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Guidelines

Last updated: May 19, 2026

These guidelines help maintain high-quality, visually consistent character images that work with current and future features. They serve as best practices rather than strict rules. Use your judgment and ask experienced submitters when unsure.

General Rules​

Prohibited Content​

  • Fanart, NSFW content, and copyrighted images are strictly prohibited.
  • Only official artwork from verified sources (official websites, press materials, series wikis, or anime screenshots) is allowed.

Source Verification​

  • Always confirm artwork comes from an official source.
  • Check copyright policies for each series (e.g., Arknights and Azur Lane prohibit third-party redistribution).
  • When uncertain, search "<Series> copyright policy" before submitting an image and most importantly don't hesitate to ask us about them!

Anime Screenshots​

  • Prefer official artwork when available, but screenshots are acceptable when:
    • No suitable official artwork exists
    • The screenshot provides better visual quality or character representation
    • The image is clear, well-lit, and properly framed

Event Art​

  • Avoid event-themed or seasonal images unless the event is currently ongoing.

Backgrounds​

  • Avoid plain white or black backgrounds; subtle backgrounds are preferred.

Submission Quality Standards​

  • Reviewers may decline submissions if better artwork likely exists for the character
  • Before submitting, check if higher quality official art is available
  • Low-quality screenshots, poorly cropped images, or suboptimal artwork may be rejected even if they technically meet guidelines
  • When in doubt, ask for feedback before formal submission

Artwork Requirements​

1. Positioning and Framing​

Goal: Keep the face as the central focus with balanced framing

Close-Up Style​

  • The chin should be near the vertical middle line (slight variations are fine)
  • Leave approximately 2-3 pixels above the head (excluding hair spikes or large accessories)
  • Face should be roughly centered horizontally
  • Ideal for portraits or bust-level compositions

Zoomed-Out / Full-Body Style​

  • The head should be centered within the upper portion of the image
  • The chin should generally stay above or near the middle line
  • Face remains the visual anchor, even if the body is angled
  • Allows for dynamic, cinematic compositions

Flexibility Notes:

  • These are target guidelines, not rigid requirements
  • If following them exactly would compromise the artwork's quality or natural composition, use your judgment
  • Slight head tilts, zooming adjustments, or positioning shifts are totally acceptable and preferred if they improve the overall result

2. Pose & Orientation​

  • Prefer upright poses when possible, but moderate head tilts are acceptable
  • For diagonal or unique poses, prioritize face visibility and visual balance
  • For spiky hair, ponytails, or large accessories, measure from the skull rather than the tips

3. Character Relevance​

  • Focus on significant characters who have meaningful presence in their series
  • Use discretion: avoid extremely minor characters (e.g., characters with only 1-2 minutes of screen time, unnamed background characters)
  • When uncertain about a character's relevance, ask experienced submitters for guidance

4. Content & Composition​

  • No text, watermarks, or additional characters in frame
  • Official artwork is preferred over screenshots when quality is comparable

5. Dimensions & Format​

  • Size: 524 × 869 px
  • Format: PNG (.png)

Series Content Filtering​

Servers can manage which series may appear in their servers:

  • Certain series are marked as "questionable" and can be filtered out by default, making their art, and possibly names be a blank card in such cases
  • Server administrators can enable/disable series filtering in server settings
  • Individual servers can customize their filtered series list
Coming Soon

This feature is still in development and is currently not yet available.

note

We think this feature will be a core part of Kana moving forward, as certain players might not feel comfortable with us having certain series.

Questions or Concerns?​

When unsure about whether an image meets guidelines:

  • Ask experienced submitters for advice
  • Consider whether the guideline serves the goal of quality and consistency
  • Remember: these are guides to help you, not barriers to good submissions
Contributors to this page:@Spirit@Bumbert@Sunraku@Naxy@Echo@Higan

Contributors are community members who assisted with documentation and may not be directly affiliated with Kana.