The 10 Cubes of December 2024 - intro and rules

It seems that blender is losing more and more of its limitations, but sometimes having limitations can push creativity. so let’s take it back a step or two. try modeling an object, any object using just cubes. some ground rules might help to further limit you:*

10 RULES FOR 10 CUBES

  1. Use only 10 cuboids.**
  2. You can move them around any way you’d like
  3. You can rotate them around any way you’d like
  4. You can scale them any way you’d like - just keep the corners square.
  5. The ground plane is free (if you need one)
  6. Keep the lighting and materials simple
  7. All 10 cubes must have the same material
  8. Modeling and composition must be the focal point of the project
  9. Post your entries in the 10 Cubes Challenge 2024 category; on social media please use the #BA10cubes hashtag.
  10. Have fun! Be creative! Make art!

Of these rules, #10 is the most important, followed by #1. The goal is to be inspired, even (or especially) if you need to bend the rules.

We will be posting 10 prompts throughout the month to add another layer of limitation/inspiration. Create your own topic for each prompt - but feel free to post as many pieces in that topic as you want! Here is the current prompt:

If you are still confused, or just want to see some really cool art - check out the original thread that was the inspiration for this challenge:*** https://blenderartists.org/t/cube-modeling-challenge-voting-open-see-page-30/

In case you missed it last year, check out all of the amazing submissions: https://blenderartists.org/c/contests/10-cubes-challenge-2023/77

* This introduction is taken verbatim from the original post, over 16 years ago. Take a moment to consider all of the limitations that have been lifted over the past 16 years.

** A cuboid is a rectangular prism, that is a 3d shape with all 90° corners. a cube is a subset of cuboids where the width, depth, and height of the shape are all the same. the “10 cubes challenge” is technically a misnomer, but “10 cuboids challenge” doesn’t quite have the same ring.

*** Notice how many submissions are missing, lost forever to the imageshack hole. The internet is different now, and hosting an image is no longer as much of a hassle as it was 16 years ago. Take a moment to consider all of the art that has been lost over the millennia. It’s easier to lose art than you’d think.

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Oh my gosh, @SterlingRoth! I have been so busy with life stuff that I barely noticed it’s December and, therefore, the 10 Cubes Challenge. DO count me in, 100%%%!

And just for my piece of mind - there was no prompt on the 1st Dec, right?

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing everyone’s 10-cubed art!

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Correct, I got a bit of a late start, so the first prompt was released on Dec 2nd.

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So I made some nodes.

One is a random slideshow generator. The images are from a poor screenshot but you can shuffle a selection and come up with your own story :slight_smile:

The other is for when your inspiration is lacking. 10 Cubes and a plane and a seed. :seedling:

**see below

Make a topic so these get more attention!

Also, post some screenshots so people can view them on their phones!

Looking forward to seeing these!

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Good idea. There were bugs and overcomplications in those files anyway. All the better if nobody fetched those :smiley:

** go here then for the updated nodes

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