So, RSW generally has pretty good guidelines on how certain images should be taken. However, I wanted to open up discussion on an issue that was bothering me today: The use of custom skin colours in equipped item images. From our image guide, for this type of image, guidelines state:
Only the subject item(s) should be equipped: remove all other items and cosmetic overrides. Multiple items should only be worn when taking set images of armour (weapons and shields should have separate images).
That said, my understanding was that using a custom skin color would be considered a cosmetic override. Whether or not this is the case, I am proposing that equipped item images should be taken using a character model with a natural skin tone. Certainly any standard colours are all acceptable, as long as it is something that appears naturally on humans. I find that other colors (blues, greens, etc) distract from the subject in just the same way wearing vanity items would (for example, having a party hat equipped while taking an image for a weapon is not permitted per our guidelines). Example:
In this image, the use of blue skin colour may be confusing to someone, especially since it closely matches the subject of the image, the hair style. It is possible a player could assume that unlocking the override which the image is meant to depict would unlock the skin color as well, or that using the override would change skin color as long as it was displayed.
So, there are a couple of options for what could possibly be changed in our image guidelines.
1. Change nothing - Keep everything exactly the same, disallowing cosmetics/other items, but allowing any skin colour at all.
2. Define skin color as NOT a cosmetic - Clarify the guideline stating that any skin color is allowed.
3. Define un-natural skin colors as a cosmetic - Specify that skin tone must be a natural color in the guidelines.
4. Something else - If you have other ideas, please comment!
I personally would support option 3, adding a line such as "Skin tone must be of a natural color when it is not the subject of the image." to our image guidelines.
Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Post! User:Myles Prower/Signature 19:08, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
Discussion
Support 3 - I personally think skin colours like smurf blue are garish and detract from the overall purpose of an equipped item image. --
Scuzzy Beta
19:11, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
Support 3 - For the sake of consistency and avoiding confusion User:KelseW/Signature 19:13, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
Support 3 - this has been my stance for a long time, and I much prefer the "natural" skin tones from the MM to the weird cosmetic ones. I include the green and grey skins in the "unnatural" category btw. 
AnselaJonla 
19:15, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
Support 3 - 
MAGE-KIL-R 
19:17, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
Support 3 - As per Scuzzy
- REDIRECT User:We left wikia/Signature 19:21, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
Support 3/Comment - For sake of clarity, anything not listed as "Standard" at the makeover mage would be unnatural/disallowed per my intent behind option 3.
User:Myles Prower/Signature 19:22, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
- Are you including the onyx skin in this? User:KelseW/Signature 19:33, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
- Even though "onyx" is in the promotional category, I would say it's not an unnatural colour as I've met black people with skin that shade. A comparison between the darkest "standard" colour (L) and "onyx" (R) is below. But, on the other hand, banning all non-standard colours "except for this" opens us up to "but you made an exception for [this]" when/if more colours are added.
AnselaJonla 20:00, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
- Even though "onyx" is in the promotional category, I would say it's not an unnatural colour as I've met black people with skin that shade. A comparison between the darkest "standard" colour (L) and "onyx" (R) is below. But, on the other hand, banning all non-standard colours "except for this" opens us up to "but you made an exception for [this]" when/if more colours are added.
Support 3 - Although I'm not sure if it would affect the number of people taking/posing for equip pics, given some colors are from a consumable SGS item. --Jlun2 (talk) 19:25, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
Support 3 - Only the basic skin colours from the MM should be allowed. Srylius (talk) 19:30, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
support 3 Mistydarkness (talk) 19:31, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
Support 1/3 - For ones that we cannot update or are just a complete fucking nuisance to get, We stay with 1. But ones that we can easily update, 3. Twig Talk https://i.imgur.com/772kZGs.png 23:29, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
1 - Although I agree with looking "default" as possible for pictures, only allowing standard skin colours would prevent some editors from contributing pictures. If they have a chameleon extract skin they would have to pay each time to change their skin back - Cuxrie (talk) 23:33, August 1, 2018 (UTC)
- I think 3 could put into practice with the stipulation that in worst case scenario, we can use smurfs. --Scuzzy Beta 00:46, August 2, 2018 (UTC)
Previous thread - There's actually been a discussion about this here: Forum:Ban promo skins. Haidro (talk) 01:05, August 2, 2018 (UTC)
1, but obviously prefer a natural skin tone and UCS - I don't think it's fair that we force users to change their skin tone for an equipment image, especially if they use a chameleon extract. Overrides are easy to remove/re-enable, but skin tone is a next level of hassle. If the skin colour blatantly interferes with the item, then use common sense and prefer a different skin tone.
If we're aiming for consistency we may as well get every image on the exact same skin tone. If people want to retake images with a default skin tone, go ahead. Don't remove images because they're using an unnatural skin tone, and don't make it a huge deal that they aren't using a natural skin tone. Haidro (talk) 01:05, August 2, 2018 (UTC)