1. Images

If you're looking for the source of a specific picture, there are several sites you can use. The first you should try is the good old file search in the E-Hentai galleries. If that doesn't work, you can use [iqdb.org] IQDB. With IQDB, you can search for images similar to yours in [danbooru.donmai.us] Danbooru, [gelbooru.com] Gelbooru, [konachan.com] Konachan, [chan.sankakucomplex.com] Sankaku Channel, [moe.imouto.org] moe.imouto.org, [e-shuushuu.net] Shuushuu and [haruhidoujins.iqdb.org] Haruhi doujins at the same time. Another such service is [saucenao.com] SauceNAO. SauceNAO's biggest advantage is that it searches [www.pixiv.net] pixiv images. It also looks through doujinshi and manga covers in [doujinshi.mugimugi.org] The Doujinshi Database, the best source of information for that kind of stuff.

If you've got a page or two from the middle of a manga or doujinshi and want the whole work, the gallery file search is your best bet.

If you're just looking for pictures of a particular subject, [gelbooru.com] Gelbooru is where to search for them. Also, there's always [images.google.com] Google Images.


2. Manga/doujinshi

Remember that uploaders will publish a new work as soon as they find it, so if it isn't in the galleries, asking for it here is pretty much pointless. You'll either have to search more thoroughly, wait for someone to find it, or buy and scan it yourself. However, really old works may have been overlooked, and you can try searching for the title on [rs.4chan.org] 4chan's /rs/ (it doesn't seem to be working at the moment, though). If you find it on /rs/, you can upload it yourself and earn some GP.

If you're looking for a specific manga or doujinshi, you'll have to try searching for it in the galleries first. If you come up empty-handed, try using what you already know to do a search in [doujinshi.mugimugi.org] The Doujinshi Database, where you can find more information to search the galleries with. The gallery you're looking for may be poorly named, so try searching for the title in Japanese script as well as romaji. You should also take into account the different methods of romanising Japanese. Finally, searching for the name of the author and/or circle gives you a list that you can browse manually. If you already have one or more pages from what you're searching for, the file search will be useful.

If you want to request a new manga or doujinshi that probably hasn't been scanned yet, you should be patient, and simply wait for it. If it's made by a reasonably popular author or circle, it's likely to be scanned and uploaded quite quickly. There's also the option of buying it yourself.


3. Artist CG sets

If you only know the name of the set, do a normal gallery search for it first. Don't forget that there may be different ways of spelling a title. In the case of CG sets, it's possible that it is available, just not here, so try [rs.4chan.org] 4chan's /rs/ as well. The gallery containing the CG set you're looking for may have a misspelt title or be named only in Japanese, and that's where [eng.dlsite.com] DLsite comes in handy. Try searching for the English title there. If you find the right set, save the title image and do a gallery file search for it (remember to keep similarity scan enabled). Uploaders often include this to make the gallery more complete. If that doesn't work, you can try searching with the original Japanese title, which can be found by hacking the URL; change "eng" to "maniax" and "RE" to "RJ". Since uploaders sometimes only provide the name in Japanese script, this may be used as a last resort.

If you already have one or more images that you suspect come from an image set, you should try using the gallery file search first.

If neither of the methods described above work, you'll either have to wait for someone to buy and share it, or you can buy it yourself. CG sets are usually not too expensive, so if you want to support the artist, get your credit card.

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If we make this thread sticky, and people actually bother to read it, the number of new request threads will be drastically reduced. I'm not too optimistic about it, though. I may add some screenshots later to illustrate it. Also, feel free to give feedback. Is there something I've forgotten? Do you have corrections or additions? There's probably a lot more I could cover.

This post has been edited by 3d0xp0xy: Dec 20 2009, 05:07