Tag Archives: contest

Our Silly Little Blog Art Contest Thing Rolls Into March Like a Lion

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We want this blog to be about the fun of creating your own characters with cartoon software, or using 3D models to tell your digital story. Last month, the graphics web team decided we wanted to host a regular, but not very serious art contest in the blog to help liven things up around here. We just want to have fun creating art together, with a bunch of silly prizes and a silly theme where everyone who works with Poser, Manga Studio and Poser can join in together and make silly things.

We put out a call for you to create your own superheroes and a variety of entries flooded in with top candidates to save the world. We had an Anthro-Hedgehog with a light saber and one artist made their first attempt at drawing shoujo manga rather than their usual shounen style manga. We couldn’t believe how CREATIVE you all were.

It was really hard to pick a winner, but UK Manga Studio Artist 888toto (AKA Tony Allcock) stood out with the most votes from our staff! His hero Dart (below) comes with high jumping, gun toting, super-athletic skills and she can even read what you are thinking!  Congratulations Tony!  We’ll ship you out a package next week!

We picked two runners up, who will also be getting silly little packages of silly things to celebrate their super superhero status.  Congratulations to artdude41 (Ashley Martin) and Neil King for your winning entries!


Synestra by ArtDude41, Created in Poser - She’s a member of the Black Avalon, and her powers include unlimited stamina, flight, magic, super strength and speed, as well as telepathy.


Technibod by Neil King, Created in Anime Studio – A new breed of super hero with the awesome power to fix computing problems.

There were actually TWO parts to the art challenge last month! We wanted to create here in the office too! The Smith Micro graphics staff in Watsonville tried to create a few bad guys for the superheroes to battle. (We learned this month that using food for a month long art project is possibly not a great idea…but we know for next time!)  Will the world ever be safe when cork dinosaurs roam the earth?

Now that the world is safe with all these superheroes – What’s the March contest theme already?! 

MARCH CONTEST THEME – BIRTHDAY PARTY
Content Paradise turns 7 on March 21st, and we’re going to celebrate! We want to see your birthday party inspired images and videos this month.  Make us a card or make us a clown – but get your images in before the contest closes.  We’ll send the winner(s) a box of fun party favors and maybe we’ll even save you a piece of cake!

Deadline: March 31, 2012 at Midnight, US Pacific Coast Time
Contest is open for the entire month of March.

ONE ENTRY PER PERSON

Submit your entry at the below link and make sure you tell us in the extra comments field that you are entering the MARCH CONTEST.  Entries without this information will be excluded!  Be Creative!  http://my.smithmicro.com/gallery/

Artwork Submission Specification(s):
Artwork can be created in any version of Poser, Manga Studio or Anime Studio.
Images must be JPEG/JPG format (or compressed into a .zip archive), 800 pixels on the shortest side, maximum 80MB file size.
Animation formats accepted are SWF MOV MP3 MP4 WMV, minimum 320 pixels on shortest side, maximum 80MB file size and should be between 30-60 seconds.
All entries are subject to the Artwork Submission Terms & Conditions.

Have You Ever Wanted to Fly?

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What if you could be a superhero? What would your super power be? Would you giggle and fly or be serious and slay dragons? Now’s the time to make your dream happen (digitally at least!) Smith Micro wants you to create your very own superhero in this month’s image contest.

We’re not looking for the ordinary cape and tights guy, we want to see your imagination go wild in your best Poser, Manga Studio or Anime Studio creation. We will select our single favorite from all the entries!

What happens if your superhero is selected as the most hero-est of the heroes? We don’t want to give away too much, but we promise a box full of goodies to be delivered to the house of the winner, sure to leave you FEELING super at least! (We’ll announce and contact the winner within one week of the end of the month to get more information.)


(Image by Kevin Mall)

Deadline: February 29, 2012 at Midnight, US Pacific Coast Time
Contest is open for the entire month of February. (This month even has an EXTRA day since it’s leap year – but don’t forget, it’s still only 29 days, so get your entries in early!)

