Wikipedia talk:Uploading images

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Summary:
Changes to Special:Upload can be suggested at MediaWiki talk:Uploadtext.
Instructions on moving images between projects (based on discussion at mi:) have been added.

Contents

[edit] Huge images

How firm is the 100K guideline? There's a bunch of HUGE photos going in, such as Image:Charmed Rose McGowan.jpg , which is over 1.3 Megabytes. Niteowlneils 04:57, 12 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I have uploaded large pictures once in a while (I like high-res pics), but I never go above 300k. 1.3 megs is ridiculous. →Raul654 05:00, Jun 12, 2004 (UTC)
I think the limit is 2MB. With automatic thumbnailing, the size of images in articles is not so much of a problem anymore, but it does make it difficult if someone wants to go to the image page. Angela (who has no tildes so can't sign properly)
Yes, 2 megs is the limit (as I found out empirically when uploading songs). →Raul654 09:45, Jun 12, 2004 (UTC)
In the light of the thumbnailer, 100K seems rather low. If possible, it's nice to be able to keep a small image on the page and click to a larger one, and find something worthwhile there. 800x600 seems like a sensible workable maximum, which produces JPEGs roughly in the 200-400K range. Giant images (the 2000x1600 etc. one gets from a decent modern digicam) are impractical for almost all screens. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 22:08, 12 Jun 2004 (UTC)

1.3 is ridiculous. But it's quite bad when you click on a thumbnail size, and you get a image that's basically one fingernail larger than the thumbnail. (What's the point?) ^_* --Menchi 22:22, 12 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I agree that it is annoying when you click on a picture, the "larger" version is basically the same size, and that 100K might be a little low, but jeez, this one[1] is 1858933 bytes, 3783x2543 pixels, or (according to Photoshop) 12.61x8.477 inches, but that's gotta be print size or something, because using 1024x768 monitor resolution, I can only see a small fraction of the picture at a time in a maximized browser window. I mean, we're talking a headshot several times bigger than life-size. Wikipedia is not paper, but at some point there's gotta be bandwidth issues, and what about dial-up users? Other than the 100K request on the upload page, and the 2M hard file limit, nobody says/does anything when people are uploading pics that are basically useless when not thumbnailed? (Actually, I may crop some, as some have quite a bit of wasted space, but I'm reluctant to do anything more drastic that might open me to "lowered image quality" complaints. There's no way to put the cropped image at the same name, and still have the original version available thru the history, right?) Niteowlneils 02:39, 13 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I've uploaded several images in the 700kb range because i believe that those *are* useful if somebody would like to print them or use them for other things. The image shown on the the image page should probably be 800px width max (shouldn't be hard to do on the software). That should avoid any bandwidth problems- the really big image could still be downloaded with an extra 'full image (768kb, 3783x2543px)' link. Some central repository (be it wikiimages or wikicommons) would also be nice of course. -- Gabriel Wicke 23:35, 13 Jun 2004 (UTC)
I think using as large an image as possible (not going over the 2MB limit of course) is a good idea for posterity and future-proofness (I know that's not a word). Please take into account if you go back 10 years, most PC users were typically using standard VGA resolution (640x480) on their desktops - nowadays most people are using 1024x768 at the least, and 1280x1024 17" LCD monitors are pretty much becoming the typical displays that come with PCs these days - which is over four times the resolution of 640x480. So who knows what ungodly resolutions we'll be using in another 10 years time? 640x480 photos will definately not be acceptable by then.
But there is such a thing as going overboard! Niteowlneil's find is a good example of this - in all fairness it's only a headshot, and the JPEG is not of particularly good quality either. --Zilog Jones 13:42, 31 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Update this page for WikiCommons?

(I think the page has been updated)

[edit] When to use WikiCommons?

So if I'm reading this correctly we should upload all images to Commons unless the image is fair use? So this leaves us with two seperate places for images until someone gets clever and updates the Commons software to include sections/notations for country-specific licenses.

- Pioneer-12 11:38, 20 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] GFDL images

Why is it required that all images uploaded that you hold the copyright to must be licenced under the GFDL? I have photographs I would like to put on Wikipedia, but I do not feel comfortable licencing them under the GFDL, and would rather use permission (replace [] with {}) (Licenced for use on Wikipedia only) than use the GFDL, as I do not like my photographic work being used without my permission. Somebody in the WWW 00:14, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] uploading fair use images

I was going to upload an image which I believe is under fair use (the logo of a railroad company), and tag it accordingly, but whenever I try to upload I cannot truthfully say "I affirm that the copyright holder of this file agrees to license it under the terms of the Wikipedia copyright." since the image would to my knowledge only qualify under fair use. I'm not exactly sure what should happen here. Ckape 05:39, 6 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I had the same question (a while back) but I think the answer is: use Wikimedia Commons, which has a differently worded affirmation. David Brooks 02:04, 6 May 2005 (UTC)

The big purple stamp at the top of the Special:Upload page warns (no fair use!) for uploads to the Wikimedia Commons. So that don't work. What the blip? I guess fair use images are no longer allowed on Wikipedia. Someone should update the explantion pages if that's the case. Otherwise, enlighten us, please! I wasted way too much time researching this. --Yannick 01:54, 14 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Is this compatible with us?

