Help:Photographing hardware

Photographing hardware
How to take useful photos for RTC Wiki articles

Repair guides, board documentation and component identification all depend on clear photographs. This page covers how to photograph vintage computer and console hardware for the wiki.

Equipment

A modern smartphone camera is enough for most documentation. These help:

Equipment	Why it helps
Macro lens, or a phone macro attachment	Close-ups of components, solder joints and IC markings
Tripod or phone stand	Stops camera shake, especially close up
Diffused lighting, such as a desk lamp with a white shade	Avoids harsh shadows and hot spots on shiny PCBs
Anti-static mat	A plain, consistent background, and ESD protection
Compressed air	Removes dust before you photograph

Board photography

Whole boards

Clean the board first with compressed air and IPA to remove dust and flux residue.
For documentation photos, shoot from directly above, square to the board.
Fill the frame with the board.
Light it evenly from both sides so tall components do not cast shadows.
Include a ruler or coin for scale on unfamiliar boards.
Photograph both sides of every PCB.

Component close-ups

Focus on the IC markings. They are the most useful way to identify a part.
Use macro mode to capture part numbers, date codes and manufacturer logos.
On capacitors, show any bulging, leaking or corrosion, and the polarity marking.
On solder joints, get close enough to show cracked, cold or dry joints.

Board revision

Photograph the board revision or part number printed on the silkscreen.
Capture the date codes on the board and on the major ICs.
Include any serial number stickers.

Photos for repair guides

Before and after

Take a before photo showing the fault: bulging capacitors, corrosion, broken traces.
Take an after photo of the finished repair.
Use the same angle and lighting for both.

Step by step

Photograph each major step of the procedure.
Mark the relevant area with an arrow or circle in any image editor.
Where you are showing a technique, include the tool in the frame (for example, the soldering iron on the joint).

Camera settings

Setting	Recommendation
Resolution	At least 2000×1500 pixels, so the photo can be cropped
Format	JPEG for photographs; PNG for screenshots and diagrams
White balance	Match your lighting; auto usually works
Flash	Off. Flash causes glare on PCBs; use external lighting instead
ISO	As low as possible (100–400) to reduce noise

Uploading to the wiki

Upload at Special:Upload. Keep each file under about 3 MB; resize large photos before uploading.
Give the file a descriptive name that says what it shows, including the board revision where there is one, for example GameCube DOL-CPU-30 logic board top.jpg.
On the file page, say what the photo shows, where it came from (your own photo, or the source URL), who took it, and the licence. See RetroTechCollection:Copyrights.
Add a category that fits, such as the platform category.
In articles, use a thumbnail with a caption: [[File:Name.jpg|thumb|360px|Caption]] for the photo at the top of a guide, and [[File:Name.jpg|center|thumb|600px|Caption]] for a full board photo.

Common mistakes

Blurry photos: use a stand and good lighting.
Flash glare on the solder mask: use diffused lighting.
A cluttered background: use a mat or plain surface.
Too far away: fill the frame with the subject.
No scale: include a ruler or coin.
Only one side of the board: always photograph both.