News

Winter Wonderland Winners announced

15 February 2011

Three Google SketchUp users are celebrating having won the top three prizes in a competition to create a 3D Winter Wonderland. 

The competition, launched by ArtVPS in November, tasked digital artists to model a winter wonderland in SketchUp and render it using their exciting new render plug-in, Shaderlight.

Chris Dizon from Google, 3D World editor Steve Jarratt, Mike Lucey at SketchUcation and Mark Sullivan from ArtVPS judged the entries looking at the model, composition, materials used and overall appeal. From the hundreds of entries received, six were selected as finalists, which was then whittled down to a final three.

Luke Holdmann from Milwaukee in the States was awarded the top prize of: $150 Amazon voucher, a copy of Shaderlight Pro for SketchUp, a copy of SketchUp Pro and a Shaderlight 2GB USB wristband. His image depicting a ferris wheel in a snowy scene was applauded for the idea and dramatic composition.

Steve Jarratt said: “I really like the idea of a large snowflake big wheel, and the camera angle is quite dramatic”.

Abedallah from Christchurch, New Zealand came second, winning $50 Amazon voucher and a copy of Shaderlight Pro for SketchUp and a Shaderlight 2GB USB wristband. Abedallah modelled a traditional snowy scene featuring a log cabin, using his favourite rendering tool Shaderlight.

Abedallah said: “Shaderlight has completely changed my 3D renderings. It has made my designs look far more realistic and I can now display them with pride.”

‘Zoungy’, also from the United States, scooped third prize. His design was inspired by a Currier and Ives print and also the Disney shot called Once Upon a Wintertime, with the song (of the same title) sung by Frances Langford.

All three winning images will be displayed on the Shaderlight home pages for a month.

Kate Marshall, marketing director at ArtVPS said: “We have been delighted with the response to this competition – and the number of Shaderlight users saying how the tool has revolutionized their 3D designs. Congratulations to all three winners who impressed us with their ingenuity and skills and thanks to our judges who dedicated valuable time to this competition. We are looking forward to organising the next competition and seeing more innovative designs”.

Shaderlight is a simple plug in to Google SketchUp that enables designers to create photo real images with ease. It is the only software of its kind to offer interactive rendering, allowing users to watch their model develop in a second screen while they work.

For more information or to download Shaderlight for free, please go to: www.shaderlight.com