Hi

To inshaala/moderators:
Is it technically possible to have a statement within the challenge guidelines saying, "Please refer to Postwork Guidelines" with a link to a one off, but permanent statement?

The "Postwork Guidelines" statement could define what is deemed acceptable photographic postwork techniques. Each technique could be grouped under an appropriate  general heading (as you would probably find in most photo adjusting software packages). The General heading could carry an abbreviation which the challenge submitter would enter within the image description, thus providing some transparency about the techniques employed in producing the final image.

The "Postworks Guidelines" statement could be compiled on assignment, reviewed and adjusted by the moderators, before being presented to the forum membership.
 
The Guidelines could be updated and approved as new techniques arrive.

Moderators/challenge administrators need only be involved in checking an image's elligibility if they receive a query from a member (via site mail) who feels the guidelines have been breached or there appears to be no coding suppied by an entrant. The moderators/challenge administrators could contact an entrant to request information to be supplied, or if deemed necessary request an original image. They would have the final say as to whether an image be included or excluded from that particular challenge.

If, as some of those who have previously responded, the majority of members/entrants share your opinion regarding the existing levels of postwork, and with the "Postwork Guidelines" to refer to and operate within, then the moderators should have a pretty quiet time.

It is still my personal belief that if you have a competition where the rules are not clearly defined, then eventually the competition loses its appeal. Time will tell.