Rules and Guidelines as of July 30, 2025

The Poster Database (TPDb) is a platform built on creativity, quality, and respect. We aim to foster a high-quality, professional, and friendly environment for all users. To achieve this, we ask that everyone follows the guidelines below in addition to our Terms of Service. Violations of these rules may result in appropriate actions, including content removal or account restrictions

The following sections outline the standards and expectations for all users and visitors of the platform. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in appropriate actions, including content removal or account restrictions.

⚠️ Reporting

Reporting isn't just for flagging “bad” content - it's an essential part of keeping TPDb high-quality, accurate, and respectful. Reports help surface issues that may not be immediately visible and allow moderators and administrators to review and respond accordingly.

Currently, both Posters and Users can be reported by authenticated or visiting users. TPDb aims to handle all reports as transparently and fairly as possible, and we're continually improving the reporting system.

🖼️ Poster Reports

• Poster reports are prioritized and addressed promptly to maintain quality and integrity
• Only the reporter, the poster owner, and members of the moderation or admin team can view and comment on poster reports
• Reports are typically subject to a minimum holding period of 14 days before further action is taken - unless
  • The issue is corrected by the poster owner before moderator/admin intervention
  • The report concerns a serious offense requiring immediate action

If additional time is needed to resolve a report, the poster owner may request an extension during the 14-day period. Extensions may be granted at the discretion of moderators or administrators.

🛡️ Moderation

TPDb is moderated by a team of community-focused volunteers and administrators who help ensure the platform remains respectful, high-quality, and in line with our rules.

Moderators may take actions including

• Removing posters or profiles that violate guidelines
• Issuing warnings for rule-breaking behavior
• Temporarily or permanently suspending upload privileges or accounts in serious or repeat cases

🔍 Verifying Poster Authenticity

In some cases - particularly where AI use or originality is in question - moderators may request access to working design files (such as PSDs, AI files, or layered project files) to verify that a submission is genuinely human-made.

• This step helps moderators make informed and fair decisions.
• Refusal to provide source files when reasonably requested may lead to content removal or further action.

💬 Appeals

If you believe a moderation decision was made in error, you may respectfully appeal by replying to the report thread or contacting the moderation team through any of our support channels. We encourage open, constructive conversation - our goal is always fairness and transparency.

🖼️ Poster Content Guidelines

When uploading posters to the site, we ask that all users tag content accurately and provide appropriate attribution where needed. TPDb takes proper credit seriously - and we hope you do too.

Posters that violate the following rules or are reported for copyright infringement may be removed without prior notice, depending on severity. TPDb fully complies with valid copyright takedown requests and handles them accordingly.

✅ General Upload Guidelines

1. Attribution: If your poster includes assets found online, you must obtain proper rights or permission before uploading
2. Credit in notes: If attribution has been secured, please include a note in the upload to acknowledge the source
3. Textless posters: If your design contains no readable text at all - including the title - but includes only non-text design elements (e.g. stickers, barcodes, logos), it must be tagged as Textless
4. Language tagging: If a poster is in a language other than English, please tag it accordingly
5. Upload notes: Always fill out the Notes section. Use it to give credit, explain design choices, or clarify variations
6. No reuploads without change: Do not blindly upload posters from other sources (including TPDb) without permission, differentiation, and proper credit
7. Media variations: If your poster is for a version of the media (e.g., Director's Cut, Extended Edition), select the correct variation during upload
8. No hate or defamation: Posters must not contain defamatory, hateful, or offensive content toward any person, group, or company
9. No spam, junk, or prank content: Posters intended solely to troll, prank, or spam the platform are not allowed

🤖 AI Usage

TPDb is a space for human-made design, not AI-generated art. We believe that posters should reflect real artistic intention, skill, and creativity. While minor AI assistance is allowed for cleanup or repair, we do not allow posters that are generated by AI, either in part or in full, as the main visual content.

✅ Acceptable AI Use

You may use AI tools strictly to support your creative process - never to replace it

• Retouching: Cleaning up dust, scratches, or imperfections using tools like AI-based content-aware fill
• Image repair: Fixing color issues, lighting, or sharpness without altering the original composition
  • You may also use AI tools like Generative Fill or Content-Aware Fill to
    • Assist with restoring missing parts of the original artwork (eg. a cropped foot, elbow, or hairline)
    • Cleanly remove titles or logos
• Subtle support tools: Using AI-assisted upscaling or background cleanup as long as the design remains human-created

❌ Prohibited AI Use

The following uses of AI are strictly prohibited

1. No AI-generated artwork: Submitting images created by typing prompts into Midjourney, DALL·E, Firefly, etc..
2. No AI-invented scenes or subjects: Posters showing fictional characters, storylines, or scenes not based on actual source material
3. No AI-based composition: Designs that rely on AI for layout, illustration, or creative generation
4. Mass-produced AI content: Uploading multiple posters with little to no human involvement or artistic direction

🛠️ AI is a Tool - Not a Shortcut

We encourage the use of AI as a time-saving or enhancement tool - not as a replacement for your work. If AI does the “heavy lifting”, it's no longer a human-made design.

🎯 What We Look For

• Honest sharing: if you used AI tools for retouching, say so. Transparency is always appreciated
• Report respectfully: If you believe a post violates this policy, feel free to report it and start a conversation. We're here to work through concerns together!
• Ask if unsure: If you're unsure whether something is allowed, reach out to a mod. We're happy to help or review it before you post

Ultimately, moderators will have the final discretion when it comes to determining which posters are removed based on these guidelines.

⬆️ Poster Upload Requirements

We aim to maintain a high-quality platform and ask that you help by carefully reviewing each poster before uploading. All posters must meet the following standards and may be reported or removed if they do not.

Posters must not contain

1. Visible image artifacts
   1. Corrupt pixels
   2. Smudged or distorted details
   3. Improper stretching or shrinking
2. Illegible or unclear image assets
   (We understand older media may be harder to source - please use the best version available)
3. Text or shapes used to obscure parts of the design
4. Spelling errors
5. Collage-style layouts
6. Adult/NSFW content
   (There is currently zero tolerance for nudity or explicit material, as TPDb is accessible to all audiences)
7. Platform or quality-specific labels or branding, such as:
   1. Quality tags: 4K, DVD, Blu-Ray, 3D, HEVC, etc.
   2. Platform tags: Plex, Emby, Jellyfin, Kodi
   3. Banners, corner labels, or badges

Posters uploads must also follow the technical upload requirements, listed on the upload/edit pages.

🪪 Profiles

User profiles offer a way to express yourself and personalize your presence on TPDb.

• Free users can choose from a selection of provided avatars and banners.
• TPDb Pro users (Pro Lite and Pro) can upload custom avatars and banners, and link to supported social media accounts.

Social links are only displayed if you've added them in your account settings - and all profile customizations are entirely optional.

We simply ask that any uploaded avatars and banners follow the image guidelines below to ensure consistency and quality across the platform