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* It is usually unnecessary to state what kind of image is being shown. In the case of a map of the world which clearly shows countries that are members of [[Wikipedia:NATO|NATO]] you can just use the caption "NATO members", rather than "Map of NATO members". | * It is usually unnecessary to state what kind of image is being shown. In the case of a map of the world which clearly shows countries that are members of [[Wikipedia:NATO|NATO]] you can just use the caption "NATO members", rather than "Map of NATO members". | ||
* An artist's rendition of a subject of history should be identified as such to avoid confusing details of actual events or portrait likenesses with artistic renditions of them, which are not always accurate. | * An artist's rendition of a subject of history should be identified as such to avoid confusing details of actual events or portrait likenesses with artistic renditions of them, which are not always accurate. | ||
* | * The UniWiki has its technical means of getting readers to the full-size version of the image; therefore amending the caption with a direct link to the image (for example, "click for larger view") is not appropriate. | ||
=== Formatting and punctuation === | === Formatting and punctuation === | ||
* Captions normally start with a capital letter. | * Captions normally start with a capital letter. | ||
* The text of captions should not be specially formatted (with italics, for example), except in ways that would apply if it occurred in the main text. | * The text of captions should not be specially formatted (with italics, for example), except in ways that would apply if it occurred in the main text. | ||
* Most captions are not complete sentences, but merely [[sentence | * Most captions are not complete sentences, but merely [[Wikipedia:Sentence fragment|sentence fragments]], which should not end with a period. If any complete sentence occurs in a caption, then all sentences, ''and any sentence fragments'', in that caption should end with a period. | ||
** "The Conservatory during Macquarie Night Lights, a summer festival" (no final period), but | ** "The Conservatory during Macquarie Night Lights, a summer festival" (no final period), but | ||
** "The Conservatory during Macquarie Night Lights. The Conservatory was spotlit for the occasion." (final period for complete sentence and another to conclude the preceding sentence fragment) | ** "The Conservatory during Macquarie Night Lights. The Conservatory was spotlit for the occasion." (final period for complete sentence and another to conclude the preceding sentence fragment) | ||
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=== Infoboxes and leading images === | === Infoboxes and leading images === | ||
An infobox image and, in the absence of an infobox, a photograph or other image in the article's [[ | An infobox image and, in the absence of an infobox, a photograph or other image in the article's [[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Lead section|lead section]], serves to illustrate the topic of the article, as such, the caption should work singularly towards that purpose. Depending on the nature of the subject and the image used, the ideal caption can range from none at all to a regular full-sentence caption. The following examples serve to describe the range of situations for particular infobox images: | ||
* '''No caption''' — Infoboxes normally display the page name as the title of the infobox. If nothing more than the page name needs to be said about the image, then the caption should be omitted as being redundant with the title of the infobox. | * '''No caption''' — Infoboxes normally display the page name as the title of the infobox. If nothing more than the page name needs to be said about the image, then the caption should be omitted as being redundant with the title of the infobox. | ||
* '''Short caption''' — Infoboxes for things that change over time should usually mention the year of the image briefly (e.g. "Cosby in 2010" | * '''Short caption''' — Infoboxes for things that change over time should usually mention the year of the image briefly (e.g. "Cosby in 2010" [[Wikipedia:Bill Cosby|Bill Cosby]]. If the image is of a person doing that for which they are known at an otherwise common event, the correct verb delivers the message: "Jackson performs in 1988." [[Wikipedia:Michael Jackson|Michael Jackson]]. As an additional example, animals may differ from the one pictured, e.g. Noisy miner "Subspecies ''leachi''" in [[Wikipedia:Noisy miner|Noisy miner]], photographs captioned simply "Male" and "Female" for [[Wikipedia:Lion|Lion]], and "Publicity photo for ''Jailhouse Rock'' (1957)" for [[Wikipedia:Elvis Presley|Elvis Presley]]. While more detail could be added, consider carefully whether it might distract the reader from the subject of the article or inform the reader about the importance of the subject. | ||
* '''Full sentence caption''' — When the caption can convey the significance of the article by explaining the significance or context of the image, it should. For example, "Angelou recites her poem, 'On the Pulse of Morning', at President Bill Clinton's inauguration, January 1993", | * '''Full sentence caption''' — When the caption can convey the significance of the article by explaining the significance or context of the image, it should. For example, "Angelou recites her poem, 'On the Pulse of Morning', at President Bill Clinton's inauguration, January 1993", [[Wikipedia:Maya Angelou|Maya Angelou]]. In this situation, take extra care that both the image and the caption stay sharply focused on the whole of the article's subject per [[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Infoboxes]]. [[Wikipedia:BioShock Infinite|BioShock Infinite]] gives an example of an informative yet brief full-sentence caption describing the key element (the singular protagonist) depicted and its relationship to the article's subject. The need for a full-length caption in an infobox can generally indicate one of two things: 1) an exceptionally appropriate image or 2) an image that doesn't really belong in the infobox. Consider this distinction carefully as it depends on how precisely the image applies to the subject as a whole. | ||
Additional descriptive information about the image should be contained in the image description on the image's page. | Additional descriptive information about the image should be contained in the image description on the image's page. | ||
== Tips for describing pictures == | == Tips for describing pictures == | ||
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**Who took it? (Generally, this is only included in the caption if the photographer is notable) | **Who took it? (Generally, this is only included in the caption if the photographer is notable) | ||
**Why was it taken? | **Why was it taken? | ||
* | **See [[Wikipedia:Proper right|proper right]] for ways of unambiguously describing right and left in images. | ||
Keep in mind that not all of this information needs to be included in the caption, since the [[Wikipedia:Image description page|image description page]] should offer more complete information about the picture | Keep in mind that not all of this information needs to be included in the caption, since the [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Image description page|image description page]] should offer more complete information about the picture. | ||
== Credits == | == Credits == | ||
Unless relevant to the subject, do not credit the image author or copyright holder in the article. It is assumed that this is not necessary to fulfill attribution requirements of the GFDL or Creative Commons licenses as long as the appropriate credit is on the image description page. If the artist or photographer is independently notable, though, then a wikilink to the artist's biography may be appropriate, but image credits in the infobox image are discouraged, even if the artist is notable, since the infobox should only contain key facts of the article's subject, per [[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Infoboxes]]. | |||
Unless relevant to the subject, do not credit the image author or copyright holder in the article. It is assumed that this is not necessary to fulfill attribution requirements of the GFDL or Creative Commons licenses as long as the appropriate credit is on the image description page. If the artist or photographer is independently notable, though, then a wikilink to the artist's biography may be appropriate, but image credits in the infobox image are discouraged, even if the artist is notable, since the infobox should only contain key facts of the article's subject, per [[ | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[ | * [[UniWiki:Manual of Style#Captions]] – Main UMoS entry for captions with formatting recommendations | ||
*[[ | * [[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Accessibility#Images]] | ||
*[[Wikipedia:Alternative text for images]] | * [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Alternative text for images|Wikipedia:Alternative text for images]] | ||
*[[Wikipedia:Images]] | * [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Images|Wikipedia:Images]] | ||
*[[Wikipedia: | * [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Picture tutorial|Wikipedia:Picture tutorial]] | ||
* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Uploading images|Wikipedia:Uploading images]] | |||
*[[Wikipedia:Uploading images | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||