Challenges

CGTrader is announcing the Botanical Designs 3D Challenge, inviting 3D artists from around the world to bring nature to life through 3D art.

We’re celebrating the beauty and diversity of plants – from realistic trees and flowers to creative botanical concepts. Whether you create detailed natural models, science-inspired designs, or stylized art, this challenge is your opportunity to showcase your technical skill and creativity.

Prize Pool

The total reward is $1,800 in cash prizes, split between the top entries:

• 1st place – $600
• 2nd place – $400
• 3rd place – $300
• 4th place – $200
• 5th place – $100
• Community Favorite – $200

Timeline

• Challenge open: November 3 – December 31
• Winners announced: January 7, 2026

How to Enter

1. Upload your original plant-themed 3D model to CGTrader.
2. Tag your submission with botanical-challenge to officially join.
3. Submit your model in .glb and .fbx formats.
4. Include PBR textures for full material detail.
5. Ensure your model meets the CGTrader Standard (100%) and is submitted under the Royalty Free license.

What You Can Create

You can submit any plant-themed 3D model, including but not limited to:

• Full plants (trees, flowers, bushes, vines, grasses, herbs)
• Plant parts (leaves, stems, roots, seeds, fruit, blossoms)
• Plant systems (root systems, cross-sections, growth stages)
• Stylized or fantasy plants (imaginary flora, alien vegetation, magical plants)
• Scientific and educational models (plant anatomy, molecules, biological structures)
• Nature environments with vegetation (garden scenes, forest assets, indoor plant setups)

The wider the variety, the better – we welcome all creative approaches that connect to the botanical world.

Terms

• Entries must be original 3D designs created by the participant.
• Submissions must reflect the botanical theme, whether realistic, stylized, or conceptual.
• Each model must have .glb and .fbx formats, include PBR textures, comply with the CGTrader Standard (100%), and be available under the Royalty Free license.
• You may submit multiple entries, provided each meets all challenge requirements.
• If a previously uploaded model did not meet the CGTrader Standard, it can be resubmitted once it reaches 100%.
• Winners will be judged based on artistic quality, originality, technical execution, texture and material quality, overall presentation, and adherence to the theme.
• The Community Favorite will be chosen by public votes (hearts on the model page).

Showcase Your Work

Share your creations on social media with #CGTraderBotanicalChallenge to reach a wider audience and inspire other 3D artists.

The best 3D models will be featured on CGTrader’s blog and social media channels, showcasing outstanding creativity and craftsmanship from our community.

Let’s wrap up the year in holiday cheer! We’re thrilled to announce the Christmas 3D Print Challenge on CGTrader.

This festive season, we’re calling on all 3D print artists to design, 3D print and share your most creative, cozy and christmas-y themed models. From ornaments and decorations to unique gift ideas and joyful gadgets – this is your chance to spread Christmas spirit through 3D printing and showcase your talent to the world.

The CGTrader community keeps growing stronger and we love seeing the creativity that comes to life through your printers. Whether you’re a seasoned 3D print designer or a hobbyist who just loves to make things, this challenge is for you.

Prize Pool

A total of $1,800 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top entries:

1st place: $600

2nd place: $400

3rd place: $300

4th place: $200

5th place: $100

Community Favorite: $200

Timeline

Challenge open: November 19 - December 18, 2025

Winners announced: December 23, 2025

How to Enter

1. Create an original 3D print ready model in Christmas theme
2. Upload the model to CGTrader Marketplace
3. Tag your submission with christmas-challenge
4. Add at least one photo of your printed make

Multiple entries are welcome - just make sure each follows the rules!

Terms

• Designs must be original and 3D printable
• Each entry must include a photo of the physical printed make
• Models should reflect a Christmas or winter holiday theme
• Renderings are optional, but if included, they should be clear and well-presented
• The printed result is the most important judging element
• Only models uploaded during the contest period and tagged christmas-challenge will be considered
• Adult content and previously published models are not eligible
• Participants must have a CGTrader account, accept the Terms & Conditions and complete KYC verification to receive prize payouts
• The challenge is free to enter and open worldwide
• Winners will be judged on creativity, printability and presentation, while the Community Favorite will be chosen by public votes (hearts in the model page).

Spread the word and share your entries on social media with #CGTraderChristmas to inspire other creators with your festive designs! Top submissions will be featured on CGTrader’s blog and social media channels.

Design Challenges are back — and this time we’re celebrating the spookiest season of the year! With great excitement, we announce the Halloween 3D Print Challenge on CGTrader.

This October, we invite all 3D creators, makers, and hobbyists to design, 3D print, and share your most fun, spooky, or magical 3D print-ready models. Whether it’s a creepy decoration, a cute Halloween prop, or a bewitching gadget — this is your chance to showcase your imagination and 3D printing skills to the world.

We’ve seen a growing trend in the community: 3D printable models are more popular than ever, and Halloween is the perfect theme to bring creativity to life! This challenge is open to everyone, no matter your background — from experienced 3D designers to makers who simply love to experiment with their printers.

Prize Pool

The total reward is $1,800 in cash prizes, split between the top entries:

• 1st place – $600
• 2nd place – $400
• 3rd place – $300
• 4th place – $200
• 5th place – $100
• Community Favorite – $200

Timeline

• Challenge open: October 7 – November 5
• Winners announced: November 10

How to Enter

• Upload your original 3D print-ready model.
• Add at least one photo of your printed make.
• Tag your submission with halloween-challenge to join.

Terms

• Entries must be original 3D designs that are fully 3D printable.
• Each entry must include a photo of the physical print - make.
• Submissions must follow the Halloween theme.
• You can submit multiple entries, but each must follow the rules.

