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Sourcing your uploads is very important. It links others to where you found what you uploaded, so others can look for more of what they like there.

When uploading, always try to include a source where possible.

• See forum #169987 for a guide on how to save images properly. (Aug. 2015)

Helpful sources:

• The artist's submission page, website section, or blog post where the file can be located
• The artist's gallery or main website
• A commissioner's submission page

Less helpful sources:

• Direct image URLs - These tend to be difficult to track down or (in the case of sites like pixiv) don't actually provide working links. If you include a direct link, please try to include other sources along with it.
• Boorus or other unofficial image hosting sites (Paheal, gelbooru, 4chan, etc.) - These are almost never going to be relevant as an actual source, and are useless if an actual source is available. However, they are sometimes the only available place to get a file, and are occasionally helpful to get more information about the post. Additionally, some tend to have a lot of scammy ads/redirections/popups that many people find annoying.
• Note that if you can't find a particular post or comic in the main gallery, it may actually be commercial/paid content. Use discretion when uploading these.

Unhelpful sources:

• Non-links such as artist names, "Image board", or "unknown" - If you don't have a real source please leave the field empty instead of filling it with crap. These don't usually provide any helpful information and they break the hassource:false search, making it harder to fix it after it's been tagged (hassource:true -source:http can help with cleanup).
• A special note on file names - Adding the file name (e.g., my_fursona_by_Parasprite.jpg) when the source was unknown was encouraged in the past, but it is rarely done now. If you happen to find these on old posts don't remove them unless you are moving it to the description field or have an actual source to add (as it may be the only clue we have to finding one), however most file names are pointless and unhelpful, so please don't add them to new posts.

Additionally, the following are against the Code of Conduct and may quickly lead to bans if broken:

• Knowingly adding or editing a post source to an incorrect link
• Creating posts, threads, or comments that link to hacks or malicious programs/viruses
• Showing paid content, or creating posts or comments that link to content only available through paid subscription services

See also

• howto:sites and sources
• e621:tagging checklist
• howto:upload

• forum #169987 - Saving images properly, a public service announcement. (Aug. 2015)

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