The 3D Contests:

VIDI, in cooperation with Gord Lacey and his EI Resources website, MacAddict magazine, and StrataUser magazine, sponsored three contests that posed an interesting challenge to 3D artists and designers. The contestants were given the formidable task of creating realistic 3D models with a maximum model size limit of 200K. The contests enabled StudioPro and EIAS users the opportunity to get a free version of VIDI's powerful, spline-based Modeler and use their respective rendering products to complete their work.

The judges have chosen and the winners of the three recently concluded 3D contests are presented below. It's pretty amazing what these talented artists have been able to accomplish with a spline-based modeler and only 200K to work with. All the winners chose to use the spline-based power of VIDI's Modeler to build character-based models, one of the most difficult subjects to sculpt. And they all did it in 200K or less. Imagine what they could have done with a full working version of VIDI's Modeler.


Winner Of The VIDI Modeler/Electric Image Contest - Vince Tourangeau

Vince Tourangeau created his winning entry using VIDI's Modeler and EIAS on a Power Macintosh 6100/60 with 72 Mb of RAM and a 256 Mb Hard Disk Drive internal, a 256 Mb Hard Disk Drive external, and 135 MB EZ135 removable media. It was rendered on a Power Macintosh G3/266 w/92 Mb RAM and a 6 Gb Hard Disk Drive.

Vince made excellent use of joined and lathed spline meshes to create one on the most difficult things to sculpt, the human head. With effective use of Modeler's Digital Clay sculpting capabilities, he was able to create his model in only 176K.

Vince is a mathematics student at Carleton University in Ottawa Canada, currently in the 4th year of a Pure Mathematics (Honours) degree program. It's amazing to see such artistic skills paired with the ability to master abstract mathematics.

Magic Man

VIDI Modeler/ElectricImage Contest Winner-Vince Tourangeau



Winner Of The VIDI Modeler/Strata StudioPro Contest - Mark Hill

Mark Hill created his entry using VIDI's Modeler and Strata StudioPro 2.1.1 on a PowerCenterPro 210 with 144 Mb of RAM and a 7 GB Hard Disk Drive. He is a freelance artist and website designer from down under in Victoria, Australia.

Mark has made excellent use of Lathe and Loft spline meshes along with some prodigious use of Digital Clay™ sculpting, especially around the stomach area, while using only 192 K to create this terrifying dragon. Wonder if his design is based on an actual sighting of this creature in Australia?

Dragon

VIDI Modeler/Strata StudioPro Contest Winner-Mark Hill



Winner Of The VIDI Presenter 3D Contest - Clyde Duensing III

In March, VIDI held the Presenter 3D Demo Software Contest to test the ingenuity and 3D modeling skill of contestants using the demo version of Presenter 3D. The winner of that contest is Clyde Duensing III from Ormond Beach, Florida. To say the least, we were impressed with Clyde's entry, titled GMan, because of his effective use of Presenter 3D's spline-based modeling and Digital Clay™ sculpting capabilities to create the sculpted outlines on the face, arms, and body.

We have long recognized that character design is one of the most difficult things to do in 3D and are proud to see what can be accomplished with Presenter 3D in the hands of our users. By winning the contest, Clyde received the full version of the product. With what he was able to accomplish within the 200K model size limit of the demo version, we look forward to seeing the great things he will be able to create with the full modeling resources and high speed rendering capabilities it provides.

GMan

VIDI Presenter 3D Contest Winner-Clyde Duensing III





Now It's Your Turn:

Each contest produced outstanding entries with differing subjects ranging from creatures, to characters, to realistic human faces. While each was judged best in its rendering category, which of these three winning entries is the best overall? Is it the one created with Electric Image, StrataStudioPro, or VIDI's Presenter 3D?

The results are in and you have selected Vince Tourangeau's "MagicMan" which was medeled using VIDI Modeler and rendered using ElectricImage, as the overall winner. Here are examples of what the voters had to say about Vince" entry:

    "Vince Tourangeau has created a piece of art that has strength and power. Here was my critera: Frame all three images. Which would I be willing to hang in my house, put on exhibit, or suggest as an exhibit in my local art museum? The choice was clear."

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     "Admittedly, Mark Hill's dragon is excellent, but I'm more impressed by the subtlety of the facial model."

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     "I am a loyal Strata user, but i like Vince's piece more than the others."

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     "MagicMan because the human head and face is one of the most complicated projects to undertake and is very time-consuming. I feel that Vince's MagicMan is the most visually appealing in comparison to the other two excellent illustrations."



Want To Give It A Try?:

If you were impressed with all the entries entries and would like to take a try at spline-based modeling, download a free version of Presenter 3D or Modeler for yourself.