We're inviting 3D artists to participate in our "Steampunk: New History" competition, where you can showcase your creativity and skills in modeling and rendering steampunk-inspired objects.
Your task is to create a 3D model of a steampunk vehicle, mechanical device, gadget, or invention, and place it in an atmospheric 3D environment to make a stunning rendering. Let your imagination run wild and create a unique piece that captures the essence of the steampunk genre, which combines Victorian-era aesthetics with steam-powered machinery and retro-futuristic designs.
Please read the full contest rules here.
Focus on crafting intricate details, realistic textures, and complex mechanisms that bring your object to life. Consider how your creation would function in a steampunk world and how it fits into the larger narrative of this alternate history.
In addition to the visual appeal of your work, we'll be paying close attention to the originality of your concept, the quality of your 3D modeling, and the overall presentation of your scene. We're looking for renders that not only showcase your technical proficiency but also tell a compelling story and immerse the viewer in the steampunk universe you've created.
We will be accepting submissions from March 20th to June 5th.
Get ready to transport us to a world where steam power, clockwork, and innovation reign supreme. Happy modeling!
Share your art and chat with other artists - we are sure that creative and friendly atmosphere of the competition will help the growth of each participant. See previous challenges >
We will be accepting submissions from the 20th of March to the 5th of June (inclusive). Submissions end at 15:00 GMT. We've set the timer on the page for your convenience, but don't forget to update it. The contest has a general category and three winners, plus special prize winners.
Create a 3D model of a steampunk-style object, such as a vehicle that runs on steam, a mechanical device, a gadget, a piece of machinery, or an invention. You can create more than one main object in the scene. Add a 3D environment and textures, then create a beautiful 3D rendering of your scene.
Your scene should primarily showcase the steampunk object(s) you have modeled. Characters are not allowed as the main focus.
Your entry must be a 3D rendered image. Renders with a single color background (black, white, etc.), test renders, unfinished, pixelated and low quality renders, screenshots and models placed on wallpaper or photos will not be accepted. As well as works with adult content: not allowed works with blood, violence, erotic and political topics.
Using third-party assets for minor elements is allowed, but the main steampunk object(s) must be modeled by you in 3D modeling software.
Enhancing your render in post-processing is allowed, including color adjustments, compositing render layers/passes, and adding effects like smoke, fire, and particles. However, adding photographic elements (such as cut-out characters or vegetation) or doing paintovers or photobashing is not allowed. The main emphasis should be on the quality and creativity of the 3D modeling work itself.
The work must be created specifically for this contest and not have been previously published anywhere (no existing projects or stock/free models of the main steampunk object(s)).
You must submit a link to your work-in-progress (WIP) to prove authorship of the 3D steampunk object(s). The WIP should contain the main steps of the modeling process or screenshots with an unsmoothed version of the model(s). Please, post your WIP on any CG site like ArtStation, CgSociety, Polycount, or Behance. Entries without a WIP will not be accepted.
You can submit only one work: one final render and one clay/wireframe render of the scene.
Please include a short story about your work and a description of the image (it will be published in the gallery).
Attach one wireframe or clay render of the full scene to your work.
Add the name or URL of the competition in one of the image corners. You can add your name and the title of the work as well. Emails, logos, and phone numbers are not allowed.
The render should be at least 1500 pixels wide if the work is horizontal.
Render size should not exceed 5MB and should be in .JPG format.
Work can be in any style you like (low-poly, cartoon, futuristic, etc.) with the use of post-production.
How to submit: Use the submission form and the "Add work" button to submit your entry before the deadline.
How the jury works: Each member of the jury selects the top five works. Each place in top-five gives special amount of points: first place - five points, fifth place - one point. All points/votes are added up. You can see an example of the voting table here (year 2022).
The work can be updated during the contest. The only condition - you cannot change the idea of the work or modify it drastically. Only reasonable changes are allowed.
You can correct the description and the list of tools after the work was submitted - just contact us.
After your work is published on the contest page, you are free to share your work on other websites and social networks. Don't forget to tag us (@3dmodels_hub on Instagram and @3dmodelsteam on Linkedin) so we can like and share it.
You can see previous competitions here and "Hall of fame" here.
After sending the work via the contact form you will receive within one business day a confirmation letter with a link to a page in the competition gallery. If you don't receive the letter, please contact us.
Key dates: Opening submission - March 20, Closing submission - June 5, Opening of the judging round - June 6, Winners announcement June 18.
Waiting eagerly for your work!
