Category Guidelines

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Category Guidelines

Category Guidelines
 

There is no fee to submit entries.  Each school can send 4 entries per category. Each student may submit an entry into two categories. All entries must be rated appropriate for ALL school audiences.  Teams can have at least 2 members but not more than 3.  Winners will be announced at the festival on  May 9th, 2017.  Winners do not need to be present at the festival to receive their award. There will be a $10.00 fee to attend the festival.


Vector Graphics

This category is for designs created in a vector graphics program such as Illustrator.  We encourage clean vector art such as logos, infographics, or icons. We discourage use of “Live Trace” or other conversion techniques.  All aspects of the design must be originally created by the student, including any reference images used for tracing.

  1. Individual project
  2. All media assets must be originally created by the student
  3. Must be created in its entirety in a vector graphics program such as Adobe Illustrator
  4. Submit in vector formats  AI, .EPS, .PDF, or .SVG

 

Raster Graphics

In this category, we encourage hand-drawn digital art created with a pen and tablet, mouse, etc.  All aspects of the design must be originally created by the student.  Designs with a large photo component, including photo manipulation, should be reserved for the Photography categories.

  1. Individual project
  2. All media assets must be originally created by the student
  3. Hand drawn with mouse or pen in raster graphics program
  4. Submit .TIF or .JPG

 

Digital Photography – Digital photos with filter or other minor adjustments.

This category is for original student photography.  Photos must be taken by the student submitting. Photos can be manipulated in a raster graphics program to enhance color, balance, tone, theme, etc. This is not mandatory; photos can also be in their original format, untouched. Entries will be judged on composition, content, and technical merit.

  1. Individual project
  2. Photos must be taken by student
  3. Photos can be manipulated in a raster graphics program
  4. Submit .TIF or .JPG
  5. Max size 2048 pixels

Composite Photography

This category is for photographic compositions.  Photos must be original, creative commons, or manipulated to the degree of copyright compliance. Photos should be manipulated, edited, composited, cut, masked, layered, etc. This category is designed to test a students ability to manipulate and combine photos i.e. an elephants head on a mouses body.

  1. Individual project
  2. Submit as .TIF or .JPG
  3. Max size 2048 pixels

Animation – Stop-Motion

This category is for animations that display the technique of repeatedly photographing individual frames of a  physically manipulated object.  Stop-motion animations can be created with puppets, clay, action figures, Legos, paper cut-outs, whiteboard, etc.  Time lapse films are better suited for the Video category. Non-original music may be used with proper permissions and attribution.

  1. Individual or team project (2-3 members)
  2. Time constraint:  90 seconds max from beginning to end.  (An additional 30 seconds of credits may be added at the end.)
  3. Upload to Youtube, Vimeo or other video hosting site and submit URL
  4. Document music as original or license to use and publish. Copyright-free, royalty-free and Creative Commons music is accepted.  Attribute original author in credits. Other music can be used if uploaded to youtube and original artist retains monetization (automatic when detected).

2D Animation – Traditional or Digital

This category is for animations that been drawn using traditional pencil and paper and/or digital techniques.  Digital animations can be created in programs such as Flash, ToonBoom, Digicel, etc.  Designs, characters, and stories must be original to the student.  Non-original music may be used with proper permissions and attribution.  Entries will be judged on technical skill as well as storytelling.

  1. Individual or team project (2-3 members)
  2. Time constraint:  90 seconds max from beginning to end.  (An additional 30 seconds of credits can be added at the end if you would like.
  3. Upload to Youtube, Vimeo or other video hosting site and submit URL.
  4. Document music as original or license to use and publish. Copyright-free, royalty-free and Creative Commons music is accepted.  Attribute original author in credits. Other music can be used if uploaded to youtube and original artist retains monetization (automatic when detected).

 

Audio

This category includes original music, radio commercials, and short radio plays.  Record digital audio using programs such as GarageBand, Audacity, or Audition.  Royalty-free audio loops may be used.  All sound effects must be original.  2 minute maximum time limit.

  1. Individual or team project (2-3 members)
  2. Could be music, commercial, or podcast
  3. 2 minutes max in mp3 or m4a format
  4. Can also upload to Soundcloud or other audio hosting website and submit URL

 

Video

This category includes short stories, documentaries, commercials, music videos, etc.  Non-original music may be used with proper permissions and attribution.  Entries will be judged on composition, content, and editing.

  1. Individual or team project (2-3 members)
  2. Time constraint:  4 minutes or less from beginning to end. (An additional 30 seconds of credits can be added at the end if you would like.)
  3. Upload to Youtube, Vimeo or other video hosting site and submit URL
  4. Document music as original or license to use and publish. Copyright-free, royalty-free and Creative Commons music is accepted.  Attribute original author in credits. Other music can be used if uploaded to youtube and original artist retains monetization (automatic when detected).

 

3D Graphics

This category is for still images created in a 3D graphics program such as Maya, Blender, and 3DS Max.  No premade assets should be used in this category.  Pieces should be made from primitive geometry and modified by the student.  Paint effects, character rigs, and visor assets should be omitted, files used in textures are acceptable with proper documentation.  Digital sculpting is acceptable but major changes should be present from base mesh.  If a tutorial is used for the creation of the image, the URL should be noted in the credits.

  1. Individual or team project (2-3 members)
  2. Submit three (3) different camera angles
  3. Submit 24 bit color, 300 dpi as TIF or JPG
  4. Max size 2048 pixels

3D Animation

This contest focuses on a students ability to animate in a 3D software package. Though student-made characters can be used, pre-built character rigs are allowed.   Students will be judged on their ability to animate and the use of the Principles of Animation. Any use of non-original 3D characters, props, or environments should be noted on the Entry Form.

  1. Individual or team project (2-3 members)
  2. Time constraint:  90 seconds max from beginning to end. (An additional 30 seconds of credits can be added at the end if you would like.)
  3. Upload to Youtube, Vimeo or other video hosting site and submit URL
  4. Document music as original or license to use and publish. Copyright-free, royalty-free and Creative Commons music is accepted.  Attribute original author in credits. Other music can be used if uploaded to youtube and original artist retains monetization (automatic when detected).
  5. Document non-student created 3d assets in credits.

 

Web Design

In this category, we encourage well-designed websites for web portfolios, school sites, business sites, etc.  We emphasize use of HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc. in the design.  Sites designed with a Content Management System such as WordPress will not be accepted.  Content may be non-original, but all web design and development should be performed by the submitting students.

  1. Individual or team project (2-3 members)
  2. Include planning and design documentation (Upload design work as PDF)
  3. No more than 10 pages in site
  4. Upload finished website to a server and submit a link to the homepage

 

Game Design

This category is for games created in a variety of programs, including GameMaker, Unity, Flash, TWINE, etc.  Students must submit a zipped folder containing all files necessary to play the game.  They must also submit planning and design documentation as a .PDF.

  1. Individual or team project (2-3 members)
  2. Upload planning and design documentation as .PDF. 
  3. Submit a zipped folder with all materials necessary to run program or upload to hosting site and submit URL
  4. Upload a video presentation of student using/ playing software to Youtube, Vimeo, or other video hosting site and submit URL. Video should be no more than 4 minutes.