If you’re in the area, you can book your tickets at The Science Museum to experience it for yourself!

And congratulations to Stuart for an awesome model sighting!

We understand that the new topology requirements can take some time to meet, and that your current CheckMate Pro submissions might not meet these requirements. With this in mind, we are allowing some leniency for models submitted for CheckMate Pro certification prior to June 15.

Submissions Before June 15

Models submitted for certification prior to June 15 only have to pass the CheckMate Pro v1 specification, and not the v2 specification, if your submission meets one of these requirements:

• The model was submitted for CheckMate Pro certification for the first time between May 15 and June 15, and passes by July 15.
• The model was resubmitted for CheckMate Pro certification after a Fail notification at least once between May 15 and June 15, and passes by July 15.

Every model has a Certification Date, the date on which it passed inspection. If your model passes certification under the circumstances above, the Certification Date on the product will be set to June 14, 2013.

We are telling customers that the way to tell if a model is certified for CheckMate Pro v2 is to check the Certification Date to see if it is on or after June 15. So, the June 14 Certification Date tells customers that your model meets the v1 specification only.

In any case, models in your personal queue (models waiting in the CheckMate Queue for a space to open up in the inspection queue) as of June 15 are not eligible for v1 certification. These models must pass the CheckMate Pro v2 specification.

Topology Requirements

The CheckMate Pro v2 topology requirements came from both interviews with TurboSquid customers and recommendations from the CheckMate Advisory Board, a group of industry professionals who work with 3D models every day. With CheckMate Pro v1, TurboSquid took the step of requiring quad topology and clean UVs. Now we’re moving up to the next level and setting the bar for models that will be easy for customers to re-texture and edit.

The topology requirements for CheckMate Pro v2 include:

• Grid arrangement for edges.

• Supporting edges to hold shape during subdivision.

• Cutouts and protrusions constructed with the methods described in the Round Cutouts and Oblong Cutouts videos.
• Objects are in separate pieces to correspond with separate pieces or sections in the real-life object, especially if different sections have different grid arrangements.
• No poles with 6 or more edges on rounded surfaces. (Poles are okay on flat surfaces.)
• Unnecessary edge detail is not allowed.
• In 3ds Max and Maya, no Crease settings above 0 are allowed.
• Above all, good edge flow wherever possible.

You will also need to create thumbnails showing the model at subdivision level 0, and one level higher.

We will have more training materials for you on these points in the near future. For now, we hope you endeavor to generate good edge flow on your models and meet the CheckMate Pro v2 standard.

Ready to meet another Squid from the New Orleans Squidshack? Virginia Larkins, better known as Ginger, talked to us this week about her many interests, including her fund raising endeavors for the New Orleans Children’s Hospital.

What did you do before coming to TurboSquid?

Well, back in Austin, I fostered dogs for Austin Pets Alive! I love dogs and having an extra pup around for my dog Gabby to play with was fantastic! It’s really rewarding work, even though you have to say goodbye to a dog you’ve cared for.

I have also registered for a charity called Extra-Life. You watch me play video games for 24 hours, over a live stream, to raise money for New Orleans Children’s Hospital. This doesn’t go down till November 2nd, but you can donate your money here.

And now that you’re at TurboSquid, what do you do as a QA Analyst?

I write test plans, run automation (sometimes), check to see if issues reoccur, and generally try to break websites. The breaking things part of my job really rocks.

What is your favorite thing about working at TurboSquid?

Free food when we’re trying to release something in a crunch. I also love the cereal bar and the fact that new stuffed toys appear on my desk. Currently, there is a Dalek, a kitty, a farting Jarjar Binks, and a Companion Cube on my desk. I have the best stuffed toy fairy!

Tell us about your favorite model from the site.

Dinosaurs are cool! Also I liked the fact that this person titled it by its formal name: Deinonychus antirrhopus.

Nice! Before we go, what’s something your fellow co-workers don’t know about you yet?

I guess one thing people might not know about me is that I love archery. I’m not particularly great at it, but its one of those relaxing things I do on the weekend. My father would always set up a make shift archery range in our backyard for me and my sister.

