Make a tiny low-poly 3D model using picoCAD in a weekend. No prior 3D experience required. All skill levels welcome!

Theme (Required)

Amphibians

X-Strike by Prune Danish

Frogs, Axolotl, Toads, Newt, Salamander. Lil slimy dudes. The forest dwelling jumpy, crawly, slithery ones.

Limitation (Optional)

1-Bit Color

White Water Pinball, but 1-Bit by Ben

Use any two visible colors of your choice: black and white, red and green, blue and pink, etc. Only show two colors for the model, background, and shading. This does not include alpha or watermark.

What is picoCAD?

"picoCAD is a program to build and texture lowpoly 3D models. Where many programs for modelling and texturing are bloated and overly complicated, picoCAD aims to make it fun, easy, and accessible by focusing on the bare essentials. It is built on the PICO-8 platform and comes rich with constraints. Experiment to find your own workflow and anything is possible!" -Johan, creator of picoCAD

Download: picoCAD (be sure to read the manual included with it!)

Join picoCAD discord and say hi: discord

How to submit?

Please submit an animated Gif spin of your model, the model txt, and if you have it, the texture png. Example.

To create a spin, navigate to top left drop down menu and click "Export Gif". Select either fast or medium spin.

To copy the model txt, click view files in top left menu and copy it from the folder.

For learning how to create an Itch.io page read Your First Itch.io Page.

To create a submission with multiple participants, first have one person upload the project, then in the edit project page go to "More"  then "Admins" to add the other person. Make sure to check "Display as contributor?" so that they get credit.

Please include an image of the album you are referencing.

Rules

1. Models are required to incorporate the theme. Limitation is an optional modifier.
2. Make your model within the jam timeframe. 
   • You may sketch concepts before the Jam starts but do not use assets made before the jam.
3. Make only one submission.
   • You may work as a team and submit a group-made model.
4. Use only picoCAD, and any community-made tool, to make your model and submit animated Gif spin of it.
   • Your submission must be primarily made in picoCAD.
   • The submitted GIF must be directly exported from picoCAD and not altered.
5. No harassment of any kind. No NSFW content, offensive content, excessive gore/violence.
6. Entries that violate rules will receive a warning and be removed before voting if changes aren't made. 
   • You will be asked to submit a new model or edit to make your model valid. Models made before the jam started cannot be submitted.
7. Have fun!

Voting

Models will be voted based on following criteria:

• Visual- aesthetic enjoyment from the model
• Technical- high quality modelling and/or texturing
• Concept- creative take on the theme/limitation and/or novel use of picoCAD's capabilities

Voting will be open to submitters only. Submit if you are able to so you can participate in voting!

Resources

• Community-made Tools (How to Install)
  • PicoCAD Toolkit (by quickpocket)
  • Dither Texture Exporter (by ZincOS)
  • .obj Importer (by ZincOS)
  • .obj Importer (by sinamu)
  • High Detail Model Viewer (by lucatronica)
• Pixel editors
  • Aseprite($20) 
  • Pico-8 ($15)
  • Piskel (free)
  • GraphicsGale (free)
  • Glimpse (free)
  • Lospec (free)
  • For a great breakdown see: What Program to use for Pixel Art?
• Pixel Art Tips
  • Brandon James Greer's Pixel Art Youtube Channel
  • Pedro Medeiros's Pixel Art Tutorial Gif series
• Inspiration
  • Kenneth Fejer

Q&A

Be sure to read the manual included with picoCAD!

Waporwave and Munro have written a supplementary guide for picoCAD. Included is a beginner tutorial, overview of modeling and texturing, and a FAQ section answering common questions and showcasing tricks like inverted normal or spheres!

picoCAD Guide

If you have any questions about the jam or picoCAD please reach out on the Discord in the jams-and-challenges channel.

Thanks!