CGSphere.com

CGSphere.com is an awesome site. Basically the site challenges you to use your creativity to transform a simple primitive model ‘A Sphere’ into what ever you can imagine while maintaining its original shape. With over 4,000 entries, have your students try to top what has already been done or just have fun with it. It is interesting just to see the other entries and what others have come up with,

The site provides you with the scene in various formats including:Alias FBX, Autocad DXF 9.0, Autodesk 3DS, Autodesk 3dsmax 6.0, Autodesk 3dsmax 8.0. Autodesk Maya (Mac) 7.0, Autodesk Maya (PC) 6.0, Blender 2.4, Truespace 5.0 & 7.0, Cheetah 3D, Bryce 4.0 & 6.0, Carrara, Vue 6, Electric Image AS 6.52, Modo 2.0, Maxon Cinema 4D 9.6 & 10, Rhino3D 3.0, Lightwave, Maxwell Render 1.0, MojoWorld 3.1, Renderman RIB, POV-Ray, Realsoft3D 5.0, Strata3D CX 5.0, Softimage XSI 4.2, Vrml WRL 2.0, and Wavefront OBJ

Here are a Few Random Examples From the Site:

I gave this project to all my students last spring, both the 2D and 3D classes. I also try to create example projects right along with them. Some never get done, but I try to create examples that push both my limits and raises the bar for the students.

-The 2D classes used the template image and edited it with Photoshop. They were allowed to use any images, filters, brushes, or resources they could find. They just had to stay within the challenge guidelines.

-The 3D classes just had to stay within the challenge guidelines.

Here are the official rules:

In order to participate, we kindly ask you to adhere to the following guidelines. We have attempted to impose as few guidelines as possible to allow for all kinds of technical and creative 3D sphere designs. However, in an effort to maintain consistency, the following criteria must be met in order to contribute an acceptable submission.

1. Modeling: You must download and use the scene provided for you. However, since we recognize that there are numerous methods of modeling techniques and applications, you are allowed to replace the provided sphere with your own. You may add, remove, or modify the sphere geometry but you must attempt to match the provided sphere’s size and position as closely as possible. Regardless of what modeling changes are made to the geometry, the final result should always be representative of a sphere in form. Please do not modify the grid plane, as it is required for consistency.

2. Texturing: You may use any kind of materials and/or textures supported by your 3D program or renderer. Special effects such as fur, fire, water, gas, translucency, dispersion, radiance, displacement, etc, are not only permitted, but also encouraged. The grid plane must remain mapped with the provided grid texture and it may not be edited in any way (texture included). Please do not modify the grid plane, as it is required for consistency.

3. Camera: You may not, under any circumstances, move, modify, adjust, or relocate the camera. This includes the field of view and lens size. If you cannot import the provided scene, please use the rendered template below to match your camera as closely as possible. The camera should always be facing the center of the sphere. Please do not modify the grid plane, as it is required for consistency.

4. Lighting: You may use any kind of lighting techniques and features supported by your 3D program or renderer. Since your submission will be rated, it is important to produce the most interesting and dramatic lighting possible. Special lighting effects such as global illumination, spectral rendering, geometric light emitters, etc, are not only permitted, but also encouraged. Please do not modify the grid plane, as it is required for consistency.

5. Rendering: You may use any kind of renderer supported by your 3D program. You should aspire to produce the highest quality render possible in order to receive a good rating. Your final submission must be rendered at 800x800 with a pixel aspect ratio of 1.0. Once uploaded, the site will automatically generate thumbnails. Please do not modify the grid plane, as it is required for consistency.

6. Post: You may apply any kind of post-rendering effects such as color correction, glares, highlights, etc, using any kind of digital editing program. Please do not modify the grid plane, as it is required for consistency.