PRIZE UPDATE!
I have some absolutely FANTASTIC news for you guys! *DAZ-3D has graciously donated the following prizes to the winners of the Winter Festival Theme Battle:

First Place: $25 DAZ 3D Voucher
Second Place: $15 DAZ 3D Voucher
Third Place: $5 DAZ 3D Voucher

Everyone, please give *DAZ-3D a big HOORAH and visit their store at [link] to thank them!

GALLERY UPLOAD PROBLEMS
There seems to be some difficulty with uploading Group galleries. ~elfguy has helped us work out what seems to be the simplest solution. Here it is:

1. Upload your piece to DeviantART as you normally would, before the Groups came into being.
2. Visit #dazclub and click on the "Gallery" link in the menu on the top left-hand side.
3. You'll see a page with the club's galleries listed with a few of the most recent pieces from each. Look for the current Theme Battle gallery, in this case, "Winter Festival". The title bar will stretch across your page, and at the very right hand side will be a little + button. Click that +, and a list appears. Select "Contribute an Existing Deviation" and a box will pop-up with all your gallery images in it, and you can select the piece to add.
4. If you're having trouble getting the boxes and lists to appear, making sure that JavaScript is allowed in your web browser.
5. That should be it! If you're still having trouble after following these steps, please let me know and we'll work out something.

THEME DESCRIPTION
The days grow shorter and darkness falls early. The harvest is in, the wood is cut, the fire is lit, and everyone bundles up, preparing to outlast the long winter. Throughout history, cultures all over the world have celebrated a Winter Festival as a way to help pass the bleak days.

Your challenge is to render a Winter Festival, in any way you like! Images will be judged based on quality - lighting, textures, render quality, etc - and adherence to the theme. There is no special bonus skill this month, just have fun!

Since we're getting a late start due to the club conversion to a Group, this theme will run until the end of January, so you have from December 15, 2009 until midnight GMT January 31, 2010 to get your entries in.

Extra special this month, at least one random Door Prize will be given to a randomly drawn participant from ALL entries! EVERYONE has a chance to win something this month, no matter your skill level! Scroll to the bottom for more details.

RULES
* You must be a member of #dazclub to enter the battle. To join, click the "Join" link the left sidebar or at the top of the home page. A moderator will approve your membership, so allow some time for that to happen, please!

* You may use any 3D program to create your image. That includes DAZ Studio, Poser, Bryce, Cinema 4D, whatever!

* Postwork is allowed using a 2D program like Photoshop, CorelDraw, GIMP, etc.

* You can digitally paint or make a simple background in Photoshop along with your render if you choose.


* Your image must be at least 50% 3D and rendered by you! In other words, you can't just composite 3D tubes you found onto a pre-made background and expect to do well in this contest. Extra consideration is given to images that are 100% 3D; for example, using 3D props in a scene rather than just placing a rendered character on 2D background. Using a pre-made 2D background will not disqualify you, but between two images of the same quality, one that is obviously 100% 3D will do better than one that is on a pre-made background. If you have questions about this new rule, simply send us a note and ask us. We won't bite!

* No images older than the start of this battle, December 15, 2009, will be accepted.


* You should submit your images to your own galleries and, using the new "Submit to DAZClub" feature during the submission process, ALSO to the "Winter Festival" gallery folder of the DAZClub! This process is still a little buggy since it's still beta, so if you're having trouble, let us know.

* You can submit a maximum of 3 images for this battle and you may edit it as much as you like until the deadline.

* The contest runs until
Midnight of January 31, GMT (19.00/7:00pm EST)
All entries must be new as of December 15, 2009. See the corresponding time for your city here: [link] .

JUDGING

* Images will be judged based on subject matter, image quality, lighting, design/composition and technique.

* The Winner of the monthly battle will be chosen by the admins and the previous months' Theme Battle winner and announced in a journal.

* Special consideration is given to interpretation of the this month's theme!

PRIZES


First Place: $25 DAZ 3D Voucher
Second Place: $15 DAZ 3D Voucher
Third Place: $5 DAZ 3D Voucher
Visit their store at: [link]

* First, Second, and Third Place winners get one product each from *admin-fadewillow's store. Please visit her site here: [link]

* First Place winner gets a $5 gift certificate to the *FantasiesRealmMarket's store! Visit their store here: [link]

* =vvirtual has graciously donated an ongoing prize to the First Place winner each month: a printed poster of the winner's work! :cheer: Thank you so much, =vvirtual, for your continued support of the #dazclub!


* There will be First, Second, and Third place winners. All winners get a one month feature. First place winner enters the Final Year Gift Award automatically and a chance to enter the hall of fame.

* First place winner also becomes a judge for the next month's competition. If the First Place winner will not be available to judge, the prize will pass to the Second Place winner and so on. All that is required of judging is that you send your choices for First, Second, and Third place in a note to the club when the entries close. You will be reminded by us when the time comes. No one will know your choices except the admins, since your choices will be tallied with the admins' and the winners selected from there.

* If you'd like to make any prize donations for this or future #dazclub contests, please send us a Note! Vendors, donate prizes from your store in return for promotion from us!


DOOR PRIZES
Feel like you can't ever win? Special this month, there will be at least one random Door Prize drawn from ALL the entrants to the "Winter Festival" Theme Battle! Prize(s) to be announced. If you'd like to donate a Door Prize, for this or future theme battles, PLEASE contact the club or =Kethaera! Special shout out to The Fantasy Attic [link] for giving me the idea of a Door Prize.