For 3D artists, bringing together the virtual and the real can be a rewarding experience so for the 2009 Apprentice Challenge we have joined forces with Side Effects Software and 3DWorld to offer you the opportunity to win a complete VFX Tool Kit.
We’re inviting you to add your own visual effects to one of two live-action shots pre-tracked using PFTrack. Final animation and rendering must be completed in any version of Houdini, then upload the results to YouTube, where your work can be seen by all.
To enter the competition, choose from two sequences; one of a high-rise office building, the second a shot of a young man running down an alley. It’s up to you to enhance the scenes with your own visual effects: a swarm of killer bees, an alien invasion, a meteor shower, a giant robotic centipede as shown above – get those creative juices flowing!
Please note that it is not necessary to own a copy of PFTrack or Houdini in order to enter the contest. If you don’t have access to a full seat of Houdini Master, don’t despair: in order to enter the competition, you can use Houdini Apprentice, available for free from www.sidefx.com.
The shots have been pre-tracked for you using PFTrack.
How To Enter
Visit http://www.futurecomps.co.uk/TDW114houdini or http://www.sidefx.com/contest to register for the contest, and enter your name and email address. You will receive an email containing instructions for downloading the live-action plates and a Houdini file with a tracked camera set up and ready to go. Next, add a character or a visual effect to one of the live-action sequences in any version of Houdini.
You may import models from other packages, but the final animation and rendering must completed in Houdini. Winners will be asked to provide their Houdini scenes files to verify its use in their entries before being eligible to receive their prizes.
Finally, save out a movie file and upload it to the 2009 Apprentice Challenge YouTube group at http://www.youtube.com/group/3dworldchallenge
Entries will be judged based both on their technical quality and popularity on YouTube. Prizes will be awarded to the entrants who, in the opinion of the judges, have submitted the most realistic and the most entertaining entries.
Each winner will receive full commercial licenses of PFTrack 5 and Houdini 9 Master. The closing date is 1 May 2009.
Official rules for the contest are available here.
We look forward to seeing the results of your work. Good Luck!