Please see Wikipedia talk:Image use policy#Is this compatible with us? - UtherSRG 20:33, Feb 17, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Uploading screenshots

Is it considered "fair use" to upload screen captures from PC games, for example Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone? If so, are there any special tags I need to put on them? And if not, what about promotional shots released by the makers of the game? Hermione1980 23:21, 30 Mar 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Image redirects

I am currently working with another user to get all the images needed to create any sort of Go board/example in an article using templates or a table. The way the template works in a few cases I need a number of image file names to point to the same image. FOr example I need this image:

Image:Weiqi-a.PNG

to be present for all of the folowing names:

Image:Weiqi-aca.PNG Image:Weiqi-acb.PNG Image:Weiqi-acc.PNG Image:Weiqi-acd.PNG Image:Weiqi-amd.PNG Image:Weiqi-asl.PNG Image:Weiqi-asr.PNG Image:Weiqi-ast.PNG Image:Weiqi-asd.PNG

There are only 3 or 4 files that I need to do this for but I tried using a redirect and it wont follow the recdirect for an image. Is there some way to turn this on short of uploading the file 18 times? Dalf | Talk 00:27, 9 May 2005 (UTC)

Just for clarification, the template we are discussing is Template:Game of Go Position (as well as similar templates for different board sizes).

An image tag specifying an image can not be made to embed another image through a redirect. There is more flexibility if an image is embedded by calling a template that contains the image, because a template can be redirected to another one.--Patrick 13:21, 13 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] How to specify image name?

I'm confused by the image upload form. I have a file on my computer, at C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\screws2.jpg , and I'd like to upload it as Image:User:Creidieki/Screws.jpg. What do I put under "Filename"? I clicked "Browse", and found the file, but it doesn't seem to have a space for the name I want to upload the file as. I think this information should probably be added to the documentation page, but I'd appreciate a response here too. Thanks! -- Creidieki 01:11, 12 Jun 2005 (UTC)

  • Never mind. I don't know whether the form changed, or whether I was looking at it wrong or having browser problems before, but it all makes sense now. Thanks. -- Creidieki 16:49, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Image Types

Okay, I read that Jpegs are preferred, but does that mean the image HAS to be Jpeg? Cause I got some image files that look terrible if they are not GIF. -- Mrja84 19:27, 04 Sept 2005 (ESDT)

I hardly can believe that. Gif only supports 256 colors and transparency. Jpg supports 16mil. I think if you give me any photo I can make a jpg out of it. --None-of-the-Above 05:19, 5 September 2005 (UTC)
Are the images photos? If so, jpeg should give the best results for the same file size. You can, though, make them look horrible by compressing them too much. Try different settings, pick the one that is just good enough and then compare filesizes with gif and you'll seee what I mean. DirkvdM 07:41, 27 September 2005 (UTC)
If it looks better as a gif, save it as a PNG. PNG is a better format than gif and it works well. JPEG for photos, PNG for non-photos.

[edit] Already existing filenames

The article says If a file with the name you are specifying already exists on the wiki, it will be replaced without warning. But when I do that I do get a warning. Is that a browser thing? I can hardly imagine that, but anyway, I use Konqueror. Or is this info just out of date? If this were true that would be a serious 'bug'. DirkvdM 07:47, 27 September 2005 (UTC)

It could not be a browser thing. (It happens with Firefox too.) -Pgan002 01:09, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why SVG Rather than PDF?

Although can't find it, I'm sure there was a great discussion that led to the decision to use SVG rather than PDF for vector+raster files. I'm a little surprised by that outcome, and I'd love it if someone could bottom-line it for me. Thanks, —Papayoung ☯ 00:53, 10 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Uploading sound files?

All the help files for uploading media seem to lead here, but this only discusses images. What about sound files? Their fairuse template, {{Music sample}} doesn't appear to be in the drop-down list. Or am I missing something? pfctdayelise 04:51, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] .bmp

Why am I unable to upload images that are bmp? Most of the images that I wish to upload are .bmp, and when I convert them, they loose color information. Most of them are images I have created in microsoft paint, and I do not know how to convert them into anyting but .gif, which doesn't work unless I have images with no color. Any suggustions would be welcome.--Akako|☎ 16:47, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

What version of Windows are you using? On XP, Paint allows me to save as JPG or PNG also. I'm not sure exactly why bitmaps are not allowed, but I think I've seen them render incorrectly when transferred between operating systems. --Smack (talk) 05:16, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
On that note, could someone explain to me how Image:William boyce.bmp got here? If BMP format is not allowed, someone ought to convert it to PNG. I can convert it easily enough if we decide that it needs to be converted.

[edit] "Upload file" page

IMO the phrase "For more information, see Wikipedia:Uploading images." must be placed immediately after the "1." and "2". Several people already complained that the guidelines are hard to find. It is a psychological thing: this colored box just grabs your attention for good. mikka (t) 00:36, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

I've managed to upload the picture I want to use, but I simply cannot work out how to attach my image to my article. I must be a bit thick. :-( My article is Yamaha XJ900. Can anyone help? JSL595 14:02, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Image source option?

Would it be possible to have a field available at Special:Upload for entering source(s) for uploads (and then automatically placing them into a ==Source== section, as is done with the description/license currently)? I think it would help people to understand that a source is not optional (even if it's just "myself" for GFDL material), and might lead to fewer images being deleted due to a lack of source (or at least, fewer images being uploaded because of the requirement of a source). Thoughts? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Locke Cole (talk • contribs) 14:24, 26 December 2005 (UTC).

