digiKam Contest

DIGIKAM AND KDE-LOOK.ORG ARE TEAMING UP TO HAVE A CONTEST FOR THE BEST NEW SUPERIMPOSE TEMPLATES TO BE INCLUDED IN DIGIKAM'S NEXT RELEASE!



digiKam's Image Editor now has a new plugin to use PNG template files containing borders, frames, and composite images that can be added to or superimposed on other images hence the name Superimpose Templates. The currently selected image acts as a background and the templates can then be selected and overlaid on the image. You will be able to see the image underneath the transparent areas of the template. These templates can be created using paint programs such as The Gimp or Inkscape.  

With this new Superimpose feature you can create some great images including photocards. There is a screenshot of this plugin in action on the Superimpose Templates section of digiKam's manual. Download the latest version of DigiKam and the plugin pack to experience this and many more of digiKam's awesome new features.  

GUIDELINES TO MAKE A NEW SUPERIMPOSE TEMPLATE
* Chose a theme:
Special events or Holidays - birthday, new baby, Christmas
Places - towns, monuments, nature scenes
Hobbies - sports, computers, etc.
Cartoons
Miscellaneous

* Chose a size (640 x480 pixels is perferred but there is actually no size and orientation restrictions.)

* The resolution should be at least 300dpi.

* An area must be transparent so the the image below can show through.

* Feel free to use lots of colors and gradients. Just make sure that the images are saved in RGB color mode with an alpha channel. (This channel is used to create the transparent areas in the image. The selected image upon which the template file is superimposed will appear in place of the empty areas in the template.)

* The image must be saved in the PNG format (max compression).

* The majority of the artwork must be original. The images must not violate any other artists copyright. If you use some artwork that you did not create then you must list the artist and the license or your entry will be disqualified.

* Entries must at least be GPL'd but the LGPL'd with the KDE artwork add-on or an another less restrictive license may be a better fit for some artists.

* Submitt your artwork at KDE-Look.org in the 'Other' section. Please include the words "Superimpose Template" and the category you want to enter your image in the name field of your submission.

DEADLINE
March 28th 2005

PRIZES
The 1st place entry will win a 256MB Digital Memory card and a cool new t-shirt from Revelinux Gear and the top two entries from each category will be included in the next release of digiKam. (Please note that the digiKam development team will more then likely chose many of the other entries to be included in digiKam also!)

JUDGING
Our judging panel consists of members of the kde-artists and kde-usability mailing list and digiKam developers. The entries will be judged on the bases of uniqueness, polish, and theme representation.

TEMPLATE EXAMPLES
Click here to view some Superimpose templates. (Please note: the images in the non-free folder are from Camedia Master Olympus software and are copyrighted. They are for example purposes only!) To test these templates just download the files and place these in an album. Set the template directory with the 'browse' button to this album, The Image->Template Superimpose Image Editor menu is used to apply templates to an image.  

PHOTOCARD EXAMPLES
www.shutterfly.com, www.snapfish.com, www.snapfish.com/tourborders, www.storylife.com, www.2peas1pod.com, www.webshots.com, www.ofoto.com

THEME IDEAS
Happy Birthday, Happy Holidays card, It's a Boy or It's a Girl, Babies 1st birthday, Happy 25th Anniversary, Wedding, Graduation, famous cities, virtual vacation card, a picture of a major sport figure with his/her face cut out, high tech office, Tux, Konqui, other mascots that are GPL'd, famous people like Linus, a KDE wallpaper template to easily make any picture a instant KDE wallpaper, Thank you card, party invitation, etc. etc. You are only bound by your imagination.

The last day to submitt your images to this contest is March 28th 2005.