Guidance on image vs. reproduction image?

[Bedwyr]

I'm editing a few missing images and refreshing some others. I've been using the outline of a common cartridge edge seen in the database. For example, most all the cartridges downloaded for the Super Famicom have the exact same outline with a different label pasted inside. I really fancy this as I like the uniformity. I've been doing the same recently with GBA and DS carts where they're missing or really distorted (like, the camera is not perfectly squared up over top of the cart) or damaged (the label has major dings and scrapes) or the lighting is poor. I got a couple rejection votes and, while I think it'll go through ultimately, is there a community consensus on what's "original" vs "fan reproduction"? I ask because it seems like 80% of the images in the database are technically reproductions and not literal photographs of physical media.

edit: It could also be that I'm just adding more unnecessary media and that's garnered a rejection, but I'm hesitant to actually submit combined with a deletion of the previous image I'm improving/doctoring.

Edited October 25, 2023 by Bedwyr

[JereBear]

2 hours ago, Bedwyr said:

I'm editing a few missing images and refreshing some others. I've been using the outline of a common cartridge edge seen in the database. For example, most all the cartridges downloaded for the Super Famicom have the exact same outline with a different label pasted inside. I really fancy this as I like the uniformity. I've been doing the same recently with GBA and DS carts where they're missing or really distorted (like, the camera is not perfectly squared up over top of the cart) or damaged (the label has major dings and scrapes) or the lighting is poor. I got a couple rejection votes and, while I think it'll go through ultimately, is there a community consensus on what's "original" vs "fan reproduction"? I ask because it seems like 80% of the images in the database are technically reproductions and not literal photographs of physical media.

edit: It could also be that I'm just adding more unnecessary media and that's garnered a rejection, but I'm hesitant to actually submit combined with a deletion of the previous image I'm improving/doctoring.

I haven't come across one of your changes yet. Could we get an example before and after?

[Bedwyr]

Both the DS carts I submitted got accepted. Check out the two UAS gray cartridges in Etrian Odyssey III. The one on the right is the new one. Probably 90% of cartridges use that exact frame. https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/10800-etrian-odyssey-iii-the-drowned-city

Guitar Hero On Tour, similar deal: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/6517-guitar-hero-on-tour

 

For comparison see Final Fantasy IV: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/6617-final-fantasy-iv

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/6510-final-fantasy-tactics-a2-grimoire-of-the-rift

and Golden Sun Dark Dawn (6th row): https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/10829-golden-sun-dark-dawn

Most all cart images in the database have this standard outline. No big deal or issue?

Edited October 26, 2023 by Bedwyr

[JereBear]

2 hours ago, Bedwyr said:

Both the DS carts I submitted got accepted. Check out the two UAS gray cartridges in Etrian Odyssey III. The one on the right is the new one. Probably 90% of cartridges use that exact frame. https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/10800-etrian-odyssey-iii-the-drowned-city

Guitar Hero On Tour, similar deal: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/6517-guitar-hero-on-tour

 

For comparison see Final Fantasy IV: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/6617-final-fantasy-iv

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/6510-final-fantasy-tactics-a2-grimoire-of-the-rift

and Golden Sun Dark Dawn (6th row): https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/10829-golden-sun-dark-dawn

Most all cart images in the database have this standard outline. No big deal or issue?

Ahh yeah. I gotcha. 
I don't know if there is a hard and fast rule for these or not. Personally, especially with yours being so faithful to the originals, I would say they should be put into a Cart-Reconstruction category but we do not have one. 
Until that ever happens I feel these should go fanart.
There are times I've accepted cart/disc templates through to replace actual media. But only in the cases where the original is terrible terrible quality. 
I don't like the carts and media to be all beat up but I would rather see original physical media. 

Edited October 26, 2023 by JereBear

[Bedwyr]

I think my position comes down to "Why not both?" (and "Mikey likes it"... but that's neither here nor there) and inertia. I value the clean uniformity of edited images over the actual image; others might value the actual image because it's *real* (and does what it says on the label). Honestly I think the reconstruction category kinda failed since there's whole uniform image sets--and that's partly the fault of people like me and of people importing massive external sets--now across every type. Like the horse is out of the barn and halfway across the next state. It would be good to divide things up, but that might have to be a huge manual database lift to make such changes. Like two Google Summer's worth of work... which would probably be insulting to the Google Summer developers doing database freshening.

Edited October 26, 2023 by Bedwyr

[LonestarK]

I haven't come across one of your requests in the queue, but I can think of a few reasons why you might get a rejection, just looking at the links you posted above;

let's use this one as an example:  Guitar Hero On Tour: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/6517-guitar-hero-on-tour

Original:

New Submission:

Possible Rejection Reasons:

1. Adding an extra cart image with no real variation / Adding a Duplicate Image (Should be a replacement of original image)

2. New Submission has smaller dimensions than original

3. New Submission's sticker is slightly out of focus / lower quality than original

 

The original image isn't great, so I think an argument can be made for replacement.  The original has a color palette that needs correction, it shows physical damage, and the sticker placement is slightly askew.  The new submission having smaller dimensions isn't a dealbreaker for me, but being out of focus is.

Personally I don't care if the cart image is an actual photograph or just someone's photoshop, as long as it's accurate and it looks good.

And as far as "why not both?", I think some would argue it inflates bandwidth, storage size, and potentially inconveniences the end user to sort through multiple cart images.  I think this inconvenience can be avoided with a new cart recon image type.  JereBear's solution may be the best until that gets implemented.