[edit] Help with .svg file

I have attempted to upload the Tupperware logoImage:NonFreeImageRemoved.svg in .svg format. It previews correctly in CorelDraw 10, but not after I upload it. The file appears to be the correct size, but the image is not centered in the frame. Any suggestions? --Master Scott Hall 17:00, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help! Source disappears when I upload.

Hello.

I am trying to upload an image, but when I click the upload button, the line where I enter the image source goes blank. Then I get an error message saying there was no image source. So I enter the image source again, and when I click upload, it goes blank again. What am I doing wrong.

Michael J 22:31, 3 February 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Would Wiki like to have a file upload tool?

We have a tool at: draganddropupload.com which is a Java application for doing uploads. It can do things like image previews. Also it can dynamicly convert image formats, so GIFs and TIFFs get converted to PNGs, and JPEGs get scaled properly (if necessary). We would be happy to donate it for Wiki and help customize it, if Wiki would be interested. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.3.115.86 (talk • contribs) 23:07, 8 February 2006(UTC).

I think this sounds great. It would probably make it easier to upload the right images in the right format. I suppose there has to be a discussion on the Wikimedia site or the Village Pump. -Pgan002 06:26, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] can't upload newer version of image to replace older version

I uploaded Image:Lemmings_amstrad.png but I want to replace it with an updated version, but when I tried to use the upload form to re-upload I keep getting this error:

"A file with this name exists already, and cannot be overwritten. Please go back and upload this file under a new name. "

The project page here seems to indicate I should be able to overwrite the file, so why won't it let me?

- Never mind, found the issue: [2]. How annoying. Tempuploader 02:51, 28 March 2006 (UTC)


Is there no way to do this? I created an account specifically to update certain images which are of a slightly poor quality in order to tweak a pixel or two to improve them. Is there anyway to do this. Feel free to email me if you know.

[edit] Uploading to userspace

Can I upload an image directly to my userspace? If so, how? -- §HurricaneERIC§Damagesarchive 00:26, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

No, all files are stored in the same Image: (or actually, Media: namespace), but images of acceptable copyright status can be uploaded and used just in user space. Titoxd(?!? - help us) 00:51, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Copying fair-use screenshot from 3rd-party webpage

I want to copy a screenshot from the website of a 3rd party who isn't involved with the computer game. Do I need permission from this website owner? Howdybob 08:38, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "." is not a recommended image file format.

I am trying to upload an image and all I get is this error messege kc4 - the Server Monkey Enforcer 01:02, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

You need to specify the file extension in the "Destination Filename" field. i.e. don't specify "MyImage", use "MyImage.JPG"

[edit] TGS images

i need to upload a .tgs image but it says its not recommended. can some1 tell me how to convert it to bitmap or jpeg or any other supported format? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Smoke Weed (talk) 2006-07-08T08:01:41.


What is a .tgs image? I cannot find any information about this format. Do you know how the image was created? Do you know what "TGS" stands for? If you created the image with some program, probably this program can convert it to other formats. If it was created by a scanner or photo camera, which model? Can you upload the file as a general media file and point us to it, so that we can try to convert it for you? You can write me a note on my talk page. -Pgan002 06:40, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Modified images: who is the author and what license?

If an image can be legally modified and I modify it, who is the author of the new image? Who gets to decide what exactly should be its license? Those are required to fill the form for uploading a new image. -Pgan002 06:30, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

If you can legally modify it, it's either public domain (in which case you can choose any license) or there's some license that allows you to modify it which would also specify what licenses you can or cannot use (e.g. GFDL requires it to stay GFDL). In either case, both the creator of the original work, and the modifier should be mentioned in the description. Mairi 17:25, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] the most confusing page EVER

Nuff said. Nerdchomper 20:23, 15 August 2006 (UTC)Fat Lui

[edit] Help me -- what should I classify a photo as?

I've tried looking up the "image copyright" and "fair use" information sections, but none of them would help me out with this one issue. and I need to know obv before uploading said photo. See, I've got one photo in mind, a photo already uploaded and in use on a band website. It's actually the closest thing said band (who is now defunct) has to an official site out there. I've also been in communication with the person who runs this site, who was actually a member of said band. He has allowed me to use the image for his band's Wikipedia entry, but I don't know if (a.) that's enough of a permission to allow me to upload a copy of said photo onto the Wikipedia site and (b.) if it is, what I should use as the appropriate image copyright tag. If someone could help me out with this issue, that would be grand. (Krushsister 00:19, 21 August 2006 (UTC))