Submit your entry at the below link and make sure you enter your superhero name and tell us what your super power is in the Additional Credit field.  Entries without this information will be excluded!  Be Creative!
http://my.smithmicro.com/gallery/

Artwork Submission Specification(s):
Artwork can be created in any version of Poser, Manga Studio or Anime Studio.
Images must be JPEG/JPG format (or compressed into a .zip archive), 800 pixels on the shortest side, maximum 80MB file size.
Animation formats accepted are SWF MOV MP3 MP4 WMV, minimum 320 pixels on shortest side, maximum 80MB file size and should be between 30-60 seconds.
All entries are subject to the Artwork Submission Terms & Conditions.


(Image by Teyon Alexander)

Rock Jocks Poser Film Animation Contest

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Want to see your name in lights?
Enter the Rock Jocks Poser Film Animation Contest and get your work in a Hollywood movie!

Rock Jocks Robots

Smith Micro is excited to host a new Poser animation contest brought to you by Rock Jocks the movie! Download the free figure and follow the storyboards to create your animation for a new Hollywood movie!

ROCK JOCKS – Saving the earth is a real drag.

Imagine asteroids so large that they can wipe out all life on the planet, constantly bombarding the Earth. The only thing standing in the way are the Rock Jocks, a top-secret band of government employees.  The story takes place on a Rock Jocks night shift. Though they are there to fight off asteroids, they spend most of the night fighting off boredom, themselves, and the occasional meddling government bureaucrat.

Check out the movie website here and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the Facebook page.

How to enter the contest:

  • Use the free figures provided for Poser or Vue by Vanishing Point. (Content Paradise account required for download.)
  • Follow the storyboards (PDF File – Language Advisory)
  • Create 30-60 seconds of your best game footage in Poser and submit it for judging. The Content must be submitted in digital file formats .mov, .qt, .wmv, and .avi with a 720p NTSC 16:9 aspect ratio. The final Content must be in .mov, .qt, or .avi file formats with an aspect ratio equal to 1080P HD.

Contest Starts: 2/15/11
Contest Closes: 3/11/11
Winners Announced: 3/14/11

Official Contest Rules and Contest Submission Agreement.

Winners will be selected by the Rock Jocks Production Team!
All eligible entries will be judged by the Judging Panel based on the following criteria: Game Action (25%), Originality (25%), and Reflects theme & FILM PRODUCERS storyboards (50%). Based on the criteria, the Judging Panel will determine and choose the five (5) prospective judged Finalists. All decisions of the Judging Panel are final and binding.

What do you win?
The winner gets credit in the upcoming science-fiction comedy ‘Rock Jocks’.
The winning animation footage will be used in a scene of the film.

Take the Rock Jocks Challenge and enter now.

Do you have questions about this contest? Head on over to the Facebook page and post your question on the wall for the Rock Jocks team!

Give a gift to yourself: Draw and win!

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Why is it that when I start shopping for other people, I suddenly see all these things I want for myself? Maybe it’s because I don’t shop very often or just that I’m spending cash and suddenly being thrifty seems sooo last year. Must. Control. Spending.

If you’ve had your eye on Manga Studio Debut, here’s your chance to get it for free and probably learn something in the process. Mario Kluser is having a drawing contest on his blog Mario LIVE! Just draw what you like (digitally or analog) and enter to win.

If you haven’t visited Mario’s blog and you use Manga Studio, you should definitely take a look. Mario has put a lot of time into making simple, easy-to-understand (and English is his third language!) tutorials for Manga Studio.

Read more about Mario and his Manga Studio tutorials here and enter his contest to win Manga Studio Debut. You could win a gift for yourself this holiday season without breaking your budget!

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Poser love, rewarded (Part II)

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I’ve always been a fan of the underdog, which is probably why I’m so stoked the Yankees aren’t in the World Series this year. (Go Giants!) So while I was pretty jazzed that PJ’s essay won our Poser essay contest, I couldn’t wait to post the second and third place winners. Without further ado, here they are!

