The rules for the 2005 Blender F1 Challenge remain relatively unchanged from 2004 but with a few exceptions. The theme
is to create what you feel to be the Formula One car of the future. It can be one day, one year, or one hundred years! If you look at
all of the past favorites, you will see that these are no ordinary F1 cars. Some touch the ground and others do not. What you do is use your
imagination. For your benefit, please let me share my feelings regarding previous years contests:
Looking back at previous Blender F1 Challenges
If you take a closer look at the top finishing entries from previous Challenges (links are in the menu to the left),
what do they have in common?
Attention to detail! Lighting, texturing, composition and precision modelling made these entries stand out
from the rest. The time spent on these models really shows in their quality.
Textures! No doubt the best models had the best texturing. Texturing makes the model look real. It is amazing
what a properly placed decal or detailed reflection map can do to make a model come alive.
Lighting! The best finishers also had lighting that showed the important features and added to the
overall scene while maintaining a realistic feel. Several entries in the past have been (in my opinion) underlit. A model could be the
most incredible creation ever but that will not matter if we cannot see it!
Composition! Composition is how the objects are placed in the scene. Take a close look at the top Challenge entries
and you will see that the composition is very similar. Three-quarter angles from a slightly higher perspective. Also
look in any car magazine and you will see similar composition. People are natually used to seeing certain types of objects
from a particular point of view. Cars are one of them.
Listen to the Community! Many of the images submitted to the F1 Challenge were posted on the Community forums for critique
before they were sent to me. Based on what was suggested by fellow Blender users, many of the entries were modified for
the better. The Community can be an awesome
tool to help you make your images better if you listen to them.
One additional observation, if I may. Never underestimate the effect of having your image tell a story. Several of the entries
had simple stories built into them and that can give them a human touch and add excitement.
Take some time to thumb through any magazine and look at the advertisments. The best ones always tell some sort of story however
simple it may be.....
Now... a word about the rules. The Blender F1 Challenge has always been about using Blender and to have fun at the same time. I have always strived for fair and even
rules to give every Blender user from newbie to guru a chance at placing well. That said, THE RULES...
The ONLY design criteria required this year is that all entries must make use of an open-cockpit configuration common to contempory Formula One cars. The image to the left shows a past
entry (by Christoffer Green) using this style.
Any officially released Blender version that is available for download must be used to create the basis of the entry. This essentially means that Blender must be used for modelling, lighting, texturing and RENDERING (Blender Internal OR YafRay) the image. Plug-ins for Blender are allowed provided that
they are available to all Blender users.
Post-processing of images is allowed for enhancement uses only such as adding titles, color correction, brightness, contrast, etc. Adding crucial elements (such as backgrounds,
characters, etc...) in post-production will not be accepted.
Entries must be submitted as a JPEG image no larger than 1024 pixels wide or high. Either send an email attachment to curtis@seesystems.com
or email a web link to the files so I can download them (preferred method). Entries can be updated at any time before the contest
ends so do not be afraid to make those last minute tweaks. The top 5 in contest-end voting will be asked to provide .BLEND files.
Entries will accepted starting with the beginning of the Formula One season on March 6, 2005. Entries close Saturday, May 14, 2005 at midnight (just before it turns to Sunday) Pacific coast USA time. This will give you plenty of time to create a masterpiece!
Prizes (thank you to Ton Roosendaal for his help arranging prizes for the 2005 Blender F1 Challenge):
The important thing here is to learn and have FUN! NOW, rev up your brain cells and
start thinking to the future of Formula One!!
Thanks!
CurtisS