
(including naturally occurring terrain such as Gravel, or harvested building material like Stacked Wood)