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Media & Image Usage Policy

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Revision as of 06:36, 29 November 2025 by CraftAdmin (talk | contribs) (Created page with " This policy defines the rules for including images and other media files in Craftpedia. It applies to all language portals and all contributors. Craftpedia presents traditional crafts with cultural respect and academic accuracy. For this reason, images must be authentic, properly licensed, and culturally appropriate. __TOC__ == Purpose of This Policy == The purpose of this policy is to ensure that: * all images used in Craftpedia are legally and ethically permiss...")
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This policy defines the rules for including images and other media files in Craftpedia. It applies to all language portals and all contributors.

Craftpedia presents traditional crafts with cultural respect and academic accuracy. For this reason, images must be authentic, properly licensed, and culturally appropriate.

Purpose of This Policy

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The purpose of this policy is to ensure that:

  • all images used in Craftpedia are legally and ethically permissible;
  • cultural heritage is represented accurately and respectfully;
  • contributors understand where images may be sourced from;
  • Craftpedia remains aligned with museum-grade standards of documentation.

General Principles

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Craftpedia prioritizes:

  • Authenticity – Only real photographs or scans of actual objects may be used.
  • Respect – Sensitive cultural materials must be approached with care.
  • Licensing Compliance – All images must be legally reusable.
  • Accuracy – Images must clearly represent the craft tradition being described.
  • Neutrality – Images must not promote commercial products or brands.

Prohibition of AI-Generated Images

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Craftpedia does not accept:

  • AI-generated images (Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, DALL·E, etc.);
  • AI-edited or AI-enhanced cultural images;
  • composite or fictional representations of craft objects.

AI-generated media is prohibited because:

  • it cannot guarantee cultural authenticity;
  • it may distort historical or ethnographic details;
  • it fails museum documentation standards.

Acceptable Image Sources

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The following sources are allowed:

Wikimedia Commons

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Preferred source for images due to its:

  • clear licensing;
  • cultural and academic reliability;
  • integration with MediaWiki.

Only files with the following licenses may be used:

  • CC BY
  • CC BY-SA
  • CC0 / Public Domain
  • GNU licenses (where appropriate)

Images with "NC" (non-commercial) or "ND" (no derivatives) licenses should not be used.

Personal Photography (Optional)

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Contributors may upload their own photographs only if:

  • they are the photographer and hold full rights;
  • the object is not restricted by cultural or museum policies;
  • the image is released under an acceptable free license (e.g., CC BY-SA).

If uploaded, the contributor must provide:

  • location;
  • object description;
  • date of photograph;
  • permission (if taken in a museum with specific rules).

Museum Open Collections

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Some museums release images under free licenses. Examples:

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Open Access)
  • Rijksmuseum
  • Cleveland Museum of Art
  • Smithsonian Open Access

These images are allowed if licensing permits.

Unacceptable Image Sources

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The following may not be used:

  • AI-generated images
  • Images from commercial websites (Etsy, Amazon, craft shops)
  • Images from Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok
  • Images covered by copyright without a clear license
  • Photographs taken inside museums that prohibit photography
  • Photos that depict sacred, restricted, or sensitive cultural materials without permission
  • “Promotional” product photos or commercial catalog images

Culturally Sensitive Materials

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Craftpedia must respect:

  • ritual objects;
  • sacred materials;
  • funerary items;
  • objects restricted by indigenous or local communities.

Images of sensitive objects should not be used when:

  • the originating community restricts photography;
  • the image’s use could be considered disrespectful;
  • the object is not meant for public display.

If in doubt:

  • leave the article without images;
  • consult additional authoritative sources.

When to Use No Image

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It is acceptable—and often appropriate—for an article to contain no images.

Editors should choose “no image” when:

  • no reliable and freely licensed images exist;
  • the only available images come from commercial sources;
  • images include modern reproductions that are misleading;
  • images are culturally sensitive or restricted;
  • an image would distort or oversimplify the tradition.

Craftpedia values accuracy over visual completeness.

Caption and Attribution Requirements

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Every image must include:

  • a factual description of the object;
  • approximate date or period (if known);
  • material and technique (if known);
  • attribution to the source (e.g., Wikimedia Commons file link, museum, author);
  • license information when required.

Example caption:

"Porcelain bowl with cobalt-blue underglaze decoration, Edo period (18th century).
Image: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0."

Captions must not contain:

  • evaluative adjectives (“beautiful,” “amazing”);
  • speculative interpretations.

Uploading Policy

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By default:

  • contributors should **not** upload new images unless strictly necessary;
  • images should be sourced from Wikimedia Commons whenever possible.

Uploads are allowed only when:

  • the contributor owns the rights;
  • the license is appropriate;
  • the photograph meets museum-grade standards;
  • it clearly contributes to the article.

Images may be removed if licensing, authenticity, or cultural respect is in question.

Quality Standards

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Images should:

  • show the craft object clearly;
  • avoid heavy visual filters or stylization;
  • avoid cropping that removes essential parts;
  • avoid low-quality mobile photos unless no alternative exists.

Blurry, noisy, or distorted images may be removed.

Version History

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  • 1.0 – Initial release (English)