Contest Rules

This promotion is intended for play and participation in the United States only and shall be construed and evaluated according to the laws of the United States. Please do not participate if you are not a legal resident of the United States and located in the United States at the time of entry.

Important: Please read these rules before entering the O'Reilly Photoshop Cook-off Contest (the "Contest") sponsored by O'Reilly Media, Inc. (the "Sponsor"). By filling out an online entry form, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. CONTEST OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO ARE EITHER OF THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR STATE OF RESIDENCE AT THE TIME OF ENTRY (19 OR OLDER IN AL AND NE, 18 OR OLDER IN ALL OTHER STATES), OR WHO ARE BETWEEN 14 AND THE AGE OF MAJORITY AT THE TIME OF ENTRY, AND WHO PROVIDE A PARENTAL CONSENT FORM UPON REQUEST. VOID OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND WHERE OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Official Rules: O'Reilly's Photoshop Cook-off Contest

1. How to Enter: To enter the Contest, submit your name, e-mail address and other required information via the online form at digitalmedia.oreilly.com/contest, along with up to three original photographs that you manipulated using Adobe Photoshop and "recipes" from any of the following O'Reilly Photoshop Cookbooks:

For each photograph you submit, you must select one of the following five categories in which your image will be judged:

The following information must be included with each image you submit:

Entries may be color (RGB) or black-and-white digital files. You must submit a low-resolution version of the original in-camera file as well as your "cooked" entry for the Cook-Off. Files for submission must not be larger than 600x800 pixels and no smaller than 480x480 pixels at 72 ppi, in JPG format (RGB). You may use multiple recipe techniques in one image, but you must specify which recipes you used and the category in which you want the final image to be considered. Limit 3 sets of photographs (before and after manipulation) per entrant. You may enter the same image in multiple categories, but each category entry counts as one of your 3 entries.

PLEASE NOTE: We will be printing poster-sized versions of the winning images for the awards ceremony. So, although the judging will be based on low-resolution versions of the image files, be sure to create your entries as high-resolution files, with a minimum size of 11"x14" at 300 ppi. Once the judging is completed, winners will be required to send high-resolution versions of their final images suitable for high-quality printing as a condition of receiving a prize.

Contest begins at 10:00 a.m. PDT on May 15, 2006 and will end at 4:00 p.m. PST on August 15, 2006 (the "Contest Period"). All entries must be received during the Contest Period to be eligible. Sponsor is not responsible for retaining archives of any images submitted. Personal information obtained through the contest will only be used to notify the winner and participants of the contest results, unless the participant elects to "opt-in" to a particular use of his/her email address during the contest registration process. All entries must be in English.

By submitting an entry, you grant Sponsor (O'Reilly Media, Inc.) and its agents the irrevocable and perpetual nonexclusive right to publish, reproduce and use such entry in connection with the Contest (including publicizing the results of the Contest and creating promotional posters featuring winning entries and related text), in print and online, and without consideration to you (i.e., no compensation to you in exchange for our use of the image). Entries: must be the original work of the entrant; may not have won previous awards; may not have been published previously; must not infringe third-party rights, and must be suitable for publication (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent). By submitting an entry, you represent and warrant: that you are the sole owner of all rights in and to the images that constitute your entry; that they are your original work; that you have obtained in writing any necessary permissions from third parties, including model releases; and that the content of the Work does not violate laws prohibiting copyright infringement, defamation, misuse of trade secrets, invasion of privacy, or other laws. You agree to confirm in writing your grant of rights to Sponsor and/or the above warranties as a condition to receiving a prize in the event you are eligible to receive a prize.

2. Winner Selection: Winner selection will be based upon the following criteria: 30% image quality, 30% overall composition, 20% originality, 10% appropriateness of technical/image combination, and 10% use of color (or tonal range, if monochrome). In the event of a tie, tie breaker will be based upon the highest score in the first judging criteria, continuing thereafter to each judging criteria in order, as needed, to break the tie. The Prizewinners will be determined by a qualified panel of judges of Photoshop and/or digital photography experts selected by Sponsor, some of whom are also O'Reilly authors. Their decisions will be issued no later than October 2, 2006. The decisions of the panel will be final and binding on all matters relating to the Contest. Limit one prize per household.

