L8 Previz Design Challenge 2026

Theme: Winter & Holiday Magic

We are excited to announce the annual L8 Previz Design Challenge 2026!

This year, your design should express the spirit of winter holidays, celebration, and magic. Whether it's a cozy Christmas stage or an explosive New Year’s electronic festival show - let your creativity shine through music, light, and movement.

Contest Divisions

To ensure a fair competition and equal opportunities for everyone, the challenge is divided into two distinct divisions:

• Level 1 - Free MVR Division: Exclusively for participants using the free L8 MVR Free Edition (up to 128 fixtures / 2 DMX universes).
• Level 2 - Pro Division: For users with commercial L8 licenses (L8 CE..CE4, Media, Trace, Unlim).

Each division will feature 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards.
One additional Popular Choice Award will go to the entry with the most Facebook likes.

Judging Categories (Up to 100 Points Total)

Entries will be evaluated by both our official judging panel and community voting across 4 core creative criteria (25 points each):

1. Concept & Holiday Atmosphere (25 pts): Creative interpretation of the Winter & Holiday Magic theme.
2. Lighting Design & Scenography (25 pts): Artistic use of color, beam dynamics, spatial illumination, and stage materials.
   Pro Tip on Atmosphere & Scenography: Great lighting design is not just about waving light beams around! It’s about how light and shadows fill the 3D space, interact with fog/haze, create realistic reflections, and highlight the architecture of the stage. We strongly encourage participants to pay attention to object textures, materials, and dynamic shadows rather than leaving default gray 3D shapes. You can build your scene entirely within L8, or import an MVR file from Vectorworks (including Student/Demo versions) or AI tools containing lighting fixtures, geometry, and base materials. Use your L8 session (10 hours for Free MVR, unlimited for Pro) to add or adjust fixtures, fine-tune material reflections, textures, and dynamic shadows - proper atmospheric depth will drastically boost your Scenography score!
3. Music Synchronization & Timing (25 pts): Cue precision, rhythm match, and musicality of the show.
4. Video Presentation & Framing (25 pts): Camera work, angles, and overall visual flow.
   Camera Advice: You don't need a commercial license with DMX camera control to make a cinematic video! Choose any technique or combination that suits your workflow:

   • DMX Camera: Full programming (if supported by your license).
   • Smooth Manual Moves: Use a standard computer mouse, a 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse, or a standard gamepad for smooth real-time camera movements.
   • Multi-Angle Options: Switch between camera position quick presets near the Compass during a single-take recording, or edit multiple rendered angles together in external software.

Prizes

Level 1 (Free MVR Division)

• 1st Place: L8 CE3
• 2nd Place: L8 CE2
• 3rd Place: L8 CE

Level 2 (Pro Division)

• 1st Place: L8 Trace2
• 2nd Place: L8 Trace
• 3rd Place: L8 Media

Popular Choice Award

• Winner: L8 CE3

Submission Guidelines

• Software: Use the latest version of L8 (v65).
• Fixtures: Standard L8 library fixtures only (no custom-made fixtures).
• Entries: 1 video per participant.
• Video Rendering: Videos must be exported using the native L8 Video-Shot function (screen-grabbed will not be accepted).
• Video Title: L8previz2026 - Your Name
• Video Length: Maximum 180 seconds.
• Resolution: Minimum FHD (1080p).
• How to Submit: Upload your video to YouTube and share it in the official L8 Facebook Group.
• Include in Video Description:
  • #L8previz2026
  • L8 License type (or L8 MVR)
  • Lighting Console/Controller used (e.g., MA3, Chamsys, Avolites, Onyx, etc.)
  • Fixture List
  • Software/CAD used
  • Music Credits

Key Dates

• Submission Window: November 1, 2026 - November 30, 2026 (23:59 your local time).
  Tip: Submit early to get more visibility and votes for the Popular Choice Award!
• Award Ceremony: Winners will be announced on Friday, December 18, 2026, in the L8 Facebook group!

Copyright & Usage Notes

Please credit the music track used in your video description. By submitting your entry, you agree to let L8 LLC share and re-post your video across L8 official social media channels, website, and promotional media for the Challenge.