This article contains the full specification for CheckMate Lite, TurboSquid’s reliability standard for 3D models. To see the condensed CheckMate Lite Checklist, you can go HERE.
v. 2.1
July 15th, 2019
1. Limitations on CheckMate Lite Certification
1.1 Quality
CheckMate Lite Certification is reserved for well-made, quality 3D models.
1.2 Pricing
1.2.1 Product pricing must conform to the CheckMate pricing matrix.
1.2.2 Product pricing must be equal to or above the average selling price of comparable models. TurboSquid reserves the right to make changes to prices as necessary.
1.3 File Formats
1.3.1 Native file format must pass inspection before other file formats are inspected.
1.3.2 File formats eligible for inspection are:
- 3ds Max (.max) (Renderers Supported: Scanline / V-Ray / Corona / Arnold / IRay / Mental Ray / Redshift)
- Maya (.ma / .mb) (Renderers Supported: Software / Hardware / Mental Ray / V-Ray / Arnold / Redshift)
- CINEMA 4D (.c4d) (Renderers Supported: Advanced / Physical / Arnold / V-Ray / Redshift)
- Lightwave (.lws) (Renderers Supported: Default)
- Blender (.blend) (Renderers Supported: Standard / Cycles/ Eevee)
1.3.2.1 Product must include at least one of the above file formats as its native file format in order to be considered for CheckMate Lite certification.
1.3.2.2 Other file formats are not inspected for CheckMate Lite certification.
1.3.3 Certification by product – CheckMate Lite certification is awarded on a per-product basis. In order for the product to be certified as CheckMate Lite, all certifiable formats listed in 1.3.2 must pass the CheckMate Lite standard.
1.4 Scenes, Sets & Collections
1.4.1 Scenes are eligible for certification.
1.4.2 Collections are not eligible for certification unless all of the models within that collection have already been certified individually as CheckMate Pro or CheckMate Lite.
- Collections that contain all CheckMate Pro models can be submitted for Pro certification.
- Collections that contain all CheckMate Lite models can be submitted for Lite certification.
- Collections that contain both CheckMate Lite and Pro models can be submitted for Lite certification.
1.5 Standard or Editorial License Only
Models with Custom Licenses are not eligible for certification.
1.6 SquidGuild Only
CheckMate Lite Certification is available only for 3D models published by SquidGuild members.
1.7 Payment Information
In order to have 3D models CheckMate Certified, the publishing member must fill out accurate and up-to-date Payment Information for the TurboSquid account.
- Standards for 3D Model Inspection
2.1.1 No errors on opening – Model file must open without texture-related errors (missing textures, corrupt textures, etc.).
2.1.2 Textures are correct in renderings – When model is rendered, texture placement must match thumbnails with reasonable accuracy. This is a subjective standard designed to ensure the model’s UV mapping is as advertised, and that the customer will get what he/she expects.
2.1.3 At least one material must be applied to each object to represent real-world object surfaces. The customer should be able to render the model upon purchase and get quality surface representation.
2.1.4 No texture paths referenced by model. All texture paths must be stripped from model file.
2.2.1 No errors on opening – When model is loaded in native application, no errors about missing files, plug-ins, or textures. If a third-party renderer or plug-in is required and not listed in the product information fields, then the Description must explicitly state this.
2.2.2 No corrupt files – Model, textures, and any other files included in the product must open cleanly
2.2.3 The model is a reasonable representation of what is shown in thumbnails.
2.2.4 The native model file must be in the same position and framing as the Search image. Additional non-native file formats that are published simply need to open so the full model is visible in the viewport with no hidden parts but do not have to match pose and framing of the native file.
2.2.4.1 Native models are exempt from meeting the same position and framing as the Search image as long as the work needed to match the imagery is trivial (minor repositioning or rotation of model). The full model will still need to be visible in the viewport with no hidden parts.
- Standards for Product Presentation
3.1.1 All CheckMate imagery must meet the presentation standards that are outlined within the Product Imagery Checklist.
3.2 Main Product Files
3.2.1 Includes at least one certifiable file format (See 1.3 File Formats).
3.2.2 Native file format specified within the publisher. The Native file represents the 3D application you originally built the model in.
3.2.3 Software version is specified for all certifiable files.
3.2.4 All required files archived with the product file in one of the following three ways:
- All bitmap textures are archived with each certifiable model file in a flat file structure.
- All bitmap textures are archived with each certifiable model file in a single subfolder beneath the main product file.
- All bitmap textures required are placed into a single, named ZIP file and uploaded once as a Textures Supporting Items product in the TurboSquid publisher. Certifiable model files are each placed into their own named ZIP files and uploaded on their own. See Bitmap Texture Pathing.
3.2.5 Archives should not contain multiple renderer versions; separate download archives should be provided for different renderers, even from the same 3d application.
3.3.1 Polygon Count value matches poly count in native file format. If you’ve applied subdivision to the native file format which is removable (as with a TurboSmooth modifier in 3ds Max or an editable history in Maya) you must enter the polygon count without subdivision.
3.3.2 Vertex Count value matches vertex count in native file format before subdivision.
3.3.3 In the Geometry field within the publisher, one of these two choices is selected:
- Polygonal Quads/Tris
- Polygonal Quads only
- Polygonal Tris only
- Polygonal Ngons
3.3.4 All product specification fields are accurate with respect to model being submitted for certification.
3.3.5 If the product specification field shows the model to be rigged and/or animated, the rig and animation must work as expected. Rigged files include a readme, except if Biped or CAT is used.
3.4.1 Product Name must be in English.
3.4.2 Product Name must be composed of adjectives and nouns pertaining to the model, separated by spaces.
3.4.3 Product name must not contain file extensions
3.4.4 All words in the Product Name except articles, conjunctions and prepositions must have initial capital letter. Words that represent acronyms can be all caps, but product Name should not be all caps.
3.5.1 Description is filled in. All descriptions should use proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and correct product names. Descriptions can include information about the model (examples: are cameras and lights included, number of objects in scene, subdivision information). Optional information can include information about the object the model represents.
3.5.2 Third-party plug-ins or renderers used or referenced in model specified – If the renderer in the model file is set to a non-default renderer, or if materials are those from a non-default renderer, state this in Description.
3.6.1 Must be relevant to the model you publish.
3.6.2 Only one category is required.
3.6.3 Keywords must be spelled correctly
3.7 No Personal Contact Information: This is a requirement for all products published for sale at TurboSquid.
The CheckMate Specifications, CheckMate names, including “CheckMate Pro” and “CheckMate Lite,” and all related branding and logos, whether registered or not, are the property of TurboSquid. TurboSquid retains all ownership of these trademarks and copyrighted material. They are protected by intellectual property laws of the U.S. or in some instances, foreign laws and international treaties. Unauthorized use may violate copyright, trademark and other laws.
CheckMate Specifications may be reused and republished by third parties with permission, with the exception of third parties that sell or distribute 3D content as part of a stock 3D business. In no case may models distributed or sold anywhere other than at turbosquid.com (or its affiliates including the SquidGuild Network) be referred to as “CheckMate,” “CheckMate Certified,” “CheckMate Pro,” “CheckMate Lite” or any by similar name referencing CheckMate.
Participants in the CheckMate program who have received certification and would like to use CheckMate branding to promote their own models may do so on other sites, so long as such models are not sold on those other sites.
For any questions or to request permission to republish CheckMate Specifications, please contact agent@turbosquid.com.
