Should 3D bases be used in the monthly challenges?

edgarej · March 10, 2026, 11:33am

Hi gang. So the issue of using 3D bases/renderings/images for the challenges has been brought up again in the current monthly challenge: March 2026 Art Challenge – WIP and Discussion Thread - #54 by edgarej

To paraphrase that post; we had this conversation a long time ago, but I can’t find the thread/conversation now. My takeaway from that conversation was that so long as 90% of the work was done in Krita, there shouldn’t be an issue… but some people are still fuzzy (me included), in the details of the rule.

For starters, let me use my current month’s challenge WIPS:

To explain my workflow:
I use 3D to help me troubleshoot composition, perspective and lighting. Instead of thumbnailing, I just mess around in blender until I get my “perfect shot.” I then import this image to Krita and quickly trace over the major elements of the image render. I then use this loose sketch to come up with a more detailed sketch. Most of the time I use simple blocks. Sometimes I get detailed 3D assets that I use in the render, as in the case of the window frame to the right of my illustration. Bear in mind that aside from 1 hour that I spend on blender, almost all of my time spent is on Krita (I only allow myself one hour to setup my scene, that’s it. The one hour obviously doesn’t include the rendering time).

Using 3D to help troubleshoot composition and lighting is not a big deal at all. What is fuzzy to me, and maybe to some people, is the “no tracing” rule of the monthly challenges to help me with perspective. In my images, the window frame is obviously traced as-is from the render, but everything else I made up. Case in point are the mannequins, the poses of the mannequins are different from what I actually ended up drawing. The lockers I drew are also more detailed than the one from the rendered image.

Using basic 3D blocks to help get perspective lines is no big deal to me. I.E., tracing over the general shape of the walls doesn’t feel like a cheat. Tracing DETAILED 3D assets like the window frame, for example, might be considered a cheat.

Anyways, I leave the vote to you guys. Hands down I agree with @raghukamath that if an exception be made for 3D images/bases/renders, 90% of the work should be done in Krita. So no matter how the following vote ends up, 90% of the work should be done in krita. What we will be debating about is;

No 3D allowed. 100% Krita work.
90% Krita work. 3D renders allowed, but only SIMPLE SHAPES.
90% Krita work. 3D renders allowed.

0 voters

We can revise the poll if needed if someone else has an input. Thanks guys.

Michelist · March 10, 2026, 11:50am

In my opinion, this is completely legitimate, and if my memory serves me correctly, this was discussed some time ago and deemed acceptable if, as it is customary in our forum, when most of the work is done with Krita.

So I’m all for it! And I wouldn’t have an issue if the line of acceptance is drawn at ⅔ or ¾.

Michelist

Takiro · March 10, 2026, 11:52am

I used 3D renderings for references before too, like in this artwork

I don’t see why this should be treated differently than using photos or referencing other media. The important part in my opinion is that you made the 3D scene yourself (doesn’t matter if out of cardboard or in blender).

The no-tracing rule was always about copying other peoples works, you can trace your own stuff as much as you want, in my opinion, as long as is doesn’t result in a recolored copy or asset-flip of another of your works.

edgarej · March 10, 2026, 1:19pm

thanks @Michelist and @Takiro

Elixiah · March 10, 2026, 1:33pm

I agree with everyone here…. using a 3D base as reference is just another tool to sketch up an idea for your painting. I frequently trace my own pencil sketches on Krita and also use pieces of royalty free images as “base” for a lot of my work. On my commissioned pet portraits, I usually trace basic outlines from the clients photos to save time and ensure accuracy. They are just tools. As time goes by, you tend to use the tools less and less because you learn to do it on your own.
Personally, I get much more enjoyment from painting ad-lib… just splashing down shapes and color and refining from there. But, many times you need a little help.

TBs_thename · March 10, 2026, 1:35pm

I think as long as krita covers every aspect of the painting, there is no problem. so like if you make a 3d rendering and it is painted over completely in krita then no one can really have a problem with it. where as if lets say for instance, you painted the people walking on the street but the skyscraper and buildings are still just a rendering, well then you might have an issue there. but if the sky scrapers and buildings were painted in your own hand using krita, i think the issue dissolves. So i guess in summery of my opinion here, using a 3d rendering as a reference is a good thing. in fact, in terms of using a reference, i think is a better option because you have used a reference that you yourself have created.

Jonq · March 10, 2026, 2:11pm

I just think the winner should decide if it’s allowed or not in the challenge of the month, it’s easier that way and it could be part of the challenge if the winner decide so

Rhea_Asma · March 10, 2026, 2:11pm

Personally, I don’t see any issue with this approach. If 3D is only used to guide the scene and the final artwork is still drawn and developed in Krita, then the creativity is clearly coming from the artist. Tools are meant to help the process, not replace it.

I_J10 · March 10, 2026, 3:28pm

At first I was on the fence on this issue. Using tools from other programs enhance the artists tool box and through conventional artistic history artists have always used references and a school of other artists to refine and finish their work.

However, within the monthly contest realm, the offerings should showcase Krita’s features only. By using other programs to help or block in a drawing or painting shows off Krita’s limits not its varied features. I do use references and post their sources when I enter a piece, but tracing images that were either not created on Krita or referenced from another source is not within the current contest rules. If the majority votes for the change then I’m all for it.

sooz · March 10, 2026, 3:54pm

I voted for 90% Krita, 3D renders allowed but I would want us to clarify that the render has to be created by the member, as in @edgarej’s case.

