"The seed image can be used anywhere, anyhow, and in any way you can imagine! Use it for a texture, a backdrop, a prop, a transparency chanel, bump map even -- the possibilities are endless and limited only by your own creativity." ~ ok this is from the contest page...so go with that spirit. Fred, with all due respect, I am going to disagree with you here: "it is a cheap way for some people who would not otherwise qualify to have their artwork on the cover to get exposure" The rules also allow you to change the seed image beyond recognition so long as you can show progression from the original. Personally I don't think there is a conscious intention to promote anyones artwork anywhere, it is just an idea for a conpetition for god sakes, not a bloody conspiracy theory. Ok, I think I've said enough...hops off his soapbox