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SWV VHS Archive

Submissions

Image Submission Guidelines

These guidelines explain how to capture cover and tape-label images for the SWV VHS Archive. Good scans and photos keep the archive readable and useful for everyone, so please follow the recommendations below as closely as your equipment allows.

Technical upload limits

  • Accepted file types: JPG/JPEG or PNG only.
  • Maximum file size: 8 MB per image.
  • There is no pixel-dimension requirement enforced on upload — the sizes below are quality recommendations, not hard limits.

Cover images

Cover artwork is the centrepiece of every listing, so use the best capture method you have available.

  • Use a flatbed scanner whenever possible — it gives the flattest, sharpest, most even result.
  • Scan in colour, never in greyscale or black and white.
  • Recommended scan resolution: 300 dpi.
  • Upload the cover in landscape orientation so the full VHS cover reads horizontally in the archive.
  • Aim for roughly 3000 × 2000 pixels in landscape, or comparable proportions and quality. This is a recommendation, not a hard upload requirement.
  • Crop closely enough to remove unnecessary scanner-bed or background area, but never crop away any part of the cover artwork, spine, text, or edges.
  • Keep the image straight, sharp, evenly lit, and colour-accurate.

Front label images

The front label on the cassette shell is usually small and glossy, so a careful capture makes a big difference.

  • A phone photo is perfectly acceptable if a scanner is not practical.
  • Shoot straight-on, perpendicular to the VHS label, so there is no perspective skew.
  • Avoid reflections and glare from overhead lights, lamps, windows, or camera flash — move or diffuse your lights if needed.
  • Fill the frame with the label while keeping every label edge and all text visible.
  • Aim for at least about 1600 px on the long edge, and ideally around 2000–3000 px when your phone or camera allows. This is recommended quality, not a hard upload limit.
  • Keep the label sharp, in focus, colour-accurate, and free of digital filters.

Before you upload

  • Covers are landscape; labels are straight-on with no skew.
  • The image is sharp and in focus.
  • No glare, reflections, or harsh shadows.
  • All edges, artwork, and text are complete and readable.
  • The file is a JPG/JPEG or PNG.
  • The file is 8 MB or smaller.
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