Image Standards and Requirements

Use this guide as a reference when choosing an image type, preparing a file, or checking whether an upload is likely to pass moderation. The goal is simple: images should be accurate, useful in LaunchBox and Big Box, and placed in the correct category.

If you are unsure whether an image belongs in a specific type or region, check the moderation guidelines before submitting and explain your reasoning in the submission reason.

Accepted file types

Most image types accept PNG, JPG, or JPEG files.

Some image types require PNG files with a transparent background. These are:

• Clear Logo

• Box - 3D

• Cart - Front

• Cart - Back

• Cart - 3D

• Disc

If one of these transparent image types is uploaded as a JPG/JPEG, or as a PNG with no transparency, the site will reject it.

Automatic validation rules

The website automatically checks some technical requirements when you upload or change an image type.

Other image types still need to be accurate and good quality, even when there is no special automatic size or transparency rule.

All image types

The Games Database currently supports these game image types:

Choosing official, reconstructed, or fanart categories

Use official categories for official artwork, scans, screenshots, or media that represents the original game release. Do not put unofficial artwork into an official category just because it looks good.

Use reconstructed categories when the image has been rebuilt from pieces, recreated, cleaned up beyond a normal scan correction, or otherwise represents a reconstruction rather than an original asset.

Use fanart categories for fan-made or unofficial versions. If an image type does not explicitly say fanart, do not upload fanart into that category.

For example, do not upload a stylized fan-made logo as Clear Logo. Use official or accurately sourced logos for Clear Logo, and keep fan-made work in the appropriate fanart category.

Region guidance

Regions identify which release an image belongs to. Use a region when the image changes by release territory, especially for box art, cart art, disc art, flyers, and other physical media.

Examples:

• Use a North America region for North American box art.

• Use a Europe region for PAL box art.

• Use Japan for Japanese cover, cart, or disc artwork.

• Use the most appropriate general option available when an image is not region-specific.

Regions help users download artwork that matches their own library and help moderators tell the difference between duplicates and valid regional variants.

If you are unsure whether a type should be region-specific, refer to the moderation guidelines. When in doubt, include a clear reason such as Selected Europe because this is PAL box art.

Box art and physical media best practices

Prefer official physical box art when it exists. If both physical and digital versions exist, physical box art is usually preferred for standard box categories.

Keep front, back, spine, cart, and disc images in their matching categories. Do not upload a back cover as front box art, a disc as cart art, or a full packaging spread as a single front box image.

For box spines, upload one spine image in standard cases. Use the left spine unless the right spine contains more useful information. For horizontal box formats, such as some North American N64/SNES or Japanese GBA packaging, use the top spine. For double jewel cases, use a single combined image that includes both spine sections with equal width on both sides.

Screenshot best practices

Screenshots should represent the game clearly. Use the most specific screenshot type available:

• Screenshot - Gameplay for normal gameplay.

• Screenshot - Game Title for the title screen.

• Screenshot - Game Select for selection screens or menus.

• Screenshot - Game Over for game over screens.

• Screenshot - High Scores for score tables or leaderboard screens.

Avoid emulator overlays, borders, unrelated UI, stretched captures, heavy compression, or images from the wrong platform/version.

Fanart background best practices

Fanart backgrounds should work well as UI backgrounds in LaunchBox and Big Box. They should be visually useful behind text, menus, and game details.

Do not include clear logos in Fanart - Background. Avoid images that are overly bright, distracting, extremely high contrast, badly cropped, or difficult to use as a background.

2.5D and 3D image guidance

2.5D images are not currently a dedicated standard image type. If uploaded, use reconstructed categories for box-based images and fanart categories for unofficial versions.

3D images and 2.5D-style images work best as consistent sets. Avoid mixing different borders, templates, lighting styles, or render styles within the same image category for a game or platform set.

General quality checklist

• Upload only images that improve the game record.

• Use the correct image type before uploading.

• Use PNG/JPG/JPEG only, following PNG transparency requirements where applicable.

• Avoid third-party watermarks, unrelated logos, heavy compression, stretching, and blurry scans.

• Crop images cleanly without cutting off important artwork.

• Do not mix official, reconstructed, and fanart content in the wrong categories.

• Choose the correct region for region-specific media.

• Use a clear submission reason when the type, region, or source may not be obvious.