a) No, that's not enough, b) please see Wikipedia:Requesting copyright permission. -- Rick Block (talk) 00:31, 21 August 2006 (UTC)
(sigh of exasperation) Not even the band members themselves know how to contact said person and a Google search revealed only the one hit, i.e. the page where the photo is displayed. Um, what do I do in those instances, then? Am I shit out of luck? Because the band's guitarist did give me ANOTHER photo to use that's not in use on any website, that was explicitly used as a promotional photo by the record company (so issues on whether I could use it or not were pretty straightforward), that features the band's second lineup. But what do I do if there's no way in heck I can contact the person who took a photo I wish to use? Like I said, I tried Google and there isn't even another page out there with this person listed as a credited person. (You can see it here -- http://researchgtr.20m.com/Scars020.htm -- including the name of the photog in question.) I'd still like to use it, but as a photo of the original lineup of the band in question. (Krushsister 05:43, 12 September 2006 (UTC))
(edit from Krushsister 06:11, 12 September 2006 (UTC)): Ok, I've just contacted the guy who wrote the article that the photograph accompanied, the same guy whom said photographer was accompanying on his trek through the world of Edinburgh punk bands. (Scars originated in the punk music scene.) Now, I HOPE he responds to my email, but what happens if he never does? And what happens if he too doesn't know how to get in contact with the photog? Ow, my head hurts.
(edit from Krushsister 07:18, 12 September 2006 (UTC)): Oh my God. I found out why it was that I was only getting the one search result. Having now found out what this photographer's real name was, I still don't know where to go next. I've found plenty of her work on that musicpictures.com site, which seems to be the same site as redferns.com , but I could find neither a single Scars picture in the whole of the collection nor could I find any contact information for her on the site. Now nausea is kicking in....
If the photo does not have a free license of some sort and you can't contact the copyright holder (almost always the photographer), then you can't use the photo. What you're doing is called a copyright search and it is indeed a pain. It is however absolutely necessary because of the licensing terms of Wikipedia, which permits anyone to reuse the content (including the images) as long as they (recursively) also allow anyone to reuse the content. This is really what "free" means in the slogan "The Free Encyclopedia". The content is free to be copied. Forever. See copyleft if you're not familiar with this concept. -- Rick Block (talk) 13:55, 12 September 2006 (UTC)
I did find the copyleft and GNU general public license articles recently, though it turns out that the photographer WAS contactable and I HAVE gotten in contact with her. It turns out she wasn't Googleable because the page of origin didn't have her name spelled right. I've pointed her in the direction of a few informative links so she can have some of her questions answered. I understand you need to have everything completely aboveboard before progressing just in case, but it does provide the novice editor (which I kinda consider myself being) with one mighty gorilla of a headache. To Wikipedia's credit, it is rather easy to follow the text-based rules and regulations. So. (Krushsister 06:23, 14 September 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Protected page?

I've been trying to upload the image of the logo of the Latin-language Uncyclopedia. I set {{logo}} as the licensing information, but I keep getting the "protected page" warning. What am I doing wrong? Lauren 15:08, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] less sick of a picture

If you put a picture up of this poor kid, don't let it be one of those sick pictures that make her look like an adult. I have kids and those pictures are sick. If the parents were innocent they should have been arrested for dressing her up like that. A picture like the below link would be the best. Shows what she looks like just as the little kid that she was.

[3]

[edit] Newer version of a photograph.

I decided to replace sb's photograph with my own which is of a better quality. I have even created an account for that purpose. Sadly as it turns out - I cannot do that. I read like 10s of help pages here but couldn't find a solution. Finally I was redirected http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Help_desk#Revising_images where one can find lots of requests to replace/delete/overwrite other images. Sadly, again, I cannot post there my request. This is higly confusing and frustrating not to say discouraging. Nevertheless if someone is reading this, please add Image:AztecSerpent2.JPG as a newer version of Image:AztecSerpent.JPG and please tell me what have I exactly done wrong.

[edit] Hi

Does anybody know if there's a shortcut for transferring images from en: (or whatever) to commons? It sure would be handy! •NikoSilver• 20:50, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

Hello Nico.

You're right. Nothing could be more confusing. After about 3 tries my picture finally landed where I wanted it.

Click on Special:Upload. The source file name is the path and name of the picture on your hard disk. The destination file name is freely chosen and is the name you use in the article to call up the picture, for instance, "SourceName.jpg" and "DestinationName.jpg" without quotes. In both cases observe the spelling and capitalization. If it's public domain use {No Rights Reserved} for the tag. In the article call the picture up with the "Image" command as follows: "Image:DestinationName.jpg| Any caption". Use double bracekts "[[ ]]" instead of quotes. (If I had used double bracekts here, some nonsence would appear in this response.) If in the article the picture turns out to be too small use the modifier "frame|" as in the command "Image:DestinationName.jpg|frame|Any caption". Good luck from Cakeandicecream 09:34, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Thanks Cake. I knew how to do it manually with the usual way. I was wondering if there's an automatic way of doing it without having to download the pic in your disk first. Actually I'd like to propose the following software modification:

Tweak the upload page software so that if the tags are ok, and the image name doesn't exist in commons, to be uploaded directly in commons, skipping the en: (or whatever) space.

What will happen:

  • All images that will be uploaded from now on, will be directly uploaded to commons, if the tags so permit.
  • All wikipedias in all languages will be able to use those pics in relevant articles. Especially useful in translating articles from one lang to another.
  • The en:wiki (or whichever wiki) user that uploads the pic, doesn't even have to know where the pic landed. S/he'll be able to use it as usual.
  • Wikipedia will avoid double uploads of the same pic for different languages, saving bandwidth and storage space.

