What would you think about giving us forum members a biweekly project? You could give us the title of an image and we would have to come up with the image and then post it a couple of weeks later. "Title of an image?" you ask. Could be something titled, 'Putt-Putt course from hell', 'Fastest car on Saturn', 'Ugliest creature from a cave', etc. It would be cool to see what everyone comes up with given the same title for the image. Just an unjudged presentation with a chance for useful comments to improve our skills. Does anybody think this might be fun or worthwhile? I don't know about you but unless I have a goal in mind for my 3-d stuff, it always ends up with too much chrome and fog :>) Mark

Mark, personally I think that is like going back to school with projects. I myself am a rookie that likes to play with 3D for my satisfaction and enjoyment. I think this would be putting the members of this group at odds with each other. I don`t think this is a competition forum or a job placement center by seeing who can create the best object or scene by a title. This is my thought on this view. Dave

Dave, I see your point. Mark

Mark - I'd probably have to agree with Dave, here. But, if you're looking for a thematically guided project, check out the internet ray-tracing competition (www.irtc.org). Though there are some prizes available, it exists primarily to encourage the use of ray-tracing and to help the artists who participate improve their skills. They announce a new theme every quarter -- not quite bi-weekly, but it's something. Recent themes have been "ruins" and "the city." The image I posted a couple versions of here earlier was for this competition; I got some excellent tips from people in this forum. It's been very educational and fun. - Chip

Cool, thanks for the tip. I'm just one of those types that preferes to have an idea to work on. My suggestion wasn't to start competition but just something to do. I don't spend enough time surfing for 3-d stuff. Mark

Dave, I guess I see your point too, but personally I love the idea. It would really show off everyone's thinking process - the same title, but everyone's brain works differently and therefore would conceptualize differently. Plus, having some common ground for conceptualization would open up opportunities for things like, "Man, that's what I tried to do but couldn't figure it out - how did you do that?!" It doesn't seem like a situation for grading, but rather a situation of expanding all of our Carrara horizons and abilities and sharing information... So far I haven't seen ANY indication this forum is competitive, but rather very supportive. As such, though there is always the possibility of competition and animosity, I just don't see it happening to any real extent. Why don't we just give it a shot, and if this stuff starts rearing it's ugly head, all we have to do is stop. And if you don't want to participate, that's cool... It's just something to do to kick-start our creativity, IMHO... I'll give it a go, provided I have the time to do it... 8^) HG... P.S. Mark, thanks for the info on the realistic water shading process...

Additionally, we could just do an independent thing rather than forum-based... whoever is interested could communicate via email and just post the final results here once we all have completed our scenes... Just my opinion...warped as it is... HG...

I like the idea. I find myself learning, and also envying, everybody elses work. I'd be willing to give it a try. :-) Aeryk

I am not trying to cut anyone down here on their opinions but why is it necessary for someone to throw up a title to make a scene or object. That to me is competition. After all the members are putting up their images and comments are given, positive or negative, and anyone can post a question to the person who created the image as to how something was done. So, again why do you feel you need a title? Answer,competition Dave

Good idea but I'm not quick enough to do something that often. I'm still trying to finish a Poser character that I started over a year ago! I always thought it might be fun if everybody could submit a rendering or model of something that would be unique or native to the individuals geographic location. It could be a geographical feature, plant species, agricultural or industrial product, historical event, landmark, building etc. that would be well-known to the people within approximately 150 miles of that location. Could suggest a different theme every other month (I'm slow!). That would take it out of the competition arena and still provide a common theam (with an un-common result) for people to work with. It could also arouse some curriosity about the "locations" and could lead to a "guessing game" to figure it out.

That's a cool direction. And actually, every other month is probably about right for anything that's regular. The historical direction has my wheels turnin' Mark

Im gone for 12 hrs or so and you guys have it all figured out.. ;) I like the idea. It helps spur an artists creativity by taking someone elses idea and bringing it to a visual representation. One cool thing is that everyone will have differnt visual representations.. Would be very interesting to see what each artist does with the ideas. Everyone doesnt have to participate. It wont be a contest. Just a little fun. If there are at least a few of you that would like to bring an idea to life post back... How about I give the first idea for everyone to work on? Let me know gang...Im WIDE open ... this is your house! Clint

I'm on. Mark

Sign me up... I'll do the best I can. :-) Aeryk

I'm there everyone.... I suck at all this, but I am there! 8^) HG...