Help:Images and other media

Introduction

The inclusion of media such as image, video, and audio files can at times be helpful in illustrating and identifying subject matter in articles. That said, PoliceWiki is not intended to be a media archive but only use media files as necessary for instructional and reference purposes. This article explains how to upload media and how to properly provide information and categorize media on PoliceWiki.

Important note: At the current time, PoliceWiki has only enabled the uploading of image files in common formats and "ogg" files for short audio samples. We will consider adding video uploading in the future but only once we have carefully monitored site and bandwidth usage and can be certain it is not going to overload our provided hosting plan. Until then, please use external links to reference to any video or other format audio files in articles.

How to upload images

The quick way to insert an image is to use the Embedded image button at the top of every text entry window. This generates the following code:

File:Example.jpg

Where you then replace "Example.jpg" with the name of the file you wish to upload (for example: "Stewart_Copeland.jpg"). When you chose to Save page, the link for the image will be in place in the article. Choose that link and you will be taken to the File upload page.

From here, input the Source filename of where the image you wish to upload is located on your computer (or click Browse... to navigate to it simply.) In the Summary box, please input information about the image file you are uploading, preferably using one of the templates listed below. Choose Upload file, and your file will be uploaded unless there is some problem with it (format, image size, etc.)

For information on customizing the appearance of an image in an article page, please see Help:Images @ MediaWiki for more information.

Many Category:Article templates include placeholders for appropriate images. When using such a template, replace the name of the placeholder image with the name of the image you plan to upload (Example: when using Template:Person, replace "Image_of_person.png" with the name of the image file you are uploading.)

Image information templates

All image files should have a descriptive information page. This is especially important for images uploaded under Fair Use when you are not the copyright holder of the image. Use the template best suited for the image you are uploading from the following list:

Template	Used for...	Example usage
Template:Album image information	information pages on album cover art	Image:Police-album-reggattadeblanc.jpg
Template:Book cover information	information pages on book cover art	Image:Wildthing-iancopeland.gif
Template:Film poster information	information pages on film poster art
Template:Logo information	information pages about logos
Template:Magazine cover information	information pages on magazine covers
Template:Music video screenshot information	information pages on music video screenshots
Template:Newspaper image information	information pages on newspaper images and scans
Template:Poster information	information pages on posters
Template:Promotional image information	information pages on promotional images
Template:Public domain self-released image	information pages on images you've created/photographed yourself, and wish to release to public domain usage
Template:Single image information	information pages on singles' cover art	Image:walkingonthemoon.jpg
Template:Video cover information	information pages on video and dvd cover art
Template:Video screenshot information	information pages on video and television screenshots
Template:Web screenshot information	information pages on screenshots of websites

Other media information templates

• Template:Audio sample information: for information pages about audio samples.
• Template:Generic media information: for information pages about images and other media not covered by any other template, including their rights permissions, author, source, and summary. Use this template, for instance, for a photograph you've taken yourself and wish to release for usage on PoliceWiki. (Sample usage: Image:2007-07-29.jpg)

Categorizing media

All media files should be properly categorized, just like article pages. They should be placed in the appropriate category within Category:Media files, for example: Category:Album_images. This will help users find images for use in articles that may already be in place for use, as well as browse media that is uploaded in an easier fashion.