File talk:Asterix - Cast.png

Reducing the image?

Is it really necessary to reduce the image? At the moment, all the characters are recognizable, but if we make it even a bit smaller they won't be anymore. For example, I've tried reducing the size by 20% and some of the characters in the background weren't distinguishable anymore. In any cases, I think it's already a low-res image with poor jpeg compression so I doubt it could be use for anything else than illustrating the article. Laurent (talk) 13:22, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

Upon looking at the reduced image compared to the 'original' larger one, I agree. Is there a way to mark this so it doesn't get tagged for reduction again? Is that appropriate here? Peachmomoko (talk) 00:13, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

I don't think there as this is normally the purpose of the fair use rational and license templates (which are already both present). I will expand the rational explaining why the picture is only usable at this size and hopefully that should do it. Laurent (talk) 01:11, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

Fair use images are for use in articles and should typically be sized per defaults. In such an image as this, the individual characters will not be recognizable in the image as displayed in the article. Given this, all arguments for a higher res image are for the file namespace. Bzzt. A non-free content policy violation. Sincerely, Jack Merridew 23:31, 25 March 2010 (UTC)

Simply not true. We often -- eg for mathematical diagrams, but also for non-free content as well -- use images in articles knowing that they are thumbnails, and that the reader will only be able to gain the full "significant increase in their understanding of the topic of the article", which is what justifies the presence of the image, if they click through to see it at higher resolution. I have had larger images upheld at WP:Deletion Review on just those grounds, and as WikiLaurent and Peachmomoko put forward above, this seems to be exactly such a case.

The legal position is that no adverse weight will be held against Wikipedia (nor, just as significant, against any commercial downstream reuser), if the image is no more detailed than needed to achieve the purpose of use claimed. That is what WP:NFC aims to reflect, and how the "low resolution" clause has always been interpreted. Images larger than typical are acceptable, if a clear explanation is given as to how that additional size is necessary, i.e. why it specifically contributes to reader understanding.

Note: this issue has now also been raised at WT:NFC, where Masem (talk · contribs) has given similar advice. Jheald (talk) 23:03, 28 March 2010 (UTC)