We’re excited about Ginger playing for this year’s Extra Life gaming marathon! To find out more about this charity, which benefits local children’s hospitals across the country, check out Ginger’s donation page.

These new specification points are direct recommendations from the CheckMate Advisory Board.

New Model Topology Requirement – Edge Flow

Every model must have clean edge flow. This means:

The model must be modeled with accepted edge flow modeling techniques.  We will supply videos on these techniques. The first one on Round Cutouts is already available on our YouTube channel.

The model must subdivide cleanly and without destroying the shape of the object. Even if you are of the opinion that no one will ever want to subdivide your model, we use subdivision as a test for clean edge flow, as subdivision points up problems with edge flow very clearly.

The model must include “holding edges” or “support edges” near sharp edges or holes that would otherwise become misshapen during subdivision.

If the model includes any Boolean cutouts, the edges around these cutouts must be cleaned up for good edge flow. Very fine cuts, such as small, fine text cutouts, should be defined by normal maps and not by Boolean cutouts.

You must include at least two wireframe thumbnails showing Subdivision Level 0 and one other level above 0. We will provide a Photoshop file with the text for these wireframe images, in fact the Photoshop file is already available from the CheckMate Tools page.

3ds Max and Maya models must not have any Crease values set above 0 (the default value for the Crease parameter). This ensures that when the model is exported to other formats, it will retain its shape during subdivision.

Exception for Minimum Poly Models

For edge flow, we make an exception for a model created with the minimum number of polygons possible, as a game or background model. Such models can still be accepted into CheckMate Pro, but it must have the words “Not intended for subdivision” in the product description. These models, which are intended for use as game assets or background objects, do not have to adhere to edge flow modeling techniques.

Naming Conventions

We have always had a requirement for correctly named objects in CheckMate Pro. We are refining this point to require a layer named for the model, with all objects in this layer.

We’re giving you a heads-up on these June 15 changes so you can start preparing your models now.

At the TurboSquid Gathering, artists will be treated to a sneak peek at new CheckMate features that open up more ways to make sales. One lucky attendee will get an in-depth 3D Models Sales Analysis on his/her products, giving specific, personalized tips for improving sales.

To attend (and to be entered to win the analysis), register for EUE and join the TurboSquid Gathering on Facebook by June 15. Tell us your TurboSquid name in the page’s comments. The winner will be chosen on June 15, and will be presented with the 3D Models Sales Analysis at the conference.

It’s time to meet another Squid from TurboSquid HQ, and this week, we’re talking to Kevin Alimia, who was recently promoted to Assistant Technical Artist. Having previously worked in Member Services, Kevin utilizes his 3D modeling knowledge to help the artists meet a very high set of standards. Read more about Kevin below:

To start off, tell us a little about yourself! When you’re not at TS, what do you like to do?

Outside of work I do various things. I go out with friends, drinking. I like to go to the movies, I read, I draw/paint, I stay home and have movie days. In warmer days I like to just be outside walking around or go to the park. I also love to cook and bake, especially during the holidays!

What about when you’re at work? What does your day look like?

Typically, I come in early and work on personal projects.  Once the official work day starts, I spend my time working on Custom 3D projects for various clients.  That typically entails technical checks to be sure models meet certain standards and required points.  When I have a little “free” time I work on improving my skills and speed.

Since you spend a lot of time looking at the models, do you have a favorite?

Mine, of course! …Actually, if I had to pick one, it would probably be Neva v3.3 (max9) by Nikola Dechev. Why? Mostly because I LOVE the turntable.

What’s your favorite thing about working at TurboSquid?

The thing I love the most about TurboSquid is the people I work with and the general atmosphere in the office. This place is like no other that I’ve worked for. The people are all extremely nice and willing to help each other. While every day is filled with work, we all have fun as well and make sure to spread the joy and laughter.

Before we go, tell us something random about yourself.

I’m a bibliophile; I love books. I love reading AND collecting them. So far I have a few hundred, though I’m still in the process of cataloging them, so I’m not sure about the exact number. I mostly read fantasy/fiction, but I’ve read a few other genres as well. My goal is to one day have my own personal library… preferably two stories.

Thanks, Kevin!