Use case: art servers
Moderate an art server without removing the art
Art communities post more images than almost any other kind of server, and some of that work shows the human body. SfwBot lets you draw one line for photos and another for artwork, and gives you simple ways to correct a decision you disagree with.
The problem with one rule for every image
Figure drawing, anatomy studies, character design and classical references are ordinary subjects in an art server. A filter that treats them like explicit photos removes legitimate work and frustrates the people the server exists for. A server with no filter at all leaves the gallery open to anyone who wants to post explicit photos.
Most art servers end up with a mix: general channels that should stay clean, a gallery where artistic nudity is acceptable, and sometimes an age-restricted channel for mature work. The settings have to follow that structure.
Settings that fit an art server
A separate level for art
With premium, illustrations and artwork can have their own rule: the same as photos, blocked from level 1, 2 or 3, or allowed entirely. Photos keep the level you set for them.
Channel exemptions
Exempt a gallery or critique channel from scanning. Age-restricted channels are skipped by default, so a mature channel needs no extra setup.
Allow list
Allow a piece the model rated too strictly. It is recognised by a fingerprint, so similar copies of it pass as well.
Role exemptions
Exempt a role for verified artists or long-standing members whose uploads you trust.
Spoiler-tagged media
If your server asks members to spoiler-tag mature work, you can choose to skip spoiler-tagged media.
Log only, without deleting
Switch off automatic deletion and the bot only reports what it finds. Your moderators decide.
What to configure first
Map your channels
Decide which channels must stay clean, which may show artistic nudity and which are for mature work. Mark the last group as age-restricted in Discord.
Add the bot and set a log channel
Run /setup or use the dashboard. See getting started.
Start in log-only mode
Leave automatic deletion off for the first days. The log shows what would have been removed, with no harm done to anyone's work.
Set the levels
Choose the level for photos. On premium, choose the art level separately. The nudity detection guide describes each option.
Add exemptions and switch deletion on
Exempt the channels and roles from your map, then turn automatic deletion back on.
If you stay on the free plan
The separate art level is a premium option. On the free plan, artwork is rated with the same level as photos. You can still run an art server well with three tools: exempt the channels where artistic nudity is welcome, keep mature work in age-restricted channels, and use the allow list for individual pieces. Compare the plans on the pricing page.
When a piece is removed wrongly
The model can misjudge a drawing, and it can misjudge whether an image is a drawing at all. When that happens, a moderator can flag the removal as inaccurate in the log channel, and the artist can see the removal with /standing and report it. If you use trust and strikes, a moderator can undo the violation so the artist's standing is restored.
Tell your members how the rules work. An artist who knows which channel accepts which kind of work rarely runs into the filter.
Questions and answers
Can artwork be treated differently from photos?
Yes, with premium. Art and illustrations can have their own level or be allowed entirely, while photos keep the level you set.
What happens to artwork on the free plan?
It is rated with the same level as photos. Use channel exemptions, age-restricted channels and the allow list to make room for it.
Can I allow nudity in one gallery channel only?
Yes. Exempt that channel, or mark it as age-restricted in Discord. Age-restricted channels are skipped by default.
Does the bot keep copies of members' artwork?
No. It keeps data about removals and a fingerprint (hash) of the image, not the image. Only when a decision is reported for review is that one image kept for the review. Everything taken from a message is deleted after 30 days at most. See security and privacy.