TurboSquid 3D Blog

CheckMate Tools Contest – We Have a Winner!

May 9th, 2012 by

It was a tough call, but we managed to choose our three winners of the CheckMate Tools contest. Once again, our members succeeded in dazzling us with their brilliance and ingenuity.

The goal of the contest, which ran until March 31, was to create a script that would look for CheckMate issues when running pre-2010 releases of 3ds Max. Our existing CheckMate script relies on XView features, which are not available in 3ds Max 2009 or before. This made it hard for artists using older software (of which there are many at TurboSquid) to prepare or fix their models for CheckMate certification.

Of all the entries that we received, there were three scripts that stood out above the rest. It was a tough decision, as these three scripts each did a great job of creating a new tool that can be used by 3ds Max 7 or later. Here’s a snapshot view of the three winning entries, with more details below.

Grand Prize / First Place: Popa_3D
This full-featured MAXScript batch-fixes errors and renders thumbnails and turntables. In addition to running tests for both Checkmate Pro and Lite, this script can run individual tests one by one. Plus it’s lightning-fast!

2nd Place: Denys Almaral
This MAXScript features a handy display of sub-object level problems so you can easily zoom in and locate problematic faces and vertices. This submission runs faster than the original 3ds Max CheckMate Tool, especially on high-poly models.

3rd Place: Atanas Bakardzhiev 
Created by using the existing XView-heavy CheckMate Tool as a base, this MAXScript adds a non-XView option that performs most of the same commands without calling XView itself. When running this script, you can choose whether to run it in XView or non-XView mode.

Congratulations to all three winners! The winning MAXScripts are available for free download on our CheckMate Tools page, so you can pick one or try them all. We hope you use these tools to help you build, check and fix up your products for CheckMate certification.

Read on for more detail on each of the submissions. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ,
Posted in Artists, CheckMate, Site | 1 Comment »

Want Your 3D Model Featured on TurboSquid? Well, Here’s Your Chance!

May 2nd, 2012 by

Artists that have been featured on the TurboSquid home page have often lamented of the honor it is for their model to be chosen. Those have yet to be chosen are green with envy, flooding our customer support staff or filling up the TS forum with requests on how theirs can be the next featured model. We’ve decided to make this honor more attainable to all of our artists, through a public call for model submissions for consideration.

So where do you start? Well, as with anything, there are a few guidelines and things to consider before submitting.

  • Model submitted MUST be CheckMate Pro Certified
  • Submission should not depict any vulgar imagery (such as nudity or extreme violence)
  • Multiple submissions by any individual artists are permitted
  • Upon selection, artist of featured model must provide answers to interview style questions within 7 days for promotional use by TurboSquid

If you have one or more models that you feel would be worthy of the top spot on TurboSquid, your next steps are:

  1. Download the Template (.psd)
    - Add the best view of your model working within the confines of the existing layers.
    - Layers are not to be moved or edited. Be sure to save your work in layers, as a PSD file.
    - Be sure to make the most of the space provided between content and
  2. Submit Your Rendering
    - Once you have created the perfect setting around your model, email the file (.psd with layers enabled) to TurboSquid for consideration.
    - Be sure to include the link to the product page of the model on the TurboSquid.com.
    - You will receive an email response upon receipt of the file.
  3. Sit, Wait and Be Ready to Respond
    - Questions may arise, you may be chosen, or there may be issues with your file; whatever the case may be, please be responsive if we make an attempt to contact you regarding your submission.

* All submissions will be considered for the current month and kept in the running for subsequent months.

For a little design inspiration, we have provided a collection of previously featured models and how they were rendered for home page use.

 

Yamaha R6 motorcycle model by Jamie Hamel Smith and Street Biker Model by Vespa
were combined to create the following featured image

 

CheckMate Pro Model of an LCAC by Artist HD_Ready

Photorealistic 3D model of a Nikon camera by 3D artist FraP

 

3D Beetle Model by artist QLEE

 

Artist C4DmodelSHOP added a touch of holiday cheer to our home page with this 3D Snowglobe Model

 

 

This ferocious 3D lion model was our first featured model by Massimo Righi

 

Good luck, and happy rendering! 

 

Tags:
Posted in Artists, Featured | No Comments »

In Search of Inspiration: How To Use Data as Your 3D Model Muse

April 30th, 2012 by

It’s hard to predict which 3D models customers will be looking for in the coming days, months, or even years; however, there are a few indicators CG artists can use that may provide inspiration that may even prepare your portfolio for expected jumps in areas of interest.

Let’s use the recent milestone marking 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic. As the actual date approached, internet searches related to the word “Titanic” skyrocketed; an increase in similar searches within the TurboSquid catalog were also identified.

So how do you “predict” a possible trend?

By keeping your eyes open for major events (like the upcoming Olympic games in London), entertainment industry announcements, or even medical breakthroughs; you may be on the front end of a trend. Anything that appears to be on the cusp of launch that you can provide a resource for, may also be a good source of inspiration, including major construction projects (especially those that may change a city’s skyline).

Riding similar waves of search success are movies that are heading for production or a theater near you . Look at the impact that the upcoming Avengers, Iron Man 3 or the latest installment in the Spiderman series have had on the search engines.

Using tools like Google Insights for Search (picture above) provides the data associated with worldwide search volume. Combine this information with TurboSquid reports like Top Site Searches (available to SquidGuild artists) and you can use this valuable information to inspire your next digital creation while anticipating the possible demands of customers.

Posted in Artists, Featured, publishing | 1 Comment »

Artist Spotlight: Jamie Hamel Smith

April 19th, 2012 by

For April, the TurboSquid home page is featuring not one, but two CheckMate Pro models, a combination of complementary assets including a sexy and super fast looking Yamaha R6 motorcycle 3D model by Jamie Hamel Smith, with an equally stylish rider by 3D artist Vespa.

We got to chat with the man behind the motorcycle on how he got his start in the modeling field, where he finds his inspiration and how he got so good at making motorcycles.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Artists, Featured, Site | 4 Comments »

Artist Spotlight: Vespa

April 19th, 2012 by

You may have noticed that we have not one, but two CheckMate Pro models sharing the spot atop our home page this month. Vespa’s sleek cyclist looked lost without an equally impressive bike. So we started “shopping” the TurboSquid model catalog for just the right ride; the decision – a top of line Yamaha R6 superbike, created by 3D modeler Jamie Hamel Smith.

We chatted with Vespa (whose real name is Zdenek Vespalec) about the tools, textures and overall inspiration that drove him to create this stunning streetbiker. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Artists, Featured, Site | No Comments »

« Older Entries