Help:Uploading files
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You can upload files to PathfinderWiki and embed them in articles. When a file is uploaded, PathfinderWiki creates a file page named after the filename and prefixed with "File:".
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Summary |
Supported file types and sizes
By default, the wiki allows you to upload files with certain extensions only:
- Images
- png
- gif
- jpg or jpeg
- svg
- webp
- Audio
- mp3
For images from paizo.com, you can upload the file in its original format without converting it.
For other images, the preferred formats are:
- SVG for structured vector drawings and logos
- WEBP, if available, for photographs, logos, and non-vector icons
- JPG for photographic images or images of detailed artwork with millions of colors and shades
- PNG for fixed-color images such as icons, or for detailed images with transparency
- MP3 for audio
Files cannot be larger than 20MB.
Uploading a file
To upload a file, go to Special:Upload. In the PathfinderWiki menu under "Tools," this is the "Upload file" link.
Check the file's license
Before uploading, please ensure that you have the right to upload and redistribute the file in question, and that the image and its intended usage on PathfinderWiki complies with any further licensing requirements. Please note that as with wiki pages, others can edit or delete your uploads if they think it serves the project, and you can be blocked from uploading if you abuse the system.
MediaWiki automatically resizes images as appropriate, so upload the highest-resolution version of any image you want to upload. Note that the Community Use Policy prohibits resizing, cropping, or otherwise modifying any image provided under that license, such as those from paizo.com. The MediaWiki software handles images in a manner compliant with the CUP.
Make sure the file isn't already on the wiki
Search the wiki for the file name or the image's subject and make sure the image isn't already on the wiki. If it is, you might encounter an error while uploading it. You can also check the upload log and file list; links to them are under the File upload tools header of the upload page and batch upload page.
Select the file
Single files
On the upload page, scroll down to the "Browse..." button. Clicking it brings up your operating system's standard file open dialog. Choosing a file from your computer will fill the name of that file into the text field next to the button.
Provide a suitable file name. The file name you provide here before uploading it to the wiki doesn't need to be the same as the file name stored on your computer. Please name your files descriptively to avoid confusion and make sure that the file name has the proper extension. File names are case-sensitive—this applies even for the file name extension.
Multiple files
Sometimes it's more efficient to upload several files at once. You can do this on the batch upload page, which works a little differently from the single-file upload page.
Rename the files on your local computer to the file names you want them to use on the wiki before proceeding. Please name your files descriptively to avoid confusion and make sure that the file name has the proper extension. File names are case-sensitive—this applies even for the file name extension.
You can either select a group of files on your local computer, then drag and drop them onto the appropriate button on the batch upload page, or you can click the buttons and select the files from the window that appears.
After the files are uploaded, links appear for each uploaded file. Open each link in a new browser window or tab, then edit each file to add and complete the templates.
Provide file information
In the summary section, add the {{File}} template and fill the appropriate fields. (For a sample template, scroll up and expand the Sample {{File}} template header.) This important template automatically and consistently formats information about files and categorizes files appropriately. For more information, consult the template's documentation at {{File/doc}}.
For example, an image of Valeros, the iconic fighter, uses the following {{File}} template to note:
- the file's copyright holder and year
- its artist
- its print and web sources, if relevant
- whether the image is used on a book's cover
- a summary of the image
- keywords for categorizing the image
{{File
| year = 2019
| copy = Paizo Inc.
| artist = Wayne Reynolds
| print = Core Rulebook
| page = 145
| web = {{Cite web
| author = [[Mark Moreland]]
| date = May 14, 2019
| title = Iconic Evolution: Valeros
| page = Paizo blog
| url = https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6sgmy
}}
| summary = [[Valeros]], iconic [[human]] [[fighter]].
| keyword1 = Valeros
| keyword2 = iconics
| keyword3 = humans
| keyword4 = fighters
| keyword5 = swords
| keyword6 = shields
| keyword7 = full-body portraits
}}
Choose a license
In the licensing dropdown, select an appropriate license. In general, images from Paizo blogs, product cover images from the Paizo store, and files from Community Use Packages use the Community Use Policy license for each type of image. For detailed help selecting a license, see the PathfinderWiki:Copyrights and Help:Copyright on images articles.
Watch for updates
You can also opt to add the file page to your watchlist to track it for updates made by other editors, by checking the "Watch the File" option before uploading.
Do it!
On the single-file upload page, press the "Upload file" button to upload the file. This might take some time if you're uploading a large file over a slow internet connection.
