Quality guide

    Quality And Rejection Guide

    This page explains what screening is actually looking at once a file reaches the queue, and the most common reasons why a photo may be rejected.

    What screening is checking

    Upload validation and screening are different steps. A file can upload successfully and still be rejected.

    Technical quality
    Centering and framing
    Exposure and color
    Metadata accuracy

    Technical quality

    These issues often decide whether a file feels archive-ready or not.

    • Soft or blurry aircraft detail
    • Oversharpened edges or halos
    • Heavy noise, grain or compression artefacts
    • Visible dust spots
    • Heat distortion, glare or dirty glass
    Check titles, registration, cockpit area, landing gear and wing edges before uploading. Dust spots and obvious blur are among the easiest rejection triggers to avoid.

    Centering, framing and motive

    The subject should feel balanced and clearly readable inside the frame.

    • Bad centering or weak balance in the frame
    • Tilted horizon
    • Important parts cut off without a clear reason
    • Subject too far away or lost in empty space
    • Obstruction or clutter hiding key parts of the aircraft
    Use the screener-style checks on your own file if needed: centering, horizon and general balance matter just as much as raw sharpness.

    Exposure and color

    Photos should look natural, readable and intentional.

    • Underexposed / too dark
    • Overexposed highlights
    • Backlit subjects without useful detail
    • Unnatural contrast
    • Wrong color cast or poor color correction
    Flat files, crushed shadows, blown highlights, strong color casts and harsh edits are all common rejection paths even when the subject itself is interesting.

    Information quality

    Wrong data can sink an otherwise good file.

    • Wrong or incomplete airport data
    • Wrong registration or aircraft model
    • Wrong operator
    • Wrong or missing category
    • Duplicate or too-similar submission
    Auto-fill helps, but it is still your responsibility to check airport, registration, model, operator and categories before you submit.

    Airport photos

    Airport uploads are welcome, but they are screened just like aircraft photos.

    Airport overviews, towers, terminals and spotting locations still need strong technical quality, a clear motive and a balanced frame. A public note can help explain what the viewer is seeing.

    A valid airport photo is not just “a place near the airport”. It still needs a readable aviation subject or a clear airport context.

    Appeals

    Appeals are for incorrect decisions, not for editing advice.

    Use an appeal when you believe the rejection was wrong and you can explain why in a short, factual way.

    Do not use appeals to ask how to edit the file. The current product rule is intentionally strict: a photo gets one meaningful appeal path.

    Quick checklist before upload

    1. Is the aircraft clearly sharp?
    2. Is the horizon level?
    3. Does the crop feel balanced?
    4. Are there visible dust spots?
    5. Does the exposure look natural?
    6. Are the colors believable?
    7. Is the metadata correct?
    8. Is this the strongest frame from the sequence?