Forum:Standards for object infobox images

I've noticed a few object articles on the wiki that utilize Infobox object and use a tabber to display multiple images of the same object, with the only difference between the images being that the object has been recolored. I brought this up on the wiki discord server, and it was mentioned that a couple users have had concerns about this as well.

To be honest, I don't think having multiple images of the same object is at all necessary, and in fact I think it tends to detract from the article, more than add anything of value. I'd be curious to get the general opinion of the community, but I'd be in favor of amending the MoS to clarify how images should be displayed in infoboxes, or object infoboxes in particular. I personally would suggest that we only display a single image in each infobox instance, and that (if possible) the image displayed be as similar as possible to the image displayed in the buy mode/build mode catalog entry for the item (e.g. the object should have no background or be against a neutral background, the object should be oriented in the same direction, the object should be the same color).

Thoughts? --  LostInRiverview talk · blog  ·  contribs 14:33, January 24, 2019 (UTC)


 * I am inclined to agree with you in that object recolours don't offer an incredible amount of value. By no means do I think they're useless, but (in all honesty) the wiki has much more important things to worry about than filling in images of object recolours. Particularly, the current setup of using tabbers doesn't work well when objects have multiple parts that can be recoloured. Things like [//sims.wikia.com/index.php?title=Bouncy_Bork_Spring_Rider&oldid=857521 this] clearly should cause most people to stop and think about just how useful (or useless) these images really are.


 * In terms of your second point, it does seem to detract a little bit from the title of this thread (which is to discuss whether object recolours should be displayed in infoboxes or not), but I certainly do agree with having some standard for images in object infoboxes. We already have a de facto standard for Sim articles in showcasing the Sim's portrait in the infobox. Although object images don't tend to come along as nicely or easily (from what I hear, object thumbnails are of pitifully small size), I think we can get away with in-game screenshots, provided that the background is neutral in some sense, such as by using an empty lawn or a simple wall that isn't too distracting (I don't think it's necessary to have a solid-colour background; that would have to be added in later on and is just more work). I should note that I have used wall coverings in object images before, such as those in the [//sims.wikia.com/index.php?title=Vending_machine&oldid=854689#The_Sims_2:_Apartment_Life vending machine] article. — k6ka  🍁 ( Talk ·  Contributions ) 15:15, January 24, 2019 (UTC)
 * You're right, I think I got a bit carried away in terms of discussing an overall standard to object infobox images, instead of limiting it just to the first issue of the recolor images/tabbers. I think both are good discussions to have, and probably relevant to each other, so I'd be more inclined to just rename this thread accordingly. --  LostInRiverview talk · blog  ·  contribs 16:05, January 24, 2019 (UTC)


 * I express my thoughts and mix feelings on discord, so instead - I wanna add on k6ka opinion about regarding quality of pictures of showcasing object regardless of recolor (doesn't necessary have to be default looking). I would advice users to take snaps of objects that they already used and purchased in existing households, so the pictures come more naturally than left screenshoted in an empty grass yard or in front of a single wall. Or a build lot specifically for object shot with a 'set' of a room prop. DrakonoSkerdikas (talk) 16:29, January 24, 2019 (UTC)
 * You should restate your Discord comments here, since people who are reading and may participate in this thread may not be members of the wiki's Discord server, and so would not have any way of knowing what you had said. As well, the determination of official consensus on The Sims Wiki is based only on what is said in on-wiki discussions, not on what is said elsewhere. --  LostInRiverview talk · blog  ·  contribs 19:41, January 24, 2019 (UTC)


 * Still looking for resolution of this thread. @DakonoSkerdikas, can you please give your thoughts and feelings regarding this change, considering it seems as though you're the one spearheading it in the first place. --  LostInRiverview talk · blog  ·  contribs 03:57, April 6, 2019 (UTC)