Winners will be judged based on creativity, printability, and presentation, while the Community Favorite will be chosen by public votes (hearts in the model page).

Feel free to share your entries on social media with #CGTraderHalloween and inspire other makers with your spooky creations! The best 3D print models will be featured on CGTrader’s blog and social media channels.

CGTrader 3D Printing Video Challenge

Announcing the CGTrader 3D Printing Video Challenge: Bring your favorite 3D models to life

In collaboration with our esteemed partners, Prusa and FormFutura, we are thrilled to announce our latest challenge for all 3D printing enthusiasts and creative minds!

Challenge Theme

Select from a variety of 3D Print Ready Models on CGTrader’s marketplace, whether paid or free, and bring them to life through 3D printing. Document and share this exciting process in a video on YouTube.

You also have the option to enhance your project by painting, customizing, post-processing, and assembling the model, or by demonstrating it in innovative and interesting applications. Remember to include a link back to the CGTrader models you've used in your video description.

How to Participate

1. Choose your model: Pick your preferred 3D model(s) from CGTrader, free or paid.
2. Print and capture: Print the model(s) and capture the process! You can also choose to paint them, post-process or refine them.
3. Share your story: Upload a video of your journey to YouTube, highlighting the transformation of your chosen model into a real-world masterpiece.
4. Link back: Remember to link back to the CGTrader models in your video description, guiding viewers to the origin of your chosen models. Make sure to also mention CGTrader in the title along with the hashtag #CGTraderPrintChallenge.

Join now!

Design Challenges is something that CGTrader community has been waiting to be back for a long time. With the greatest joy, we would like to announce that a new 3D Modeling Challenge starts now!

For this challenge, CGTrader collaborated with YAHAHA - a free no-code platform that helps your 3D creation get started easily. Experience and create amazing 3D games using your imagination, creativity and amazing 3D modeling skills.

There’s a visible trend in our community - we can see your high interest in creating fantasy character 3D Models. We truly appreciate that! Due to this reason the long-awaited challenge is all about Fantasy Characters. This challenge is open to all of you, no matter the desired field: both high poly and low poly models can enter the competition.

Important: The prize pool (valued at $10,000 in cash) will be divided into 2 separate categories.

1. The Best 3D Fantasy Model (judged by CGTrader team).

To apply for "The best 3D Model" award add fantasy-challenge tag when uploading your model.

2. YAHAHA Special Awards (judged by YAHAHA team).

To apply for the "YAHAHA Special Award" add yahaha-challenge tag when uploading your model and make sure to register on YAHAHA.

Note: You can apply for both awards with just a single 3D Model. In order to do that, use both specified tags and submit your account to YAHAHA.

Feel free to share your own submissions on social media by adding #CGTraderFantasy hashtag and showcase the art you created! The award winning 3D Models will be showcased on CGTrader's Blog and Social Media.

By applying to YAHAHA's Special Award you agree that in case of a victory, your model will be showcased in a gallery space created using YAHAHA Studio ( non commercial!).

How to join the challenge?

3D design and 3D printing can play a role in helping us get through the COVID-19 outbreak. By enabling anyone to manufacture just about any design, 3D printing can produce useful gadgets on demand like air filter holders and door openers as well as face shields.

Manufacturers and supply lines all over the world are currently under a lot of pressure to provide enough protective gear for both healthcare professionals and the general public. 3D printed gadgets can contribute to this need and help home users to better protect themselves against Coronavirus.

For this reason we at CGTrader are calling on all designers to create and upload free 3D printable models for COVID-19 prevention.

To join the challenge, upload your 3D models to CGTrader by following these rules:

1. 3D models have to be 3D printable to participate in the challenge.
2. Make sure you select “Participate in 3D Print Challenge: Resources for COVID-19 Protection challenge” checkbox in the 3D model uploading screen.
3. The deadline for submissions to this challenge is May 12.

If you have uploaded a 3D model dedicated to COVID-19 protection previously, please go to editing options and select the “Participate in 3D Print Challenge: Resources for COVID-19 Protection challenge” checkbox to join this challenge. Or you can simply add a covid-19-protection-resources tag to 3D models you’d like to join the challenge with.

With the growing number of 3D applications like VR and AR, we are seeing an increased demand for female-friendly models of women. Nevertheless, many female character models are still oversexualized (come on, female armor does not improve by becoming skimpier!). This makes finding a suitable model for realistic and female-friendly representation needlessly difficult, and is one of the many reasons why women are discouraged from entering game development, VR, and 3D modeling.

These are the reasons why we are partnering up with active members from Women in VR/AR to bring more awareness of how women are represented in the 3D industry, and are calling on all designers to create and upload more female characters to CGTrader. Our great partners at Allegorithmic, Marmoset, Quixel, Cebas, 3D-Coat, and FoxRenderfarm are also supporting this change and are helping us bring you a new 3D Challenge: Female Characters. Great rewards, like software licenses and rendering credits, are waiting for designers who create superb female character models!

The Female Character challenge is open to all designers, no matter their field: both high poly and low poly models can enter the competition.

Submit your female model to the corresponding category:

• Realistic character (regular women, historical figures, girls, etc., representing various professions, including everyday people)
• Imaginary character (sci-fi, cartoon, fantasy, stylized, etc.)

Submissions deemed to be adult content are not eligible to participate in the contest.

Share your submissions to the challenge and other favorite 3D models of females on social media by adding #womenin3D #cgwoman and help us bring more awareness and inclusiveness to the 3D world! We will feature tagged models on our challenge model collections on social media and CGTrader’s blog!

If the model is created with Cebas software, you are also more than welcome to send your models to 3dgallery@cebas.com for additional exposure.