ANNOUNCING THE 3rd BLENDER TUTORIAL CONTEST

Entries for the THIRD BLENDER TUTORIAL CONTEST are open. The contest is run by Blender-Tutorial. ALL ARTISTS fulfilling the requirements below can enter completely free. Winners of the contest will be awarded a PRIZE.

REQUIREMENTS

Participation is subject to REGISTRATION TO THE FORUM, which is free and immediate. Participants need to download the Blender software.

TOPIC OF THE CONTEST

The topic of the new edition is "THE FUTURE". As the concept states, the topic is FREE and goes beyond any BINDING interpretation seeing the future as outer universe, space shuttles, extraterrestrial technology, futuristic architecture, and so on. This interpretation is not binding, but of course allowed. Participants to this edition are free to choose the interpretation they like the most, approaching it from any perspective, nuance, standpoint (political future, romantic future, their own future, etc.). THE FUTURE regarded from different perspectives ? a burst of optimism (for a brighter future) or an expression of pessimism (by depicting a negative future) .....TOTAL FREEDOM in fact. Explaining How and Why and communicating a message is up to the participant. This time all artists are urged not to focus only on the technical excellence of their work, but rather to highlight the insight and value of the MESSAGE they want to communicate to onlookers and members of the jury (also the message will be included in the judgement)? Take inspiration (but do not copy!) from what you like ? both from films or books ? and reinvent it. LET US BE IMPRESSED!!! In total freedom.

CONTEST RULES

- GROUP WORK and FILE EXCHANGES between participants are not allowed. Honesty, professionalism and fair play are required. - BEWARE! THE USE OF PRE-MODELLED MESHES is not allowed, whether modelled by the participants themselves or by third parties. Meshes cannot be downloaded from the web, not even if they are partial or are only used to complete the project. EVERYTHING needs to be BRAND NEW, EXCLUSIVELY AND SPECIFICALLY CREATED AND MODELLED BY THE ARTISTS FOR THIS CONTEST. - NO LIMITS on techniques and styles. Feel free to express yourself: photorealism IS NOT COMPULSORY. Any style is accepted, including Toon style. - BLENDER (any release) IS THE ONLY SOFTWARE allowed for modelling. NO other software or application is allowed for 3D MODELLING, as are not allowed licensed (Maya, Rhyno, 3DSMAX etc.) or open (makehuman, ivy generator, arbaro etc.) ?MESH GENERATORS? ONLY Blender is allowed. - Other than Blender internal, artists are allowed to use ANY external RENDERING ENGINES with open&free characteristics, as long as they clearly state, upon completion, the engine they have used. ENGINES UNDER LICENSE are not allowed. - POST-PRODUCTION IS ALLOWED (photoshop or Gimp) BUT WITH LIMITATIONS. Use of post-production is allowed ONLY for colour adjustment, adding backgrounds, and texture creation. Massive use of post-production is not allowed! (upon submission, participants are invited to state the post-production software they used). - WIPs (described below) must feature the acronym [BTC3] before the title. - ON PROJECT COMPLETION, SUBMISSION FILES must have a resolution of 1024x768 pixels or 768x1024 pixels, MAXIMUM QUALITY JPG FORMAT. Different renderings will not be accepted. On registration the entrant automatically agrees to and accepts these rules. Artists are required to respect the rules (breach of the rules will be punished with immediate exclusion), show fair play and loyalty. This includes completing their projects to the best of their capabilities, regardless of quality level.

DATES AND DEADLINE

The Contest will run approximately for ONE AND A HALF MONTHS (unless otherwise established by the administrator for valid and indisputable reasons). Official deadline is 5 April 2009

WORK IN PROGRESS

POST YOUR WIPs on the blender-tutorial forum,AND ALSO on other dedicated forums (blender.it, kino3d, Blender Artists, ecc). Contestants are allowed to ask for tips and help links on any issues, BUT no "tangible" help is allowed (i.e. having the project modelled by someone else!) IMPORTANT!!! REMEMBER TO ADD THE IDENTIFICATION ACRONYM [BTC3] BEFORE THE TITLE IN THE TOPIC (e.g. [BTC3] wip by "Gikkio" or [BTC3] wip "futuro"(name of the project). NON COMPLIANCE WILL LEAD TO THE CONTESTANT'S EXCLUSION.

VOTING PROCEDURE

Artists will be judged by members of the forum. Users who JOINED THE FORUM PRIOR TO the online publication of projects and have published AT LEAST 5 POSTS will be admitted to the voting procedure. The jury will name the winner and the first and second runner ups. A brief motivation of the choices made is welcomed, though not compulsory. For the voting procedure a dedicated topic will be posted containing all the specifications on how to vote and details on voting.

PRIZES

Prizes can be replaced (due to unavailability) with other prizes equal in value and type, without previous notice.

CONTACTS AND INFORMATION

For additional info a dedicated topic is activated on the forum. For further queries, contact the administrator at info@blender-tutorial.com. Regardless of your experience and skills, a contest is a way of honing experience and learning new techniques, competing fairly with others, giving the best of you, and above all HAVING FUN with your passions and giving free rein to your fantasy. It does NOT MATTER how skilled or experienced you are. EVERYBODY is invited to join!! In this case, what really matters is GETTING INVOLVED! Off we go...... Have fun!!!!