You can increase your chances of passing CheckMate Certification if you prepare your model and presentation with care ahead of time. Note: CheckMate Certification is available only for 3D models, and only for SquidGuild members.

1. Review the specifications for CheckMate Pro and CheckMate Lite, and decide which specification you wish to meet.
2. Check your 3D model's Integrity. Fix up the model itself to meet the specification to wish to submit to.
   
   • Include only textures and objects you own. Make sure you own the rights to all the textures and objects included with the model. You cannot include textures and models purchased or downloaded for free at other websites, or those included with your software application. Even if these elements were free, you do not own them and cannot redistribute them. However, you can prepare a Readme.txt file that points to a place where customers can find these textures or models for free, and include this Readme with your model.
   • Eliminate errors. Make sure the model opens and renders error-free. Errors on opening or rendering are unacceptable for CheckMate models, even if the error does not affect the customer's ability to use the model. Common errors are:
   • The application says it cannot find certain textures. This can happen if there are materials that are not assigned to objects, but are still referenced within the model. An example is an unused material in the Material Editor in 3ds Max. Remove these references so the model opens error-free.
   • The application says it cannot find a particular plug-in, for example a third-party renderer like V-Ray. If you intend to distribute your model with V-Ray as the designated renderer, it is fine to reference V-Ray in the model. But if you plan to distribute the model for use without V-Ray, you must ensure there are no references to V-Ray at all, including no V-Ray textures on objects or elsewhere (such as the Material Editor in 3ds Max).
   • For CheckMate Pro, ensure the model is made entirely of quads and triangles, is created at real-world scale, and is positioned at the 0,0,0 origin. There are many other requirements for CheckMate Pro; please see the CheckMate Pro specification for the full list of requirements. You may also review our Best Practices articles for a guide to meeting these CheckMate Pro specifications, including videos on fixing your model in 3ds Max or Maya.
3. Prepare your presentation. Make at least 5 rendered thumbnails and 2 wireframe thumbnails, and a turntable if you plan to submit for CheckMate Pro.
   
   • Signature Image. One thumbnail, the Signature, must show the entire model against an off-white 247,247,247 background. This image cannot have any text or borders. The minimum resolution for this image is 600x600. See Signature Image for a fill list of requirements.
   • Secondary Preview Image. A second thumbnail (the Secondary Preview Image) must show the model in the same pose and angle as the Signature Image, but with a dark or realistic background that shows the model's realism. This is the first image customers will see when they click your Signature Image in Search results. For CheckMate Pro, the minimum resolution for this image is 1200x1200. For Lite, the minimum resolution is 600x600. In any case, these thumbnails must have a square resolution.
   • Additional Rendered Thumbnails. Create at least 3 additional rendered thumbnails. The minimum resolution is the same as the Secondary Preview Image.
   • Wireframes. Create at least 2 wireframe thumbnails with the same minimum resolution as your rendered thumbnails. Wireframe images should have a different colored background such as black or gray to distinguish them from rendered thumbnails, and should give the customer a full picture of your model's topology. See Wireframe Thumbnails for a full list of requirements. 
   • Turntable. For CheckMate Pro, create a rendered turntable with a square resolution of at least 1200x1200. You may create a turntable for CheckMate Lite submissions, but it is not required.
   You may also make additional thumbnails and turntables at any resolution or aspect ratio you like.
4. Prepare model data. Determine the model's poly count and vertex count before subdivision. Be sure to completely remove subdivision tools to get an accurate count. Also make sure you use the native file format to get the count, as these counts can vary slightly in exported or derivative file formats.
5. Pick a price. Review CheckMate Pricing to determine an appropriate price for your model.
6. Zip it up. Package each certifiable file format with all textures using WinZip or a comparable tool. To be clear, each ZIP file must include a single model and all its textures. This means that if you have several certifiable file formats, you will include textures with each ZIP file. If you created a Readme with additional information, zip that with each certifiable format, too. You may also include a PDF with instructions on using the model, and other tools as you like. As a reminder, you cannot include personal contact information in the Readme file or any other file you upload. 

Now you are ready to publish and submit your model for CheckMate Certification.

Related Topics

• What is CheckMate?
• CheckMate Certification for Artists