That preserves the original composition requirement that is the basis of the challenge.

I_J10 · March 10, 2026, 5:37pm

In that case, shouldn’t a list of acceptable programs be included in the contest rules? ie. Blender etc. That way newbees–like me– won’t question a submission and use the same tools to compose their entry.

Rhea_Asma · March 10, 2026, 7:06pm

I understand the aim of highlighting the Krita program, but these competitions also encourage artists to interpret a particular theme and improve their working methods. Even when using 3D drawing techniques, the final drawing remains the artist’s creation.

edgarej · March 10, 2026, 9:40pm

I agree adding the “created by member” requirement.

edgarej · March 10, 2026, 9:44pm

We can just say 10% other 3Dsoftware, 90% Krita, etc. I don’t think we would need to specify exactly which 3D software…

@sooz I did just thought of something to add to the rules: absolutely no tracing of AI. I don’t want people thinking that having a “10% other software use” rule would mean people can use AI tools… so we probably really need to define “10% 3D software… etc”

sooz · March 10, 2026, 9:54pm

Good points.

steve.improvthis · March 11, 2026, 11:57am

Krita is the most recent graphic art program I’ve spent, well, a lot of time learning. Inkscape and GiMP were the main tools in my toolbox back in my entrepreneurial life. I’ve dipped into Blender, but never really caught the bug. Looks like I’ll have to go back and learn that one someday too!

And honestly I’m torn. I’ve spent a bunch of time thinking about it since @edgarej originally brought it up.

I can see the points about the Monthly Challenge being wholly about being *Made In Krita*. That makes sense, as it is a “challenge.”
And perhaps that rule even acts as a sort of guardrail.

But then I think about people in the real world and how they’d likely use Krita. When I was looking for which freehand drawing tool I wanted to commit my time to learning, I certainly looked at the output people were creating using each program. Seeing what people were doing in the challenge was a big part of me choosing Krita over some other options.

IRL, people use other tools (including AI, gasp!) even when they do 90% of the work freehand in Krita. And heck, the program, which shall not be named, even has 3D rendering (and a bigger GASP! AI!) built in these days.
I believe allowing outside tools to form a starting point, so long as almost all of the freehand drawing and painting is done in Krita, will only strengthen the challenge, build the artists’ skills, increase their toolbox, and show off how useful Krita is.

Soooo…. I landed on yes. To evolve and stay modern, other tools should be allowed as long as we stay true to the driving force behind the Monthly Challenge. I vote we should keep the challenge a place for showing off Krita’s near-endless possibilities while allowing artists to use other tools that they’d actually use when working in Krita IRL, like Blender.

PS, it’s the product that shall not be named here.

edgarej · March 11, 2026, 12:53pm

My general workflow was always to start with 3D. Last year was different… about 60% of the challenges I participated in last year were all done from scratch in Krita.

I can totally see the argument for the “purity” of the competition. I mostly did that last year… but I would still like the option of the 3D to be there, yah know.

@sooz It looks like the option for using 3D is winning. If you do institute this rule, you can always put two disclaimers underneath this rule, A) absolutely no AI and B) we strongly encourage the work be done 100% in Krita to showcase the strength of the software, but we understand that real life workflows in the job sector will require use of other software…etc etc.

Maybe we can shorten that phrase, but you catch my drift…

sooz · March 13, 2026, 6:36pm

I’m putting together my notes for the changes. Thanks for making the poll and getting us talking about this subject, @edgarej.

The poll clearly shows a desire and agreement to allow the use of 3D models created by the member and the final submission has to be at least 90% Krita.

I think we’re already covered on that one. Here is the applicable line from the rules that are posted with each challenge:

No AI-generated images are allowed, not even partial use of AI for composition ideas or paint over. It is unfair for those who are drawing from scratch.

Here is the wording for the new rule on allowing 3D bases:

Artwork should be done in Krita. 3D bases are allowed as long as the finished work is 90% Krita and you made the 3D scene yourself.

I’ll keep an eye on this thread but it looks like we might be done.

elevate · March 13, 2026, 7:43pm

Just to add that I’d have voted ‘no’, and wonder if having a separate monthly challenge would be a good idea e.g. a purely painting challenge, and a challenge that needs/wants to use assistants and tracing. Tbh I’d not enter the monthly competition if the latter’s involved, as I think it’s very different to entirely do the painting without assistants/tracing. Obviously this opinion won’t be popular, but there’s so much of this going on e.g. pressure to change software licensing from GPT to MIT in some things, ai shoved in everywhere, ‘you’re weird if you’re not glued to tech/phone’ stuff, etc etc. Just want something purely painting and done fully by people themselves.

If the painting challenge is changed to not fully painting, I think the exact softwares used should be declared. Have noticed references must be very stringently declared and proven, so I think that should be done here, or ai will be used in the background, and more erosion of art happens.

sooz · March 13, 2026, 7:55pm

AI is already strictly forbidden from the challenge, even for composition ideas. And any tracing that takes place using a 3D base would be tracing of one’s own work as we’ve decided to say that the member has to be the creator of the 3D base.

Does that change anything for you, @elevate?