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Image queue moderation
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Please see the Staff guidelines page for general moderation guidelines (how to deal with rude behaviour, etc.) Below are some guidelines specific to moderating the image uploads queue.
Below are general topics which apply to the image queue as a whole.
Release images are intended to help users identify a release. With few exceptions, the release image should reflect what the release would look like new in a shop. One can think of scanning exactly what you would see if you were to pick up the new release in a shop after removing the shrink wrap.
Like the rest of the data submitted to RYM, originality is more important than quality. The goal of RYM is to create and maintain a unique database of facts about music. This means that we do not want to simply copy information from other music databases. For example, a unique, personal scan of a release image is always preferred over an image sourced from some other database, even if it is of better quality.
Please read the current guidelines for uploading images at Image uploads before attempting to moderate in the image queue.
The submitter must always provide a source for any image being uploaded, even if it is obvious to the moderator that the upload is correct. A source is important for both legal and historical purposes; i.e. so that a user in the future can easily identify where the current image came from. Please see Sources for more information.
Acceptable sources (in order of preference) include: original scans, the artist's or label's official website, the artist's or label's official Facebook/MySpace/etc., a site dedicated to the artist (fan site or similar), Wikipedia, or an online store.
Unacceptable sources include vague sources/explanations such as "website," "Google," "from the internet," etc. Submissions with these types of sources should either be denied immediately or the moderator may ask the submitter for a valid source.
[wi_right:image_queue_structure]
Here is some information about the layout of a submission, broken down into several sections.
A: At the top of the submission, you can find various information about the submission. From left-to-right, you will see the type of image submission in bold, the artist name, the release title, the label, the catalog number, the format, and any attributes tied to the release. This area is always important to inspect when determining whether the upload is correct based on the current information tied to the release.
B: To the left of the submission, you can find the submission date, the submitter, a link to the submitter's image upload contribution history, and a link to the image submission history specific to the issue.
C: In the middle of the submission you can find the image that is being uploaded. When a previous image for the issue exists, you will see two images, clearly noted "Old image" and "New image." The crop button and the buttons to close the image submission are located under the image(s).
D: At the bottom of the submission is the source provided by the submitter.
E: Below the source field is a comment box where you can leave comments about the submission. If you select the box "Notify the submitter that you've left a comment," the submitter will receive a private message that you have commented on the submission. Your comment will also be displayed in the source field. If you do not select the box, the submitter will not receive a private message and the comment will only be displayed in the source field. This method is typically used when you want to make a comment about the submission addressed to other moderators.
There are three ways to close a submission:
Approve: When an image is approved, the approved image will become the current display image for the release. The previous image cannot be restored. The user will be credited with an approved image upload contribution.
Deny: When an image is denied, the current image remains the image displayed for the release. A denied image upload will be tallied in the user's contributions. A private message will be sent to the user notifying him/her that the image submission has been denied.
Handle Externally: When an image is handled externally, the current image remains the displayed image for the release. This is typically used when a submitter has made a mistake, there are duplicate submissions, etc. This has no effect on the user's contributions.
As mentioned in the General rules for uploading, images with borders are not acceptable unless the border is part of the actual cover art. If an image submission has a border that needs to be cropped, ask the submitter to crop the image by selecting the "Crop" button in the queue.
If you hover over an image in the queue, a black border will appear so that you can more easily determine whether an image needs to be cropped.
Below are some topics regarding the specifics of moderating image uploads in the image queue.
It is first important to recognize the specific roles of the moderator and the submitter.
The role of the moderator is quality control. RYM wants accurate images representing the releases in question to maintain a quality database of facts about music releases. The moderator must only determine whether the image upload is correct or incorrect.
The role of the submitter is to provide the necessary evidence/justification as to why the image is correct so that the moderator can feel confident about approving the image.
Before even looking at the source provided by the submitter, the moderator should first look at the upload and determine whether the image seems correct.
Below are some examples of questions that the moderator should think about when first looking at a submission:
Does the image look correct for the format?
Does the image look correct for the issue?
Does the image look correct for the packaging or other attributes?
Does the image look correct for the primary issue (if no information about the release currently exists)?
Does the source look valid?
If any one of these questions are in doubt, ask the submitter to provide more information about the upload.
A new image submission is the first image to be uploaded to a certain release; i.e. currently there is no image for the release. Be sure to check that the image makes sense with respect to the format, catalog number, etc.
A replacement image submission is any image upload after the first submission, wherein the proposed image upload will replace the current image. Note that once a replacement image is approved, the previous image cannot be restored.
If the replacement image is identical to the current image, but of better quality and from a valid source, you may approve it instantly.
If the image differs from the current image up for replacement, check the source to confirm that the new image is correct and the current image is incorrect. Some common differences in images to take note of include: text differences (such as size or placement of font or different catalog number), color/brightness/etc. differences, dimension differences (for example, a digipak release should not be square), other features (such as a Parental Advisory logo), etc. If the source insufficiently demonstrates why the proposed image is correct, ask the user for more information. If the user does not respond or cannot provide sufficient evidence, deny the submission.
If you are unsure about something with the submission, for instance, whether a certain part of the image is actually part of the image or if it should be cropped, etc. always ask the submitter to clarify or provide more information about the upload.
