Top VFX Professionals from Weta Digital, CNN, and Electronic ArtsAdvance the CheckMate Industry Standard
June 12, 2012, New Orleans, Louisiana – TurboSquid, the world’s source for quality 3D models, announces the formation of the CheckMate Advisory Board to guide the future of the CheckMate 3D modeling standard. TurboSquid created the standard in 2011, and since that time, a variety of 3D model customers have sought to participate in the standard’s ongoing development. In response, TurboSquid convened a powerhouse of artists to form the CheckMate Advisory Board to take on this responsibility.
Board members include industry leaders from distinguished studios such as Weta Digital, Electronic Arts, CNN, Blur Studio, and The Mill. The first meeting allowed for a high-level discussion of topics, ranging from topology and texturing needs to in-house archive and resource management. ”We’re proud to be invited onto the Advisory Board to help review the Checkmate standard,” says James Ogle, Lead Modeler at Weta Digital. ”We’re happy to share our experience and contribute to criteria that will make the Checkmate standard valuable to a production of any size.” (more…)
After we made an open call for models for the TurboSquid home page, we were thrilled by the range of renders received. It would have been easy to get swept up by detailed vehicles, lifelike characters, and even ferocious animals submitted for the top spot, but the leather swivel chair from artist Tora2097 won us over with its relaxing yet elegant detail.
The artist, Tora2097, definitely has an eye for the little things that make a difference. We could go as far as to say that using any of Tora2097′s models might elevate an architectural visualization from common to upscale.
We took the time to find out how this talented artist got started in the modeling industry, and his experiences with CheckMate Certification.
The count of CheckMate Pro models has just hit the 1000 mark! Congratulations to CheckMate artist Arturbob, whose beautiful Casio watch model became the 1000th 3D model to pass CheckMate Pro yesterday.
As the total number of CheckMate models approaches 5000, we couldn’t be happier with the success of our certification program. The only complaint we get from customers is that there aren’t enough CheckMate models yet! If you’re an artist interested in submitting for CheckMate, see our Knowledge Base for information on how you can join this group of elite 3D artists.
CheckMate Tools Contest Organizers offer Scripters Another Set of Eyes
A few weeks ago we launched the CheckMate Tools Contest, where we call for programs that will check models for CheckMate readiness in 3ds Max versions prior to v2010. The official contest deadline is March 31, 2012, but we’d like to give a special opportunity to those who send in an early draft right now.
Submit a draft of your entry by Friday, March 9, and we’ll test it out and give you feedback on how well your entry performs. Getting this feedback will help you improve your entry and increase your chances to win. And if you make the changes before March 9, you can submit again for a second critique!
NOTE: An early entry submitted by March 9 will not count against your final entry.
Simply submit the final version of your script or program with the same name prior to the deadline, and the later entry will count as the true entry. The final entry will be evaluated on its own merits, and the critique on the earlier entry will not be considered. If another entry is not submitted, the first submission will be viewed as your entry.
For those with submissions in the works, this is a great opportunity to have another set of eyes review the work you’ve done thus far, to let you know if your are on the right track with no penalty at all.
We were so impressed with the hovercraft 3D model made by TurboSquid artist HD_Ready that we just had to put it on our homepage. With its many accurate details and realistic textures, this model is a welcome addition to our expanding CheckMate Pro catalog.
We asked HD_Ready a few questions about the hovercraft model, his work, and his experiences with CheckMate Certification.
What happens when a bunch of Turkish 3D artists get together at a cozy little bistro in Istanbul? That’s what TurboSquid found out last week when we invited some of our top artists from Turkey, along with a few customers and even some TurboSquid newbies, to join us for food and drink at the TAG Bistro in Istanbul’s New District. There I talked about the CheckMate 3D modeling standard as well as the TurboSquid marketplace in general. The presentation, which was supposed to last less than an hour, ended up running closer to 3 hours when the 15 artists at the meeting asked dozens of questions about CheckMate. (more…)