I don't know if this is the right place for this proposal, but wish someone who does can direct me to it, or post it there himself. •NikoSilver• 11:34, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Village pump (technical) might be a good place to suggest it. Not sure what the similar page is on Commons, but it'd probably be a good idea to discuss it there to. other option is to make a feature request on BugZilla. Mairi 17:31, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Possible copyvio with Image:TBCatwoman.gif - Help needed

I'm unsure about the copyright info that was put on Image:TBCatwoman.gif. The licensing info says it's a video game, but then it also says it's from a website about a TV show. In the case of the latter, I'm concerned that the image isn't fair-used from the website, since I don't know if th website had it with permissions. Can someone more familiar with copyvios help me out? -- Ipstenu (talk|contribs) 22:18, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Changing the name of an image after uploading

If I've uploaded an image and managed to put a typo in the title, is there any way to "move" an image? Or do I just upload a new copy of the image with the correct name and delete the old one? Mouser 13:35, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] question

What do I put for Destination filename when I upload an image? GrimRepr39 19:02, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Copyright issues

I am trying to upload a file containing an image of a painting owned by the Bank of Scotland, of which the Head Curator has given his permission on the proviso that it clearly states that the copyright belongs to the Bank, and is not used elsewhere apart from Wikipedia. What method should I use to ensure it does not get 'Speedily deleted'! Brendandh 13:54, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

I don't know if you've gotten a response. My understanding is that licenses that restrict the use of images to Wikipedia aren't acceptable to the Wikipedia Foundation. However, some Wikipedia-acceptable licenses can include the requirement that licensees indicate that the copyright is held by the Bank. This is quite explicit for some of the Creative Commons licenses. Once I understood this, I did have to write back to one photographer to verify that he was willing to give me the appropriate license. He was!EAS 11:15, 15 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How big is too big?

What is the maximum recommend image size for this wiki? I ran across Image:1920 The Jewish Peril - Eyre & Spottiswoode Ltd - 1st ed..jpg which is used at The Jewish Peril. I think the image is too large. It certianly doesn't fit on my 1024x768 screen. Any suggestions? The user that uploaded is User:Ludvikus. -Will Pittenger 05:15, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Yes, the image is TOO BIG!

But I could not, or do not yet know how, to make the image the correct size.
Can I get some assistance, please?
Thanks, etc. Ludvikus 06:32, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

I am not an image expert. I use MS Paint for most of my images and those are either screen caps or simple images. MS Paint has a tendancy to bungle things. (For instance, there is no compression control for JPEGs. GIF transparency is not supported. The PNG alpha channel is not supported. etc.) Hence, either pick Paint Shop Pro from Corel or an Adobe product. There may be more choices if you use a Mac.

BTW: The use of ---- is frowned on in wikis. -Will Pittenger 07:30, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Proposed change

In the recent time, I've seen a few cases of images which do not necessarily have to state their URL or source, as they do not change or confirm its license. I've had a discussion with User:Yamla over one such image, Image:C plus plus book.jpg, which didn't mention its source. The image, however, mentioned the book cover as the source of its content and the source of the image wasn't relevant as it will remain copyrighted. Therefore, I'm proposing to add the following text among the lines of the "Licenses" section: "In case the source of the image may not effect the provided copyright status by any means, album and book cover sources for example, an image source is not required." Michaelas10 (Talk) 21:08, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Note that it is still important to identify the copyright holder. Some times, it may not be obvious which book is being depicted from its cover, for example. I have always read "source" to mean that we are looking to verify the copyright holder. In fact, this what the book cover license specifically points out. However, this could probably be worded in a clearer manner. --Yamla 21:13, 20 December 2006 (UTC)
This is why I suggest to state this exception on this page, instead of the license itself. I understand what you mean, but it will be quite difficult to word it right here, without making the confusion between "source of the work in the image" and "source of the image". How do you propose to change the text? Michaelas10 (Talk) 21:26, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] uploading images policy

Hi,

I have uploaded a map made 300 years ago from a website. The owner of that website added a watermark on it. Does it now belong to him, simply because he typed his name on it with photoshop? That doesn't sound logic to me. The map is by Claude Jollain, made in the Year: 1667. The source is this [4] and the actuall map is the following: Image:Arabian gulf.jpg.


What does wikipedia's policy say on this? Thank you. Jidan 03:02, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

This is a clear copy right violation. It doesn't matter how old the map in the photograph is suppose to be, the copy-right holder of the photograph is the person who photo-shopped and later watermarked the photograph, the photograph is that person's creative work. --CopyRightDude 03:27, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

Ok, lets say I took this picture.

Image:GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg

Then I used Photoshop and added a copyright mark with my name.

Image:GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-.png

Does this picture belong to me now and has to be removed from wikipedia? Of course not! Becasue its not mine from the first place. The same case goes to the map I uploaded above. It doesn't belong to him, he took it from somewhere, i.e. not photographed, and added the watermark. Jidan 12:43, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

Photographs of public domain images are also public domain, see Bridgeman_Art_Library_v._Corel_Corp., you sould add Template:PD-Art or commons:Template:PD-Art. Simply adding some text with Photoshop would also be below the Threshold_of_originality. -- memset 13:39, 23 December 2006 (UTC)
The photo you had posted earlier didn't just have a "some text with Photoshop", it was a photograph of a map that had been photoshoped and contained an artistic watermark which is itself a creative work and copyrighted. Furthermore, the map itself didn't meet the verifiability requirements either. --CopyRightDude 13:49, 23 December 2006 (UTC)
As Memset above said, thats still below the Threshold_of_originality. And the fact that your account was created 20 minutes after my post, lets me think you are a socketpuppet and have no clue what you are talking about. Jidan 17:37, 23 December 2006 (UTC)
Problem solved, I found the same map without the watermark. Jidan 18:40, 23 December 2006 (UTC)
First of all, be civil. I am a lawyer, I deal with copy-rights issues on daily basis. The law you're citing, Threshold_of_originality, does not apply to this case; advertisements and maps are protected under Threshold of originality. By re-uploading a copyvio image, the photoshoped and watermarked creative work of somebody else, that had been already speedy deleted by the administrators, you've violated the Copyright Law of the United States, in addition to the rules of this website. Copyvios are very serious offenses. --CopyRightDude 18:53, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What do I do with this list of watermarked images?

