Stupid question probably but since I only enter the discs in my database when I get them

are the pre-release profiles really update between the time they are created and the official disc is release?

Quoting Jimmy S:

Quote:
are the pre-release profiles really update between the time they are created and the official disc is release?

Yes.

But it's usually with inaccurate - or useless -  rubbish. Rarely do I see correct or valid data coming into a pre-release I've created locally. And don't get me started on the cast and crew that people submit!!! I have a list of users who's profiles I never accept because they lie in their contributions for pre-release profiles!

I like the wishlist and I do use it. But, I very rarely contribute anything I've created as a pre-release (even though I could).
I simply don't want my name attached to anything I haven't checked against the disc!

What possible cases are there for voting on covers?

Adding a non-existant cover.  A quick check on Amazon should be sufficient to determine if it's the 'right' cover (front side), and you can check the UPC on the back to make sure it matches the profile, so owning the disc is largely irrelevant probably 99% of the time.

Improved size (without changing quality otherwise).  Owning the disc has no relevance.

Fixing 'bad' scans, such as ones that include the case.  Owning the disc has no relevance.

Improving quality vis a vis fingerprints or other such flaws.  Owning the disc has no relevance.

Improving clarity (eg: original scan had blurry text).  As long as there's no significant change in color/saturation/etc, owning the disc has no relevance.

Changing saturation/color balance/brightness/etc.  In this case, owning the disc may be relevant, though it depends on the exact change.  Even if you own it, though, it doesn't guarantee that what you see in your hand is going to match what's on your screen due to differences in monitor quality and calibration between the voter and the original uploader.  Also, question is moot if you own a re-release cover since you can't verify anyway.

Changing of the cover art (ie: one of the images was re-release cover art, or something).  In this case, owning the disc is relevant only if you're sure you own the original release (in case you want to verify that the new image comes from the original release), or if you're sure you own the re-release (in case you want to verify that the new image is -not- the re-release cover).  If you're not sure which version you have, you can't really reliably vote either, despite owning the disc.


So you're actually restricted to a fairly narrow set of issues with respect to reviewing cover art changes where owning the disc matters.  Overall, I don't see any compelling reason to prevent people from voting on covers for discs they don't own.  You might as well also require that the voter verify that they've had a proper professional calibration done for their monitor.

First: I don't have a Wish List, so everything I see is on the shelf.

Second: All my images are locked all the time which means I pick which images are in my collection.

Third: If I see a cover that I like better than the one I have, I copy it from the contribution, adjust it if I think it needs it and keep it.

Fourth: If I don't like anything I've seen, I scan it myself and if I think it significantly better, will submit it.

I don't know where the post is, but some time ago I gave my opinion about what constitutes a good scan vs. bad. Short version, it depends on consistent lighting coupled with an electronically calibrated monitor and your eye at the time of the scan. This is based on the fact that I did this for a living until my early retirement last January. When I say did this for a living, I mean from 1970 until 2012.

We also know there are people out there who think having large numbers of contributions makes them an expert...at that I will stop before I go off on a tangent.