Andolaurina is our 2nd place winner, who is an avid seller on Content Paradise and an excellent writer:

Once upon a canvas dreary, while I painted, weak and weary,
Eagerly I wished for more talent; and vainly searching for a tool to help me more.
While I nodded, nearly asleep, suddenly there came a familiar beep,
As if a persistent tolling, tolling from my computer’s dark deep.
“‘Tis some email,” I muttered, “alerting and beeping as before —
Only this, and nothing more.”
Presently my hope grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
I opened Outlook – to read this entreaty and delete it.
But the fact is I was reading, and so indeed it was what I was needing:
An artist software program that would be delivered to my door,
A 3D canvas and so much more.
Open here! I flung open the Poser package, when, with many a box and wrapping,
I saw the most wondrous artistic tool, an improvement over the days of yore;
To add your figures and content, pose and render them – easily delete and restore;
Lights and materials; Hair and cloth, draping effortlessly across the floor —
No more mistakes on a canvas, no more awkward perspective —
Beautiful renders – for all to adore!
And my Poser, never failing, still is sitting, still is sitting
On my desktop, used quite daily, as I ever learning enjoy it more;
And its 3D toolset has all the trappings, to make any artist stand up clapping.
And my soul rejoices from out that email came a better way to create so much more:
Only Poser – forever more!

And our 3rd place winner is Phillip Millar, who is also a poet:

Version One appeared to me
Upon a magazine
With care I placed the shiny disc
Into my beige machine
I marveled at the interface
So elegant and clean
Here was something wonderful
The like I’d never seen.
Basic little figures
The ability to pose
A modest set of little props
A modest set of clothes
It was the start of something
An obsession I suppose
What else can you call it
When you feel your Runtime grow.
And now there’s 8 and even Pro
Potential realized
Imagery fantastic
The only limit, sky.
I flirt with animation
And watch the renders fly
Each version brings a little more
excitement and surprise.
Every day I’m grateful
for my fortunate exposure
to a world of visions brought to life
Through the magic that is Poser.
(When I want to speak of love
An ‘essay’ seems a crime
Words of love are best expressed
More simply through a rhyme.)

Congrats to Andolaurina and Phillip as well as the other “underdogs” who took home prizes! Thanks again to all those who entered! We’re enjoying your Poser love and well-wishes (while we watch the World Series)!

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It’s all treats this Halloween with Content Paradise!

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Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Spooky stories, candy, and my wardrobe seems appropriate for a day! What’s not to like? Heck, I was celebrating in July when Craiglew sent me this animation.

To celebrate Halloween, we’re asking you to Trick or Treat with us! Just submit your costume/character via illustration or animation made with Poser or Anime Studio. (Be sure to put in the Software used field Trick or Treat.)

This would be a sweet costume.

We’ve got two $100 vouchers and two $50 vouchers for Content Paradise that we’re giving away! The winners of the best costume for Anime Studio or Poser will get the $100 vouchers and second places for best costume will get the $50 voucher. What about Manga Studio, you ask? I’ve got your contest right here!

You’ve got until October 31 at 11:59pm to submit your costume or character! You can submit it here. I’ll contact the winners and show them in all their spooky glory next week.

(And speaking of winners, stay tuned tomorrow for the 2nd and 3rd place winners of the Poser essay contest!)

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What’s in a name? Super-powers I say!

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I take names pretty seriously. I think you can tell a lot by a person’s name. I’m not sure it’s going to create their path in life, but I’d probably avoid naming a child or pet Satan. (Unless you’re really into that fallen angel thing.) Awhile ago someone in the office asked what the superhero’s name is in the Dave Gibbons poster. Y’know, this guy:

Manga Man*Gasp!* I had no idea! How can our super-hero be super without a name? So after clearing it with Dave, I thought we should have a contest! The rules are simple: Name our Manga Studio Man! Give our super-hero his calling card! Be creative, be silly, be serious, try to keep it PGish for the kids out there. Our fantastic staff will pick their favorites.

What will the winners get? I’ve got a copy of Manga Studio EX, and Manga Studio Debut, as well as 10 autographed posters by Dave Gibbons that I can mail all over this fine planet. You’ve got until 11:59pm PAC on October 28, so that gives you a week to concoct the best name for our hero’s job. You can submit your name here. Can’t wait to hear what you come up with!

Update: You can only submit one entry, so think it through and be creative!


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Poser love, rewarded.

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Being creative and original isn’t easy, especially when more than 300 people are doing the same project you are. But I knew I could count on the Poser community to provide me (along with three other judges) some great essays on how much they loved Poser for its 15 year anniversary.

The winner of the MacBook Pro, 64 GB Wifi iPad, and loads of software is PJ Friel-Edwards, who in addition to writing an excellent essay, has done some great things with Poser, one of which was in our gallery.

