Help:Images
This help guide is intended as a basic resource on how to upload images and how to use them on the Gswiki.
All images uploaded are subject to Gswiki:Policy with regard to images and their copyrights. There are strict requirements for all images uploaded and used on the Gswiki, which is outlined in the Copyrights section. See Gswiki:Policy or Gswiki:Style guide/Images for further information on those requirements.
Uploading Files
Image files can be uploaded via either the Special:Upload or Special:BatchUpload special pages. Uploaded image files can be no larger than 2MB and must have a file extension of png, gif, jpg, jpeg, or webp.
Special:Upload is intended for uploading a small number of image files one by one. It is accessed via the Gswiki's main sidebar menu in the Tools section.
Special:BatchUpload is intended for uploading a large quantity of image files at once. It is accessed from the Special:Upload special page.
Image File Descriptions
Image files can include text information about the image in its file description. This can be added by putting it in the "Summary" (Special:Upload) or "Description" (Special:BatchUpload) text fields while uploading the image file. After an image file has been uploaded, its file description text can be modified at any time. This is done by navigating to the image file itself and selecting "Edit Source", similar to editing any article. Any missing or incorrect information can be changed this way in the image file's text description before saving changes.
Image files must include all Gswiki:Policy required information in their file description. The required information varies slightly depending on the image classification. In cases where an image file falls under more than one classification type, it should include all the required information for all applicable types. See Gswiki:Style guide/Images and Gswiki:Policy for more information on the requirements for image file descriptions.
While not required, it is recommended to include a written description of the image to assist users relying on screen readers who are otherwise unable to view the image itself.
Using Images
There are several methods to display images on an article. At the most basic level, images are displayed on an article by using either [[File:File.png]] or [[Image:File.png]], replacing "File.png" with the actual file name uploaded to the Gswiki. This displays a full-sized version of the image wherever the code is inserted into the article. Additional options for displaying an image are outlined below.
Regardless of how an image file is featured on an article, Gswiki:Policy requires certain information to be included as a text caption in some form. The required information varies slightly depending on the image classification. In cases where an image file falls under more than one classification type, it should include all the required information for all applicable types. See Gswiki:Style guide/Images and Gswiki:Policy for more information on the requirements for image captions.
Image vs File
While Mediawiki code for inserting an image can be done by either [[File:File.png]] or [[Image:File.png]] formats, only the latter option, [[Image:File.png]] format, is compatible with screen readers for images. Screen readers may not recognize an image with the [[File:File.png]] format, instead seeing it as a miscellaneous file, and any related alt text description of the image will not be relayed.
Wherever possible, images should use the [[Image:File.png]] format for displaying images on articles to ensure that screen readers properly identify them as images and not as miscellaneous files. Images inserted via the [[File:File.png]] format run the risk of not properly being identified as images and disregarded by users who rely on screen readers.
Note: Overly large images may cause the article featuring them to display oddly depending on the viewer's resolution. To avoid issues resolution issues, consider using a thumbnail image instead.
Image Captions
An image caption is an explanation of the image file, which either appears directly beneath the image or when hovering a mouse over the image. Image files must include all Gswiki:Policy required information as part of their caption on any and all articles featuring them. This can be done several ways depending on how the image is displayed.
Thumbnail images automatically format caption text beneath them. To include a preformatted image caption via a thumbnail image on an article:
[[Image:File.png|200px|thumb|right|Caption text.|alt=Optional alt text.]]
In this example, "Caption text." will display immediately beneath a thumbnail of the image. Captions included in this manner are capable of supporting basic formatting, such as <br> to include a line break. The additional parameters of the example above resize the thumbnail to 200 pixels wide and set it to right alignment on the article featuring it.
One example of an image using a preformatted image caption via thumbnail is on the North by Northwest storyline category.
To include hover text as an image caption for a full-size image on an article:
[[Image:File.png|center|Hover text caption.|alt=Optional alt text.]]
In this example, "Hover text caption." will display as text when a mouse hovers over the image. The additional parameter of this example sets it to center alignment on the article featuring it. It does not have a maximum pixel set, so the image will display at full size.
One example of an image using a hover text caption is on the Jaysehn (prime) player character article.
Alt Text
Alt text is a written description of what an image appears like. Alt text does not display with standard web browsers, however it is recognized by screen readers and is necessary to dictate what the image looks like. While not required, all image files featured on articles are encouraged to use alt text. Alt text is added to a displayed image when |alt=(Optional alt text.) is included as part of the image display code. This works for images displayed full size, resized, or as a thumbnail image.
To include alt text while displaying an image on an article:
[[Image:File.png|200px|center|Caption text.|alt=Optional alt text.]]
One example of alt text use is on the Evermore Hollow venue category for Ebon Gate.
Thumbnail Image
Thumbnails are a smaller preview version of an image. Thumbnails allow for more precise formatting of images within an article and are generally compatible with a wider variety of screen resolutions.
Mediawiki will automatically resize an image for a thumbnail and include a link to the full size image when using |thumb as a parameter when inserting an image. This method of using a thumbnail includes a preformatted caption block beneath the image; this method is recommended as it ensures easy display of both the image thumbnail and its caption text.
To display a preformatted thumbnail image on an article:
[[Image:File.png|200px|thumb|left|Preformatted caption text.|alt=Optional alt text.]]
Omitting the |thumb will still result in the image being displayed at the set size. However, the caption text is no longer as readily visible. It can still be read as mouse hover text, which may result in that information being missed by most users accessing that article.
To display a manually formatted thumbnail image on an article:
[[Image:File.png|200px|left|Hover caption text.|alt=Optional alt text.]]
In both examples, 200px indicates that the thumbnail image displayed will be no larger than 200 pixels wide. "Left" indicates left alignment on the article; "right" and "center" can also be used. The caption text can support simple formatting, such as <br> to add a line break. The optional alt text field is intended to describe what the image actually looks like; it is not visible when viewing an article with standard web browsing software but is used by screen readers to indicate what an image looks like. While not required, alt text is strongly encouraged.
This image file display format is compatible with the character profile template used on many character articles.
One example of a thumbnail view is on the NPC Siduine's character article. It uses the preformatted thumbnail display method.
Image Gallery
Galleries are a collection of images displayed together. Mediawiki supports image gallery formatting, which automatically creates scaling thumbnails based on the user's computer resolution. The thumbnails are linked to the individual full-sized images. Image galleries are especially useful for articles featuring multiple related images, such as different portraits of the same character.
To display multiple images with captions as part of an image gallery:
<gallery mode="packed"> Image:File1.jpg|Caption text.|alt=Optional alt text. Image:File2.jpg|Caption text.|alt=Optional alt text. Image:File3.jpg|Caption text.|alt=Optional alt text. Image:File4.jpg|Caption text.|alt=Optional alt text. </gallery>
One example of a gallery view is the Duskruin artwork category.