k_johnyim
I am curious to know if there a limitation to the resolution & aspect ratio(portrait vs landscape) for the submissions?

1920x1080 would be ideal but that is not a restriction.

Day for takes us back to nature. Time to model some Foliage!

Note: If this is your first post to the SideFX forum, it needs to get approved. Please don't post multiple times. We will get to it and extra posts can confuse things.

Also - please make your submitted image the first thing in your post followed by screen grabs and any reference images.

Day for takes us back to nature. Time to model some Foliage!

Note: If this is your first post to the SideFX forum, it needs to get approved. Please don't post multiple times. We will get to it and extra posts can confuse things.

Also - please make your submitted image the first thing in your post followed by screen grabs and any reference images.

Two follow up videos by Moeen covering Lights and Cameras and Recipes:

Day 2 winners have now been posted! Great day of entries - touch choices for the judges.

Note - there was a slight math problem so we had to reconfigure the winners - they are updated now.

Felix Braun
Quick question:
Is the focus on the area „modelling" for example or the presentation in the final render. I dont know whether to put more effort in the daily prompt topic or in the shading, lighting and rendering?
Or is both important?
The rules say a viewport image is enough… \_(^_^)_/

A viewport image is enough for the daily point. It may not be enough for the judges. Presentation is important. A viewport image would probably need to be amazing for it to win the day.

On to day three and architecture. This will be a great day for environment art.

On request - as people see your artwork they will often check your profile page. Please flesh out your profile with a biography, social media links and your skill set. Also add a banner and a profile picture and be sure to check the "Include my profile in the Artist Directory" checkbox. If you are looking for work then you can indicate that in your profile as well. The more people learn about you the more they can connect to your artwork.

On to day three and architecture. This will be a great day for environment art.

On request - as people see your artwork they will often check your profile page. Please flesh out your profile with a biography, social media links and your skill set. Also add a banner and a profile picture and be sure to check the "Include my profile in the Artist Directory" checkbox. If you are looking for work then you can indicate that in your profile as well. The more people learn about you the more they can connect to your artwork.

I need to publish the page but I am out right now - will do it in about an hour

The page is up now!

Go to the Daily Winner page to check out who won Day 1 of Mardini 2025. Congratulations to everyone who entered!

https://www.sidefx.com/community-main-menu/contests-jams/mardini-2025/mardini-2025-winners/ [www.sidefx.com]

Check this page daily around mid-afternoon to see who won the previous day.

Thanks for all the great Day 1 entries. Excited to see what you are going to create for Day 2 - Furniture.

Thanks for all the great Day 1 entries. Excited to see what you are going to create for Day 2 - Furniture.

This video includes 12 tips and tricks for working efficiently during the month long challenge. Moeen Sayed has entered these contests in the past and has some great advice for keeping your head above water.



Note: The longer videos that Moeen mentions will be coming soon. They will get posted in this thread.

Here is an early posting of the Day 1 Challenge for Mardini 2025. The first week focuses on Modeling using SOPS and the day 1 prompt is Toy. Your creativity will fill in the rest! The results should be rendered but don't need textures because the focus is on the shape you create. You can texture it in week 2 using COPS.

To be eligible for the daily prizes, you must post your Day 1 animation to this thread before midnight EST on March 1st. There is another thread for images. You can enter either an Image or Animation on any one day. You cannot enter both on the same day. You can create an Image one day and an Animation another.

Please go back to the Rules Page [www.sidefx.com] before diving in. Best of Luck!

Note: if you are posting to the SideFX forum for the first time then your post needs to be reviewed. You don't need to post multiple times. We will get to it! Also be sure to stick with the same username for the whole contest - if you change your username partway through your points could get mixed up.

Here is an early posting of the Day 1 Challenge for Mardini 2025. The first week focuses on Modeling using SOPS and the day 1 prompt is Toy. Your creativity will fill in the rest! The results should be rendered but don't need textures because the focus is on the shape you create. You can texture it in week 2 using COPS.

To be eligible for the daily prizes, you must post your Day 1 images to this thread before midnight EST on March 1st. There is another thread for animation. You can enter either an Image or Animation on any one day. You cannot enter both on the same day. You can create an Image one day and an Animation another.

Please go back to the Rules Page [www.sidefx.com] before diving in. Best of Luck!

Note: if you are posting to the SideFX forum for the first time then your post needs to be reviewed. You don't need to post multiple times. We will get to it! Also be sure to stick with the same username for the whole contest - if you change your username partway through your points could get mixed up.

"The only External geometry and texture maps that can be used as part of your submission are the Greyscalegorilla assets."

Check out the Mardini page to learn how you can use Greyscalegorilla Studio with Houdini to access assets. There are up to 50 free assets if you are not subscribed. If you subscribe then you have access to thousands more!

Be sure to mention if you use GSG in your entry. Then we can collect those entries for GSG to review.

------------------------

Elevate your 3D workflow with Greyscalegorilla Studio, the desktop app that seamlessly integrates over 5,000 premium materials, models, textures, and HDRIs directly into Houdini.

With our one-click Connector plugin, effortlessly browse, preview, and import assets into Houdini, streamlining your creative process. Stay organized with intuitive search and personalized favorites, ensuring you spend less time searching and more time creating.

Learn More... [greyscalegorilla.com]

Requson
Pure Houdini with no outside geo or textures... sounds daunting but I'm game

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In past years people who have focused on Houdini felt they had a disadvantage to people who used outside content. This evens the fields a bit.

Note that Content Library Material (https://www.sidefx.com/contentlibrary/) can be used to support your work. There are even some textures in there.

Umang_Raj
In which timezone the daily prompt will be posted from?

All the prompts have been posted - the forums for you to submit your work will go up based on the Eastern Standard Time (EST) That is also used for the deadlines. The details are in the rules.

Robert

geetee2323
thanks for clarifying that Maestro Magee, and thanks for doing the foundations book, I got it just two days ago
highly recommend it, its old school in all the best possible ways.

That should be helpful with Mardini - be sure to note that there are three new Foundation lessons available on this page (https://www.sidefx.com/learn-main-menu/start-here/) that aren't in the book yet. Each of them have PDF chapters that match the foundation book style.

playhead
Is this all the prompt-related info for the whole month, or will more details be given daily?

Yes - this is all there is - you take the weekly topic - for instance Model: SOP - and create a model using the daily prompt - day 1 is toy. You should use SOPS in some capacity to create a model of a toy.