Here’s the essay that won her all that cool stuff and had the office talking:

Some people say that Poser is a 3D design and animation software, but I’m here to tell you that Poser is a weapon. You laugh, but to you I say…Shut it. This is serious business.

Since I was a child, I have been tortured by that nefarious of all creatures – The Stick Figure. Taunted by their misshapen heads and gangly limbs, I have suffered greatly for my inability to draw them. Many were the days spent lying prone on the floor of my elementary school art room, hiding my eyes as little twiggy claws poked me and pointed at their mouthless faces. They are the stuff of nightmares, I tell you.

But no more! Now, because of Poser, I have become the Commander of an Army of…well, one. But I’m recruiting! (Email if interested.) And when I get enough soldiers, Stick Figures will tremble before our mighty mouse clicks.

I suppose if you’re one of those namby-pamby sissy types, you’d take this moment to point out how Poser has enriched your life and given you an outlet for your creativity. I don’t really do “mushy.” But I am proud to wield Poser. She’s been my weapon of choice for a few years now.

Published book covers and an editor job at an online magazine – neither of those things would have become a reality for me without my trusty Poser. And when I’m heading into the art zone, you can bet Poser is fully loaded and riding my hip. Together, we can DOF a Stick Figure into blurry oblivion without even breaking a sweat. Frosty.

Twig Men…this is war.

We sent it around the office and everyone got a kick out of it. When we told PJ that, she replied, “That is so awesome! I can’t stop smiling. I mean…how cool is it that the whole office at Smith Micro is reading my story? I feel like I just topped out on the Best Sellers list.”

Hee hee I love it! Thanks PJ for your awesome letter! And thanks to everyone else who entered. I’m going to publish the 2nd and 3rd place winners in the next week, so keep your eyes peeled for those. Thanks again! We’re overwhelmed with the love we received. It’s gonna keep us warm and fuzzy all winter long!

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It’s only fair: Manga Studio comic contest!

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UPDATE! The contest has been extended until October 17!!

All my life I’ve been hearing the phrase Life isn’t fair. And while I know that for the most part it may be true, I’d like to think in my little world I try hard to keep things balanced.

It occurred to me that Poser has been getting a lot of attention, with the image contest and the anniversary contest. (You only turn 15 once.) And Anime Studio has a contest with Advanced Anime as well. What about Manga Studio?

So I decided to go out on a limb and ask The Boss if I could mail some posters anywhere in the world. Not just any posters, signed Dave Gibbons posters from SDCC 2010. And guess what? He said yes!

So here’s the contest: Create a comic for me about our newest version of StuffIt Deluxe based on my stellar sketch. (Try not to be jealous of my artistic abilities. It’s tough being this talented.) It doesn’t have to be an exact copy; you have artistic license.

Here are the rules. Submit your comic between now and October 17 at midnight Pacific time. Put the words “StuffIt Sketch Contest” somewhere in the Additional Credit field. Use Manga Studio for your work. (You can use other software in addition, but please, in moderation!) Our brilliant team will be judging your comics based on effort, creativity (within the bounds of the sketch), and neatness.

There will be 10 winners in all, and I’m super excited to be able to mail overseas, so make my groveling worth it and submit your entry! (I have a world map in my cube and it would be great to use it for something besides day dreaming my next world adventure!)

Curious about our other contests and promotions? Check out our event calendar with the latest info!

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Create your anime vision and win Anime Studio!

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Before I started this job, I think the only anime I had ever seen was Princess Mononoke (which is pretty awesome even if anime isn’t your thing). I really had no idea how huge it was.

According to the The Japan Times, 60 member anime production companies now provide products in 112 countries, reaching some 87.2 percent of the world’s population. Wowza, that’s insane!

So I’m really excited that we’re sponsoring a contest with Advanced Anime. The theme is “The Creation of Anime.”

Considering how many styles there are and people love anime, I think the entries will be really unique. One person already posted this as inspiration:

The rules and entry are here. The contest runs from now through October 6, and the winners will be receiving copies of Anime Studio Pro or Debut. Good luck and have fun!

Oh! And anyone with suggestions for awesome anime I need to watch, please speak up :)


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