I got involved with spam issues at Bharatanatyam in connection with spam problems (see Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Spam#Bharatanatyam). In addition to external links issues, there were watermarked images being disputed.

I ended up making a list of watermarked images on a temporary user subpage at User:A. B./Sandbox7#Watermarked images.

Is there anything that should be done about them? Should they be deleted?

Thanks, --A. B. (talk) 16:39, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

At this time, none of these images are included in any articles. --A. B. (talk) 16:58, 11 January 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Trouble uploading images

Hi, I'm kinda new here and I can't figure out how to download images. I type the URL and destination filename, but when I click the "upload" button ntohing happens! Help! Maniac 03:19, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

Do you have Javascript enabled for http://en.wikipedia.org (this site). That could be the problem. Will (Talk - contribs) 05:46, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Graffiti Image Tag question

Hi, I've been doing quite a lot of work on these Graffiti artists in Melbourne.

But I want to include some pictures in the articles. So: they would have to be scans or from the internet as I don't live in Melbourne.

Taken by another person, the image would be free, as it is stenciled to a wall. What image license would the image be under?

If the image is street Graffiti, would it be a free image anyway? Als long as the artist is credited would it be free to use anywhere? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Dfrg.msc (talk • contribs) 00:31, 23 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Please Help

Hello, I recently uploaded this picture [5]. It is a DVD cover, which as far as I understand, is appropriate for use on Wiki on the corresponding movie's article. However, it might get deleted and I am not sure why! Please help! Thank you :) Maîtresse 09:21, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Uploading sound files

Is this done the same way as images, or if not where is the upload page for that? Think outside the box 11:45, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

Help uploading photos I feel a bit lost now. Someone please draw me a picture. I am trying to upload a photo which I took to an existing page. How do I do this? I got as far as uploading file, entering all the data etc but then it said that the file did not have an extention... My main issue is, how does the photo know which page to attach itself to?Laura SA 14:39, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Explicite Images

At WP:IMAGE there was a good place I could state:

"Wikipedia also has a proposed guideline on the use of sexually explicity images."

However at this place I don't see how or where this could be stated. --CyclePat 20:13, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Same filename between commons and wikipedia upload

Hi, i've uploaded the file in Wikimedia commons called Partagas.jpg and it turned out that in English wikipedia there is already a Partagas.jpg. How do I make my photo in commons appear in wikipedia? Because if the image link is Partagas.jpg, it will link to the wikipedia image rather than the commons one. Please help Chaerani 16:09, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How to update images?

How does one update images that are already on Wikipedia? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Havesmite (talk • contribs) 02:23, 8 April 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Noncom block

I am proposing that we prevent people uploading images as "non-commercial". Comments here please. -- RHaworth 01:00, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Help please!

Earlier today I uploaded a pic I took, Darmera_peltata.JPG, (on the Darmera page) but I've just realised that the image is the wrong way round - the stem of the flower is going off at 90 degrees to the right, rather than vertically down to the bottom of the frame. My photographic skills are strictly limited to 'point' and 'click', and I know nothing about how to manipulate/crop/rotate images - could some kind and knowledgable soul here fiddle with the image so that the flower stem is the right way round? Many grovelling thanks Jasper33 21:10, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

Done. J Are you green? 20:50, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Many thanks again, thegreenj. Jasper33 21:48, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] geograph.org.uk images

Is there a tool or procedure, for uploading Creative Commons-licensed images from geograph.org.uk, such as this one Or finding if it has already been uploaded? Andy Mabbett 17:54, 30 May 2007 (UTC)?

I found an answer, of sorts. Andy Mabbett 08:52, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Adding images to articles - another question

Help pages had this to say:

The procedure for adding images to articles is the same, regardless if the image was uploaded to Commons or directly to English Wikipedia. To make your uploaded file appear in an article, you need to insert it: edit the article and add the syntax

[[Image:Image name|thumb|Caption]]

where you want the file to appear.

Important: Image names are case-sensitive. For example, if an image is called Picture.jpg then neither picture.jpg nor Picture.JPG will find it.

See Wikipedia:Images or Wikipedia:Extended image syntax for further instructions.

Now, what I would like to know is this. Is it possible to embed images that are not uploaded to Wikipedia, but are on another site altogether (for example Photobucket, Imageshack, etc)? 91.150.125.137 21:42, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Flikr photos

Can I upload some photos from this photoset on Flikr, to add to the Megaherb article, and if so, what copyright tag should I use? I'm not sure about the Flikr copyright situation. Jasper33 07:50, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

I should add that I have got it as an external link at the momemt, but would much rather place the photos within the text if it is possible. Jasper33 07:51, 9 June 2007 (UTC)
I've contacted the author and he/she has put them under Creative Commons, so I think it's all sorted now. Jasper33 06:39, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Inappropriate upload warning template?

Is there a template that you can place on a user's talk page to warn them that the images they are uploading are inappropriate? (Whether for pornography, bad/no license, whatever... that pretty much describes the current situation). Thanks! Joie de Vivre 13:02, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] What the hell is going on??...

I'm trying to upload an image, but after I click on the "Upload file" button, it says

"The file is corrupt or has an incorrect extension. Please check the file and upload again."

