Image Changin' Etiquette

I still can't find anywhere where it says

no pic is better than an imperfect pic.

and yet I keep getting flamed for putting a decent pic that is better than no pic.

I understand no pic better than misleading pic but....

also is there a rule that the picks can't be nsfw cause I don't see that anywhere either...

edited 23rd Jul '10 3:16:22 PM by bledra

Sure, Here you go:

Having no picture is better than a bad, or even a nearly-good picture.

Images that are not work-safe, or would offend someone's crabby old grandmother are not welcome.

edited 23rd Dec '10 3:20:58 PM by FastEddie

Could someone edit the OP to have the crowner format listed?

I have to ask. Are there any rules or guidelines on the same picture being used on multiple trope pages?

^ It's generally frowned upon.

^ Yep. The probability that the same picture would be the best possible page image for two different tropes, (or a trope and a work) is vanishingly small.

I'd like to make a statement about JAFAAC and proper image choosing technique. I'd like backup on it as well.

Whether or not the picture is an actual example of the trope is IRRELEVANT to being a suitable image or not. The image is not an example, it's part of the explanation of the trope. It demonstrates the trope visually. If it were an example it would be bellow the line and in the examples section, not up in the description section. Do not try to pimp your favorite show because it's a great example. The only thing that matters is that it demonstrates the trope. A characterization trope should not have a picture of a character and a caption saying "yep that's an example", that's JAFAAC. That's a bad picture. If you need background information on the character for the picture to make sense the picture is bad.

This has been a message from Deboss, butcher of JAFAAC.

In light of a couple of threads recently about pic changes, we should probably make it standard policy that when a pic is added/changed/removed, a hidden comment is put on the page saying that the action was taken as a result of a discussion thread and the change should not be undone without a new discussion.

Deboss, while I agree with most of what you said, I disagree with the statement that whether the page image is an example or not is irrelevant; it is relevant. A page image that looks like an example but isn't if you are familiar with the work is a bad page image.

I swear I was told explicitly that it didn't matter if it was an actual example.

I think the distinction is that just because an image does depict a trope example (most triumphant or ur example, trope namer, etc) doesn't mean it's a good page image, but if the image does not depict an example it is disqualified. Right?

An image needs to illustrate the trope whether or not the reader is familiar with the work from which it originated.

An image that's Just A Face And A Caption fails that test if you're not familiar with the work. An image that is not an example fails that test if you are familiar with the work. In either case, the image is a failure.

edited 23rd Dec '10 1:14:42 AM by troacctid

The image merely has to look like the trope, if it's not an example, then that's less of a problem than being an example but not looking it.

"Less of a problem" does not mean "not a problem."

Far less of a problem. Not What It Looks Like is not something I consider grounds for declaring an image bad.

In the absence of better options, which is never.

If I'm not mistaken, Madrugrada once said something along the lines of 'an image that doesn't work if you know the context is almost as bad as an image that only works if you know the context.'

I did, and that's my personal opinion, not an admin ruling.

I believe it was in the context of using Walker Texas Ranger on the Cowboy Cop page — yes, he's a cop and yes, he looks like a cowboy, but the character is not a Cowboy Cop by the definition of the trope. Hence, to anyone who is familiar with the work, it's a misleading picture, and therefore, not a particularly good page image.

edited 25th Dec '10 9:12:55 AM by Madrugada

That's actually a form of Just A Face And A Caption, he's a Cowboy+Cop not Cowboy Cop, but he looks like Cowboy+Cop, not "not an example but looks it".

edited 25th Dec '10 5:09:55 PM by Deboss

So what's the deal with Fan Art and Real Life images? I know that there's a slight opposition against using them (specifically the latter- former you need permission or something), but I'd just like to know what our official stance is for the record.

Also, how much "text" is allowed in an image before it becomes a Wall of Text?

edited 25th Jan '11 4:21:02 PM by Mattonymy

If it's for a trope used in media, there is a slight preference for a page image from media.

Fan Art is fine if it's a better representation of the actual character than the original media can provide (for example, many of the video game character types are illustrated with fanart because video game screenshots are often too small, too blurry, partially obscured by a dialogue window, or for some other reason simply don't show the character very well); if it's a fandom or audience reaction trope (because there probably isn't going to be any official art that fits); or if a particular piece of fanart is simply strongly accepted as being a much better representation of the trope.

Original art follows pretty much the same guidelines.

Real Life images are acceptable if they illustrate the trope in a way that cannot be done by an from-media image, if the trope is best illustrated by a comparison of Real Life to the in-media use, or if (again) a specific Real Life image is strongly acknowledged to be an excellent candidate and there's nothing close from media.

edited 25th Jan '11 4:34:35 PM by Madrugada

The line I always use for Wall of Text is whether or not the image does anything. If it's just background, then it's likely Wall of Text. I also try to use "does it work without the text" but it's not as reliable, particularly when plot related tropes come up.

I don't think "Does it work without the text" is a useful standard at all, really, because it seems to arbitrarily exclude comics images (i.e., the medium that's all about text and image working together.)

Is there a way to start an Image Picking conversation for a YKTTW?

I got a (not entirely unfounded) remark about the image I thought of including in the article. And based on the examples I already saw, the trope itself is valid.

here's the YKTTW . If I want to start an image discussion, could I just start one in this forum without including a link to the (as yet not existing) trope page?

I don't see why not.