introduction to anime art (guide)

Danbooru is an imageboard and booru-style site focused on hosting a large collection of anime, manga, and video game artwork. Originally created as a platform to share and categorize Japanese fan art, Danbooru has become one of the most popular image repositories in the anime community. It features a robust tagging system, allowing users to easily search for specific content based on various attributes.

History
Danbooru was launched in 2005 by Albert "albert" Yu, initially as an open-source project designed to improve upon the limited functionality of earlier booru-style imageboards. The site was one of the first to introduce an extensive tagging and search system, setting a standard for future booru sites like Gelbooru, Safebooru, and Yandere.

Over time, Danbooru evolved into a comprehensive and user-driven database, known for its detailed tagging system and metadata. The platform has undergone multiple updates, including improved search functionality, enhanced user experience, and increased moderation efforts to manage the growing user base and content library.

Features
1. Tagging System
Danbooru's core feature is its tagging system, which allows users to categorize images based on characters, artists, themes, and other attributes. Tags are divided into several types:

General Tags: Describe common elements (e.g., "glasses", "blush").
Character Tags: Refer to specific characters depicted in the image (e.g., "Hatsune Miku").
Artist Tags: Identify the original creator of the artwork.
Meta Tags: Provide additional information, such as content warnings (e.g., "spoilers", "animated").
2. Pools and Sets
Danbooru offers Pools and Sets to group related images. Pools are typically used for a series of images that tell a story or share a common theme, while Sets are collections curated by users for personal organization.

3. Search Functionality
The search engine on Danbooru is powerful and versatile, supporting complex queries using Boolean operators. Users can search for images by combining multiple tags (e.g., "hatsune_miku AND blue_hair"). Advanced features like tag subscriptions allow users to receive updates when new images matching their preferences are uploaded.

4. Notes and Comments
Users can add notes directly on images, which appear as hoverable text boxes. These notes are often used to provide translations, additional context, or highlight details. The comments section allows for discussion about the image and provides a space for users to share insights or feedback.

5. Rating System
Danbooru categorizes content based on a rating system:

Safe (S): Appropriate for all audiences; contains no explicit or suggestive content.
Questionable (Q): Contains suggestive content but no explicit nudity.
Explicit (E): Includes nudity or sexual content; restricted to registered users.
6. Favorites and Voting
Registered users can favorite images and participate in voting, helping highlight popular content. Images with high scores often gain more visibility on the site.

7. User Contributions and Accounts
While anyone can browse Danbooru, certain features are restricted to registered users. Uploading images, editing tags, and creating notes require an account. Danbooru uses a tiered membership system, with higher-level contributors gaining additional privileges.

Community and Moderation
Danbooru relies heavily on its community for content moderation and curation. Experienced users and moderators oversee uploads, ensuring that images meet the site's quality standards and are properly tagged. The site enforces strict rules on copyrighted material, and users are encouraged to credit artists whenever possible.

Danbooru Gold and Platinum memberships offer enhanced access, such as unlimited browsing of explicit content, faster search capabilities, and additional customization options.