1.) the file is not corupt. I just took a headshot from an image. It was originally in TIFF format (whatever that is) so I changed it to "jpg". It actually was corrupt, my computer would have been able to to open it

2.) Incorrect extenstion??? I change to "jpg". THROUGH FIRE, JUSTICE IS SERVED! 11:37, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

I think (But I'm really not sure) that if you just change the name to ".jpg" it doesn't really mean that the picture itself is in .jpg format. ~Bella 00:47, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

It's not! You have to open the file in a graphics image package like GIMP or photoshop and save it as a JPG file. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Andy Bennett (talk • contribs) 17:23, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Help! Image display for uploaded flag is different different display panels

I've recoloured the shade of red for two flags of Nazi Germany based on the shade of red for the imperial German flags. For one flag, wikipedia display shows it as being the darker shade of red which I made it, the next display panel when pressing the image shows the earlier bright red version and the next panel upon pressing it to go to the "Commons Wikipedia" page shows it as the dark red colour again! The other flag initial display image shows the wrong, earlier bright shade of red, when I press that to go to the next image, it is the correct dark red, when I press that it is the correct image again. I have rebooted twice to see if my internet was acting wierd then, I have tried re-uploading the images, but it still has an inconsistent display, which means either one of two things, either my computer is really screwing up, or there is something wrong on wikipedia. In any case could someone help?--R-41 20:53, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] mugshot

Is it possible to upload a mugshot? and if so under which license? Rosa 21:33, 19 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Requesting photo and licenses (a method proposal)

As advertised at Wikipedia:Village pump (proposals) and Wikipedia talk:Finding images tutorial.

Hi, I had a small amount of trouble figuring out how to request a photo from someone and getting the permission to use the photo under appropriate licensing. After I finished the process, I wrote an essay (link) to describe the steps I took to acquire the photo at the Glenn Greenwald article. I was wondering if this could be usefully linked somewhere? And if so, any help to clarify the process would be appreciated (the way it is written now is based on my 1 experience). I realize there is more than one way to go about it, and this method is very situation specific. . .I just thought that people might have an easier time of it, if there an explicitly laid out method that could work. Any suggestions or opinions? Is there already something like this out there already? Thanks! (cross-posted at Wikipedia_talk:Finding_images_tutorial). R. Baley 21:43, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

(moved from WP:VPR): I've placed this at Wikipedia_talk:Finding_images_tutorial and Wikipedia talk:Uploading images. I'm just trying to find the best venue (if any, maybe it's a bad idea) for this discussion. Any help appreciated. R. Baley

I've taken the liberty of replacing two of the posts with links to here. BigNate37(T) 22:41, 14 August 2007 (UTC)
Looking things over, this discussion probably is best suited to this page. Thanks, R. Baley 22:46, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Uploading of free images

If someone uploads an image that is clearly commons compatible, how about we give them a bot message telling them about Commons? I use template:un-c myself a lot, having requested it some months ago. It would help a lot if people could get the message that Wikipedia isn't the ideal place to upload their (free) images - we have bazillions of them here that could be moved just like that if anyone had the time, but the backlog continues to grow and people don't seem to take the hint very easily. Perhaps if they got this message after uploading an image it might serve as a reinforcement and result in them actually moving it to Commons.

I would rather see images able to be moved automatically or by the mere click of a button, and I'm hoping the unified login system will come into place very soon as well, but in the mean time this seems the best option. Richard001 09:30, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

I have recently moved my first jpg image from Wikipedia to the Commons, and found the process difficult. I did not at first realise that I had to upload from my own computer, not simply move the image from Wikipedia to the Commons. Did I miss something?
One of the main problems, which does not seem to exist with Wikipedia, is to find suitable categories. I realise how necessary they are, but it is a hassle to categorise an image, and if you don't do it you get a notice complaining about it. And the effort in moving the "bazillions of them" would be considerable in this respect, and prone to errors as well.
Another point is that I am not clear to whom the image belongs after moving. In my one attempt so far, the upload is listed as being made by me, and the image was my own, but what if I had moved an image for someone else? Does the original author still get the credit? And what happens to the Commons personal gallery? I cannot see my Commons gallery at present (there is an error message instead) but I think the moved image was missing from it at first. And how does the originator of an image know if it has been moved or not? Sorry if that is an ignorant question.
Anyway, I fully endorse the idea of moving images by the mere click of a button, if the categories can be sorted easily. Patche99z 14:41, 20 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] License of recreated coat of arms

Hello, User:Zscout370 just uploaded Image:Coat of arms of Canada.svg as public domain. It is, however, an svg version of the Canadian Coat of Arms Image:Bigcancoat.png which is protected by Canadian Crown copyright (see Image:Bigcancoat.png). I don't fully understand how licenses cross when images are reproduced, but I don't think that Image:Coat of arms of Canada.svg can be released into the public domain even though User:Zscout370 made it himself, because it's an better reproduction of Image:Bigcancoat.png. Regards, -- Jeff3000 23:12, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] text twice

I hereby report that I see the text on Image:Paektu-san.jpg twice. Jidanni 14:13, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Thank you. I fixed the text and tagged the image with subst:ncd. Best regards Rhanyeia 14:44, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Multiproject upload

The first sentence of this section in the article says "It is not possible to use an image uploaded to one Wikimedia project in another one without re-uploading it." What does this mean? It is certainly possible to use one image, which has been uploaded to Wikipedia not Wikimedia Commons, in more than one article. Anyway, each image seems to upload as Image:name, not to a particular project.