A personal scan is one of the best sources for image uploads, however sometimes users are aware of this and try to con moderators to circumvent the sourcing policies. Be sure that the image actually looks like a scan.
It is ok to upload images from other issues on RYM. The user, however, must still demonstrate that the image is correct for the issue he/she is uploading to.
The submitter here has uploaded an image from a valid source, however, the user must provide a link to the URL of the label's website.
The submitter here has uploaded an image which is identical to that of another issue currently on RYM. While this is an acceptable source, the user must demonstrate that the images are in fact identical. For instance, a valid justification can be that the user owns the issue and can confirm that the image is the same.
Here the submitter has provided a direct URL to the image. While the image may or may not be correct, this source is not helpful because the moderator cannot see the image in context with the contents of the site where it is being hosted. The original source should be updated to this URL.
Contents |
Basics of image uploads
Below are general topics which apply to the image queue as a whole.
What types of images does RYM want?
Release images are intended to help users identify a release. With few exceptions, the release image should reflect what the release would look like new in a shop. One can think of scanning exactly what you would see if you were to pick up the new release in a shop after removing the shrink wrap.
Like the rest of the data submitted to RYM, originality is more important than quality. The goal of RYM is to create and maintain a unique database of facts about music. This means that we do not want to simply copy information from other music databases. For example, a unique, personal scan of a release image is always preferred over an image sourced from some other database, even if it is of better quality.
RYM guidelines for images
Please read the current guidelines for uploading images at Image uploads before attempting to moderate in the image queue.
Sources
The submitter must always provide a source for any image being uploaded, even if it is obvious to the moderator that the upload is correct. A source is important for both legal and historical purposes; i.e. so that a user in the future can easily identify where the current image came from. Please see Sources for more information.
Acceptable sources
Acceptable sources (in order of preference) include: original scans, the artist's or label's official website, the artist's or label's official Facebook/MySpace/etc., a site dedicated to the artist (fan site or similar), Wikipedia, or an online store.
Unacceptable sources
Unacceptable sources include vague sources/explanations such as "website," "Google," "from the internet," etc. Submissions with these types of sources should either be denied immediately or the moderator may ask the submitter for a valid source.
Structure of a submission
[wi_right:image_queue_structure]
General layout
Here is some information about the layout of a submission, broken down into several sections.
Functions in the queue
Closing a submission
There are three ways to close a submission:
Cropping an image
As mentioned in the General rules for uploading, images with borders are not acceptable unless the border is part of the actual cover art. If an image submission has a border that needs to be cropped, ask the submitter to crop the image by selecting the "Crop" button in the queue.
If you hover over an image in the queue, a black border will appear so that you can more easily determine whether an image needs to be cropped.
Moderating images
Below are some topics regarding the specifics of moderating image uploads in the image queue.
Moderator vs. submitter
It is first important to recognize the specific roles of the moderator and the submitter.
The role of the moderator is quality control. RYM wants accurate images representing the releases in question to maintain a quality database of facts about music releases. The moderator must only determine whether the image upload is correct or incorrect.
The role of the submitter is to provide the necessary evidence/justification as to why the image is correct so that the moderator can feel confident about approving the image.
Using common sense
Before even looking at the source provided by the submitter, the moderator should first look at the upload and determine whether the image seems correct.
Below are some examples of questions that the moderator should think about when first looking at a submission:
If any one of these questions are in doubt, ask the submitter to provide more information about the upload.
New image submissions
A new image submission is the first image to be uploaded to a certain release; i.e. currently there is no image for the release. Be sure to check that the image makes sense with respect to the format, catalog number, etc.
Replacement image submissions
A replacement image submission is any image upload after the first submission, wherein the proposed image upload will replace the current image. Note that once a replacement image is approved, the previous image cannot be restored.
If the replacement image is identical to the current image, but of better quality and from a valid source, you may approve it instantly.
If the image differs from the current image up for replacement, check the source to confirm that the new image is correct and the current image is incorrect. Some common differences in images to take note of include: text differences (such as size or placement of font or different catalog number), color/brightness/etc. differences, dimension differences (for example, a digipak release should not be square), other features (such as a Parental Advisory logo), etc. If the source insufficiently demonstrates why the proposed image is correct, ask the user for more information. If the user does not respond or cannot provide sufficient evidence, deny the submission.
When in doubt, ask the submitter
If you are unsure about something with the submission, for instance, whether a certain part of the image is actually part of the image or if it should be cropped, etc. always ask the submitter to clarify or provide more information about the upload.
Examples
Acceptable submissions
A personal scan is one of the best sources for image uploads, however sometimes users are aware of this and try to con moderators to circumvent the sourcing policies. Be sure that the image actually looks like a scan.
It is ok to upload images from other issues on RYM. The user, however, must still demonstrate that the image is correct for the issue he/she is uploading to.
Needs a better source
The submitter here has uploaded an image from a valid source, however, the user must provide a link to the URL of the label's website.
The submitter here has uploaded an image which is identical to that of another issue currently on RYM. While this is an acceptable source, the user must demonstrate that the images are in fact identical. For instance, a valid justification can be that the user owns the issue and can confirm that the image is the same.
Here the submitter has provided a direct URL to the image. While the image may or may not be correct, this source is not helpful because the moderator cannot see the image in context with the contents of the site where it is being hosted. The original source should be updated to this URL.