Rebekah, ShadowWind,

I certainly can't afford (as much as I'd love to) send out a copy of the first book to thousands of art directors. Neither can John, AAPPL, or Renderosity fund such a thing using traditional book publishing models, I'm sure. Using the juried contest method with gasp entry fees (like Spectrum, et al.) is a fairly logical way to help insure that every one of those copies slated for art directors really does make it into their hands.

(To me, it's just that straight forward and simple of an answer. I don't particularly have a problem with paying for a Juried Exhibit where I have to compete for space. Professional illustrators / artists face this type of thing day in, and day out anyway, where the client has access to hundreds of thousands of people willing to work for cheaper or even free on the internet, just a click away. If one can't get used that kind of pressure, then they are probably better off not quitting that day job and should consider art as hobby instead. shrug)

If I were Rosity, I would have produced this first book with chosen artists without the submission fee, got a track record

Oh, but they already have established a track record of producing VERY high quality, excellent content publications. "Renderosity Magazine" blew quite a few doors off at Siggraph the first year it showed up there, and had quite a few of the other CG magazine folks scrambling to find out more about this community. It was a great thing, that opened up a whole new universe for this community in the eyes of the 'outside' world.

As for previous posts comparing Renderosity's to CGTalk's method of book funding/promotion etc... C'mon people, you know this aint CGTalk! This is Renderosity, where the bottom-tier software is as welcome as the top and hobby artists get the same consideration as professionals. -- Sadly, this is probably what makes it unlikely that Renderosity could use the same model at this time.

(Before anyone gets their panties in a twist, I love my Poser, Bryce, UltraFractal, XenoDream, insert your favorite inexpensive software title here. I am fully aware of the stigma attached to work that is known to use these apps. I am also quite familiar with the professional resistance people who dont use the 'industry standard' software get from their fellow professionals. And, I really believe that this same resistance translates to this entire community as well. At present, hiring professionals just don't take the Renderosity community as seriously as they should for a viable pool of new, and mature, talent.)

While this new book will undoubtedly be as lavish and finely printed as the first, make a wonderful coffee table book, and will show up in book stores too... it is really (from what I gather) meant to be a way for this community to show off its talent to professionals in the CG industry first and fine art coffee table book after that criteria is satisfied.

But then, hey, I may be totally wrong -- Maybe this IS all an evil plot by the short-sighted, nefarious warlords of Renderosity to take advantage, rape, pillage and otherwise abuse its community members. :-)

audre