I think this part of the article needs some revision. I guess that it refers to an outdated version of the Wikipedia software. Will anyone amend the text, or should I have a go myself? I am not an expert here. Patche99z 15:58, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

It's not talking about projects within Wikipedia (WikiProjects?) but our sister projects. The only project that allows reuse is Wikimedia Commons, which is where all (free) images should be uploaded. Richard001 22:20, 14 September 2007 (UTC)
Thank you. This sentence confused me for a long time; I thought it referred to articles within Wikipedia. I suggest the first sentence is revised to say:
Although it is possible to use one image within several Wikipedia articles, it is not possible to use an image uploaded to one Wikimedia project in another one without re-uploading it.


I see you have already clarified most of this, but if there are no adverse comments, I will add the first phrase in a day or so. Patche99z 15:08, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How do you delete an image uploaded

I can't figure it out, I was just practicing uploading and now I want to delete it but I have no idea how.

Tag it with {{speedy|reason here}} and just say what happened. Richard001 07:49, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

Greeting

Look like we are wrong about the member user who uploaded our EU flag file to, our project- we did not read the date properly - need new pari of glasses. Still thank you.

We had been advice that after helping us to upload properly the picture of the EU flag - the user/member would contact us via the discussion of the project. We have searched cannot find any message. We had requested for wikipedia to upload an example and we would try and follow. The problem is that one cannot edit the work they have uploaded. So we have come back here to ask for help to upload a map of EU to our project "Seychelles community in EU wikipedia". We had uploaded a map there "Image:Images_EU_map.jpg" there is a note removed. We would like help for wikipedia to upload this map to our project underneath the eu flag. The original map was large if it can be done half the size. {Please live a note how you put the picture in the frame too, it is very neat that way visitors can click on it and it enlarge) Thank you who ever can help. Grandlarousse 09:04, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Upload issues

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this but...

I've run into 2 different situations while uploading:

  1. The comments I enter in the upload screen don't seem to be making it to the upload notes on the image pages.
  2. I've just had some uploads not pull my user info into the same notes. Instead it credits "Special contributions".

With both situations the information is visible on the image history page.

Any idea what's going on?

- J Greb (talk) 18:20, 20 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Photos by wiki contributors

Could someone who knows the scoop add a sentence somewhere that clearly states what sort of license should be used for a photo the contributer has taken himself? Thanks. Kyriosity (talk) 23:38, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

Finally found the answer myself: Template:GFDL-self. Kyriosity (talk) 05:46, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] confusion in Fair Use explanation

In subheading Fair use images, I have replaced allow with permit, which is the correct word in this context, and made some stylistic changes. But the last sentence in the following par is awkward and confusing:

If the image you wish to upload is not under a free license, but meets fair use criteria, then you are permitted to upload it directly into English Wikipedia. Keep in mind that it is not permitted to upload fair use images into Wikimedia Commons, but it is permitted to do so into English Wikipedia. In addition to fair use images, it is possible to upload any image directly to Wikipedia; though, doing so lacks some advantages of Commons.

Does possible in the above intend permitted? And if so, then isn't this a straightforward contradiction to what the reader was told in the two sentences just prior to this, namely, that fair use criteria had to be satisfied before one could legally upload an image not under free license? Myles325a (talk) 04:59, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] uploading when not an image

How do I upload something that's not an image? The California State Constitution of 1879 is not available online (unlike the defunct 1849 constitution), so I posted a PDF version at Image:California State Constitution of 1879.pdf. However, it doesn't download properly. kwami (talk) 06:23, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Where to upload question

I am about to upload some images for the first time. So I was reading all the policies and guides. First thing that confuses me are this two pages: this and this - two parallel pages with almost the same content but completely separated. What is that? And the other thing - those pictures are photos taken by me, so free-licenced. Do I have to make a new account on Wikimedia Commons?--Lykantrop (Talk) 11:27, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

I'm having trouble myself discerning the rules and regulations of uploading, but in answer to your last question, yes, you do gave to create another account on wiki commons. δ²(Talk to me!) 15:03, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Licensing for publicity photos from obituaries?

I am considering uploading the image featured on and linked from this page (to add it to the biography of the person depicted). This image appears to match the definition of a publicity photo, except that it is of a deceased person. What should I select from the "License" pop-up menu on Special:Upload? That menu does not seem to have any option that would apply in this case. The closest I can see is "Fair use image of a living person" but this image is of a deceased person. — Epastore (talk) 16:28, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Paihia.jpg

Not sure where to report this - this image is wrongly named. It shows Russell, a town on the other side of the water from Paihia in New Zealand, and so should be called Russell New Zealand.jpg or some such and the image removed from the Paihia page. 81.159.88.164 (talk) 15:30, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Lots of info, no help

As with a lot of the internet today, there is a lot of information here but little that helps me! I want to know how to upload a photo, in line with the copyright issues. can some one confirm to me this is the process?

1. find photo
2. find copyright info
3. upload image onto wiki
4. enter copyright info found (is this called tagging?)

Many thanks δ²(Talk to me!) 15:42, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Flickr

Can images be uploaded from Flickr 86.40.201.129 (talk) 21:00, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Uploading Scientific Figure/Graphic

I have not uploaded anything yet, but am wondering 1. if I can upload a scientific figure/graphic into my article and be confident that it will be protected from editing....is this possible and 2. what format must the figure be in and 3. what are the size limitations? I would appreciate any information you can give me. thanks daisellen —Preceding unsigned comment added by Daisellen (talk • contribs) 17:26, 12 June 2008 (UTC)