We recommend paying attention to any warnings that might appear after clicking "Upload file". If you are sure the image you are uploading is correct despite the warnings, you can check the "Ignore any warnings" box to bypass them.
Duplicate files
If you upload a file with the single-file upload page with the same name as an existing one, or if MediaWiki detects that a file is the same as an already uploaded file, it warns you of the situation after you upload the file but before any changes are made. You can replace an existing file if your version is newer; consult the file history on the file page to see when the image was uploaded, and if you're unsure, ask about replacing the file on the file page's talk page or in our Discord chat.
The batch upload page does not inform you of duplicate files. If you upload a file that already exists with the batch file uploader, MediaWiki adds the duplicate as a new version.
File categories
The {{File}} template handles many of the common categories for files. Fill every template parameter that you can in order to make the file more accessible through searches and category listings.
- The artist parameter of {{File}} categorizes artwork into an appropriate subcategory, such as Category:Artwork by Wayne Reynolds.
- If the artist is unknown, omit the parameter or leave it blank to categorize it in Category:Artwork by unknown artists.
- If the artist is intentionally uncredited, or if it must be manually categorized, use "None" to avoid automatic categorization.
- The print parameter categorizes artwork into an appropriate subcategory, such as Category:Artwork from Rule of Fear
- If the artwork's source is unknown, omit the parameter or leave it blank to categorize it in Category:Artwork from unknown works.
- If the artwork is not published in a print work, use "Unpublished", which adds Category:Unpublished artwork.
- The keyword parameters, such as keyword1 and keyword2, categorize artwork into an "Images of" category, such as Category:Images of humans for keyword1=humans.
- The year parameter categorizes artwork into an appropriate subcategory, such as Category:2016 artwork.
Notable keyword categories
When uploading images, consider using some of these useful keywords (like keyword1 mentioned above):
- Portraits
- For images depicting a character's full form, similar to the artwork you might see on a pawn, use full-body portraits. For images depicting a character's face or bust, similar to the artwork you might see on a face card, use face portraits.
- Races and creature types
- If an image is the only image you can find on the wiki for a creature, note its type, such as humanoids or outsiders. If it's one of multiple images of the creature, simply use the creature's plural form, like humans or goblins.
- Example: File:Red serpentfolk.jpg
- (name)
- If the image is one of multiple images on the wiki depicting a person or named creature, add their name, such as Seoni or Asmodeus.
- (character classes)
- If the image is of a character with classes, you can add them as keywords, such as wizards and experts.
- Example: File:Valeros.jpg
- landscapes and city landscapes
- If an image depicts a landscape, add the landscapes keyword. If it's a landscape of a city, add the city landscapes keyword as well as the name of the city, such as Korvosa.
- Example: File:Korvosa panorama.jpg
- (symbols)
- Several keywords are useful for logos and symbols, including logos for real-world logos, holy symbols for divine symbols, and national symbols and city symbols for flags, crests, banners, and other municipal symbols.
- Example: File:Korvosan Flag.jpg
Using uploaded files
You can embed images into articles using the regular internal link syntax:
[[File:Wikilogo.svg]]
You can also resize the image to fit better on the page by providing a width in pixels:
[[File:Wikilogo.svg|60px]]
In most articles, frame and size the image automatically and align it to the right of the page by adding the thumb parameter:
[[File:Wikilogo.svg|thumb]]
... or align it to the left, but only if you must in order to wrap text around it:
[[File:Wikilogo.svg|thumb|left]]
... and caption it with wikitext:
[[File:Wikilogo.svg|thumb|The [[PathfinderWiki]] logo.]]
To resize the image for everyone who views the article, you can provide a proportional size factor with the upright parameter:
[[File:Wikilogo.svg|thumb|upright=0.8|The [[PathfinderWiki]] logo, 20% smaller than normal.]]
If you have an account and are logged in, you can also adjust the size of thumbnail images in articles in your user preferences, under the Appearances tab.
You can also change the link destination used when clicking on the image. By default, the wiki links to its file description page:
[[File:Wikilogo.svg|thumb|The [[PathfinderWiki]] logo.|link=PathfinderWiki]]
To link to a file's description file in text instead of displaying its image, prefix the file page reference with a colon:
[[:File:Wikilogo.svg|Click here for an image of the PathfinderWiki logo.]]
Click here for an image of the PathfinderWiki logo.
If you uploaded an audio file, you can use the {{Audioplayer}} template to provide a compact interface for readers to listen to the audio:
{{Audioplayer|name=Hook Mountain trailer.mp3}}