Kenny Zou
Co-Founder of Fox RenderfarmAlessandro Maniscalco
Co-Founder of C4Dzone.com and 3D GeneralistSamuel Winter
Community Manager at Rizom-LabPhilipp Staab
InstaLOD Community ManagerLynette Clee
Director of Business Development at The Gnomon WorkshopRalph Huchtemann
Owner of RebusFarm GmbHStephanie Schenck
Artistic and Technical at NevercenterVincent Gault
Senior Technical Evangelist at Adobe Substance 3DStefan Kraus
CEO of BiteTheBytes GmbHMichal Horba
Evermotion Studio DirectorCalvin Bacon
Managing Director at Innovious Solutions GmbHEmanuele Serra
Motion Designer & 3D Artist, founder of 3DArt.itTim Spears
Managing Director, Branded Content at DesignboomMark Doeden
Co-founder, MarmosetJim Thacker
Editor, CG ChannelJarosław Dzedzej
Community Manager at CG BoostTom Grimes
Product Marketing Manager, Chaos CoronaJacob Norris
President and Creative Director at Sierra Division / Owner at PurePolygonsBela Beier
Editor in Chief at Digital ProductionAmit Mozar
Founder & Owner of the internationally acclaimed Animation and VFX Blog - TheVirtualAssist.netZacharias Reinhardt
Founder and Lead Instructor at CGBoost.comFarooq Ghafoor
Industrial Designer and Editor & Founder of AutoConception.comFilippo Ubertino
Senior Concept Artist at CD PROJEKT REDNakamura Keisuke
3D content creator at VFXRendering.comErlingur Einarsson
Tech Reviews Editor, Creative BloqRosanna Mataloni
Co-Founder & Admin at SKetchupTextureClub.comCong Duong
Chief Design Officer at iRender FarmMike Haggerty
Operations Director at GameTextures.comChris Scubli
Senior CG Generalist at RealtimeFrederic Servant
Director of Engineering - Arnold, Bifrost, Flame & Look DevelopmentKris Yu
Environment artist at Blizzard Entertainment in Diablo IV teamCarlos Colorsponge
Automotive CGI ArtistOTOY team
Creators of OctaneRender and The Render Network3DModels team
Lead 3D artistsAdobe Substance 3D Collection yearly license
1-year OctaneRender Studio + Subscription
One-year KeyShot Pro Subscription
3DCoat 2024 Individual permanent license
1-year Seat License of InstaMAT
iRender 1000 RenderPoints
12-month Marmoset Toolbag license
Chip Render 800 RenderPoints
License of TopoGun
12 months subscription to The Gnomon Workshop training library
RebusFarm 600 RenderPoints
Silo and Milo licenese (or update to the latest version and a year of free updates)
RizomUV Perpetual license
Ultra Studio Bundle from Videocopilot
Single license of Pulldownit Pro
PixPlant 5 for Windows license
US$500 render credits from Fox Renderfarm
Full C4Dzone Plugins Suite for Cinema4D and Octane Render Scene packs
Adobe Substance 3D Collection yearly license
6-month OctaneRender Studio + Subscription
One-year KeyShot Pro Subscription
3DCoat 2024 Individual permanent license
iRender 500 RenderPoints
12-month Marmoset Toolbag license
License of TopoGun
Chip Render 400 RenderPoints
6 months subscription to The Gnomon Workshop training library
Silo and Milo licenese (or update to the latest version and a year of free updates)
400 RenderPoints for RebusFarm
RizomUV Perpetual license
Motion Design Bundle from Videocopilot
Single license of Pulldownit Pro
PixPlant 5 for Windows license
US$300 render credits from Fox Renderfarm
Full C4Dzone Plugins Suite for Cinema4D and Octane Render Scene packs
Adobe Substance 3D Collection yearly license
6-month OctaneRender Studio + Subscription
One-year KeyShot Pro Subscription
3DCoat 2024 Individual permanent license
12-month Marmoset Toolbag license
License of TopoGun
6 months subscription to The Gnomon Workshop training library
200 RenderPoints for RebusFarm
Silo and Milo licenese (or update to the latest version and a year of free updates)
RizomUV Perpetual license
200 RenderPoints from Chip Render
3D Light Bundle from Videocopilot
PixPlant 5 license
US$200 render credits from Fox Renderfarm
Full C4Dzone Plugins Suite for Cinema4D and Octane Render Scene packs
iRender 200 RenderPoints
The top three artists who create the best renders using Maxon tools will each receive a 1-year Maxon One license (ZBrush, Redshift, Forger, Red Giant, Universe, and Cinema 4D in One Bundle).
Author of the best render made with using OctaneRender will get 1-year OctaneRender Studio + Subscription.
The best work made with using Marmoset Toolbag will get 12 Month Toolbag Individual Subscription.
300 RenderPoints for the artwork chosen by iRender Team.
Most detailed model will get the license of InstaLOD (award winning software used by the biggest players in 3D to automate their workflows).
"Nevercenter Creative Suite" (latest versions of Silo & Milo, Pixelmash, and CameraBag Pro) for the work chosen by Nevercenter team.
300 RenderPoints for the work chosen by Chip Render team.
US$200 render credits for the best render work chosen by the Fox Renderfarm team.
100 RenderPoints for the work chosen by RebusFarm team.