Pbrks

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A new noticeboard for permission requests from external sources

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Dear License reviewer,

This is to inform you that a new page, Commons:Permission requests, has been created to centralize and manage requests for permission to external sources. The page is intended to help streamline the review process by providing a dedicated space where users can submit and track their permission requests.

You may wish to visit the page to familiarize yourself with its purpose and format, and to monitor any new submissions that may require your attention. By default, license reviewers may process requests on the page. Any questions may be directed at Commons talk:Permission requests.

Thank you for your continued work in ensuring proper license compliance across Commons.

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 16:39, 7 September 2025 (UTC)

Happy First Edit Anniversary Pbrks 🎉

Hey @Pbrks. Your wiki edit anniversary is today, marking 18 years of dedicated contributions to Wikimedia Commons. Your passion for sharing knowledge and your remarkable contributions have not only enriched the project, but also inspired countless others to contribute. Thank you for your amazing contributions. Wishing you all the best for the year ahead :) -❙❚❚❙❙ GnOeee ❚❙❚❙❙ ✉ 12:27, 23 October 2025 (UTC)

@Gnoeee: Thank you very much! – Pbrks ^(t • c) 17:29, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

Origin of the Chinese Collaborationist flag from 2009

Hello, this is a bit of an odd thing and I have no idea if you'll respond to this but I figured I'd give it a go.

I was discussing with someone off of wikipedia about a flag ( https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Reformed_Government_of_the_Republic_of_China_(fictional).svg ) identical to this flag that was being used in a video game, Hearts of Iron. Neither of us knew of it as a historical flag and every other reference to it we could trace back to said game. (Other references being video game modifications, youtube videos, "worldbuilding" projects and such things). The biggest thing we couldn't track was the flame on the flag; the 5-races-under-one-union flag and the Chinese characters were traced back pretty easily.

The only mention of it that didn't seem to go back to HOI was the flag on wikipedia, which I backtracked to being uploaded to at the latest 2009. It seems that flag has since been deleted from Chinese wikipedia, but it is still up on English wikipedia, uploaded by you in all the way back in 2009.

Its a long shot, but I figured I'd ask, do you know the origin of the flag? Or more specifically the flame on the flag? Perhaps where you got it? I'd love to know if you do. PotatoduckBUTPOTGA (talk) 06:03, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

@PotatoduckBUTPOTGA: Hello. I created this .svg file in response to a request at the Wikipedia Graphics lab in 2009, in which a user requested a low-res bitmap file to be converted to a vector file. The page as it is now does not accurately reflect which files were being used due to files being renamed/deleted. The original file can be found at the Internet Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20100605031206/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CJZ1.png. It was originally uploaded by Bencmq in 2008, so perhaps they know more about its origins. – Pbrks ^(t • c) 13:50, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

Thank you, I asked Bencmq as well, and they responded. Unfortunately I got no answer on the origin, but I still appreciate both of your responses PotatoduckBUTPOTGA (talk) 19:03, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

Information on temporary account IP viewer rights

Hello Pbrks,

On November 12, temporary accounts will be enabled on Commons. The IP of unregistered users will then be hidden for most users. You, as a patroller or license reviewer, are eligible to request the new temporary account IP viewer right, if you need it to continue fighting vandalism and abuse on Commons. If you want to request the right, please file the request here. Please be aware that you also have to accept the Wikimedia Access to Temporary Account IP Addresses Policy in your preferences. For more information about temporary accounts, look at the project page. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 18:34, 7 November 2025 (UTC)

Regarding this File:Trillion Peso March in Taft Avenue, Manila.png

Hello, @Pbrks, I just want to point out that this file 1 is actually mine. The original Facebook post includes the caption "credit to the owner in this photo", and that owner is me. I took the photo myself during the protest in the morning. Here is the original post for verification: 2 that's why I undo your copyvio template. I also accept the deletion of these two files, as I acknowledge they were out of line and copyright-protected: 3, 4. Thank you! AdobongPogi (talk) 14:10, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

@AdobongPogi: It is very clearly a screenshot from a video. Please follow the instructions left on your talk page. – Pbrks ^(t • c) 16:20, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

Inquiry

What did you do to descreen File:Michael Harrington from the back cover of "The Accidental Century".jpeg? I don't see the ringing artifacts characteristic of a Fourier transform. FFTs also leave artifacts in black regions of the photo. Thanks! JayCubby (talk) 16:48, 20 November 2025 (UTC)

Hi JayCubby. I looked at the FFT of your previously uploaded image, and it appears you are not "fixing" the correct areas. How are you currently using FFT? – Pbrks ^(t • c) 02:29, 22 November 2025 (UTC)

I took another look, and I'm usually a bit more careful. I use the burn tool (ideally) on the lighter regions. If the brush goes astray, it winds up with smudged lines. The transformed image (before any modifications to the spectrum) looks like this.

As I'm writing this, I remembered to try using the brush tool. The result isn't terribly different, with areas without regular noise having a pattern applied to them.

If the image isn't perfectly square, quality is lost (ringing artifacts). Some programs 'pad' the image until it's perfectly squared, but not the one I use. JayCubby (talk) 02:52, 22 November 2025 (UTC)

@JayCubby: I see. Yes, but there are still a lot of places you missed. See your version. A giant brush around the edge like that is usually not all that helpful, and "correcting" close to the center is a bad idea in general. Consider using an automated process, like Descreen for (if you use Gimp). – Pbrks ^(t • c) 20:43, 24 November 2025 (UTC)