All created works be they visual art or written will need to adhere to the Rules and anyone looking to submit something should pay careful attention to Section 2: Content Policy and Section 5: Art Rules. They will best explain what is and is not allowed to be submitted.

Below are some breakdowns of what the team looks at when approving, denying, or correcting art submissions.

   Sketch

-A sketch is defined as being rather unpolished and often has messy lines.

-This art is really the foundational part of a drawing before you craft it into something more polished.

-Frame work lines and motion lines are still present

   Lined

-Clean lines that host a clearly defined character or space.

-These lines are coherent and are not usually messy in the way that the above examples are.

-No frame work or motion lines are present

   Rough Colored

-The art is fully colored but the colors are not within the confines of the subject.

-In this example colors are on the character and the markings are clearly seen, but some of the color breaches the confines of the subject. In this case there are instances of black, white, and blue, just floating around the character.

-Please note, if the coloring is rough enough that the character is not clearly readable or able to be identified, your art has a chance of being denied.

   Clean Colored

-The art is fully colored.

-Art has all colors in the lines/confines of the character/background.

   Shading/Lighting

-It is important to note that for shading to be counted, it must extend to the entire subject.

-You can not shade only the head of a full body character and then turn it in for full shading credit. This also applies for back grounds. A player may not shade one singular part of the background and count it for shading credit.

-Small highlights such as shine on the eyes, nails, and horns can not be turned in for credit for shading. This would be where the above rule ties in, as again shading or highlights must be present on all of the subject for it to count for crystals.

   Single-Tone Shading

-The subject has shading present on the entire body.

-You must be able to instantly tell that the shading is present. If you have to look hard to find the shading then it will likely be declined.

-Below is a good example of clearly present single tone shading.

-This type of shading only has one darker tone present across the subject and does not have a full range of multi-tone shading or highlights.

-It is again important to note that things like only adding eye shine, nail shine, and horn shine, does not count for multi-tone or shading. Highlights must be present across the entire subject to count.

   Multi-Tone Shading

-You can see several ranges of shades and highlights present across the entire subject.

-It is again important to note that things like only adding eye shine, nail shine, and horn shine, does not count for multi-tone or shading. Highlights must be present across the entire subject to count.

A background is something that gives context to where your Shirefolk is and helps the viewer to understand what they are doing.

Below are examples of things that would and would not count as background a well as why.

Please read the text associated with all examples to better understand what allows something to be considered a background by ChS community standards.

A background should have elements that give context and depth.

   A background should have at least three elements for depth. If in doubt about your art, add more elements of depth.

   Things that do not count as elements of depth.

-Clouds

-Simple grass hills

-Stars

-The sun

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   Here are some visual examples to show what is acceptable as an element of depth.

This image is an entry for a Gardening Expedition. It has several elements of depth and would be accepted.

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Here we have circled the Elements of depth found in this art. The tree, the shovel, the rocks, the plant stalks, and the garden bed are each elements of depth.

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   Here are some visual examples to show what is not acceptable as an element of depth.

This image has only one acceptable element of depth which is the shovel. The sun, clouds, and grass are not considered elements of depth and this entry would be declined as it does not meet the background requirements.

   Acceptable background examples

Forest Example

Here are the elements present in this image

-There are trees around the character. These trees can be seen in varying colors to show some are closer to the character while others are further away.

-There are piles of leaves on the forest floor.

-There are bushes behind the trees.

Inside a home example

Here are the elements present in this image

-A window that gives us a view (even if simple) of the outside world.

-A table with a vase on it which gives us a sense that the space is lived in and gives perspective as to where the character is in the space.

-A picture on the wall.

-Important note It can be helpful to make the perspective of the room at an angle so that you can show off elements vs. putting the character flat against a wall. See the examples below for more visuals on why this can be a problem.

Mountain top example

Here are the elements present in this image

-Multiple Trees that are on the cliffside with the character.

-Multiple Bushes around the character.

   Examples of things that will not count for backgrounds when submitting art

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'Wallpaper' background

Here is why this would not be accepted

-If a submission has a 'wallpaper background' behind it we will not be counting the background for crystals when it is submitted. In this case 'wallpaper' means any kind of repeating pattern that does not provide any context as to where the character is or what they are doing. This is not to be confused with drawing a full room scene that has drawn wallpaper on the walls.

-We have no idea where the character is or what they are doing. In this image they are just floating with a pattern behind them.

-There are no elements of depth present to build this as a scene for the character.

One wall background

Here is why this would not be accepted.

-While we can guess that the character is in a house here there is no elements of depth. We just see a character and a wall that gives us no other context or understanding of the scene. This submission would be declined and it would be required for them to provide more elements of depth for background credit.

Simple outside background

Here is why this would not be accepted.

-While we can tell the character is outside we can not see any elements of depth here.

-We would decline this image and ask that more elements of depth be added. Try adding in some rocks, trees, bushes, objects your character has with them ect.!