3. Prize/Odds of Winning: One overall Grand Prize Winner, as well as one winner and one runner-up for each of the 5 categories, will be selected. Grand Prize: goods and services valued at or above $6600.00; Category Winners: goods and services valued at or above $2800.00 (per category); Runners-up: goods and services valued at or above $325.00. Minimum total value of all prizes: US $22,215.00. All prizes will be awarded, provided they are properly claimed. For a complete list of prizes, see digitalmedia.oreilly.com/contest/prizes.csp.

4. Winner Notification: Each prize winner will be notified by e-mail or telephone by October 9, 2006. Prize winners will also be announced at PhotoPlus Expo in New York City in November, 2006. Attendance at the Expo in not required to win. Sponsor is not responsible for any change of entrant's e-mail address. Any prize or prize notification returned as undeliverable or otherwise not claimed within seven (7) days after notification of prize award will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate prize winner. Prizes are not transferable. No cash redemptions. No substitutions or exchanges of the prize will be permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any prize that becomes unavailable. The prizes are awarded "AS IS" and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied, (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE). ACCEPTANCE OR USE OF PRIZE IS AT THE WINNER'S OWN RISK.

5. Sponsor and any of its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees, and agencies will not be responsible for (1) any late, lost, or misrouted entries or errors in transmission; (2) any disruptions to Internet connection, injuries, losses, or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor; or (3) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.

6. Sponsor and its agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, or telephone malfunctions of any kind and shall not be liable for failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled, or delayed electronic communications utilized in this Contest which may limit the ability to participate in the Contest. If for any reason, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other cause beyond the control of Sponsor, which corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, the Contest is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsor shall have the right, at their sole discretion, to modify and/or cancel the Contest.

7. Eligibility: Contest open to legal residents of the continental United States who are of the age of majority in their state of residence (19 or older in AL and NE, 18 or older in all other states) at the time of entry, or who are between 14 and the age of majority in their state of residence at the time of entry. Any minor who is eligible to receive a prize must submit a parental consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to receiving a prize. Employees of Sponsor, its subsidiaries, divisions, and related companies, and their respective agencies and agents and immediate family members of such are not eligible.

8. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIZE WINNERS. Prize winners may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility and publicity, liability and other release (and a signed parental consent form, if entrant is an eligible minor) within fifteen (15) days of notification attempt or prize will be forfeited and an alternate prize winner will be selected.

9. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST OR ACCEPTING A PRIZE, PARTICIPANTS RELEASE SPONSOR AND ANY OF ITS PARENT COMPANIES, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENCIES (COLLECTIVELY, THE "RELEASED PARTIES") FROM ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, AND WAIVE ANY AND ALL CAUSES OF ACTION, FOR ANY CLAIMS, COSTS, INJURIES, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST OR ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE AND/OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS, COSTS, INJURIES, LOSSES, AND DAMAGES RELATED TO PERSONAL INJURIES, DEATH, DAMAGE TO OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, RIGHTS OF PUBLICITY OR PRIVACY, DEFAMATION OR PORTRAYAL IN A FALSE LIGHT, WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL) WHETHER UNDER A THEORY OF CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, WHETHER ACTIVE, PASSIVE, OR IMPUTED), STRICT LIABILITY, PRODUCT LIABILITY, CONTRIBUTION, OR ANY OTHER THEORY.

10. Except where prohibited by law, entry into the Contest constitutes permission to use winner's name, likeness, contest submission materials, and/or prize information, without limitation, for any advertising, promotional, or any other purpose related to the Contest, without further compensation to, or permission from, the Prizewinner.

11. Winner's List: For the names of the Prizewinners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to O'Reilly Media, Inc., Corporate Sales Department, attn: Photoshop Cook-off Contest, 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472. Requests must be received within sixty (60) days from the end of the Contest Period and will be shipped when all prizes have been awarded. A list of Prizewinners will also be available at digitalmedia.oreilly.com/contest for at least 3 months after all prizes have been awarded.

12. The Contest will be governed, construed, and interpreted under the laws of the United States. Entrants who violate these Official Rules, tamper with the operation of the Contest, or engage in any conduct that is detrimental to Sponsor, the Contest, or any other entrant (as determined in Sponsor's sole discretion) are subject to disqualification. By entering, entrants agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, participant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. By entering, entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts located in Sebastopol, California.

Sponsor: O'Reilly Media, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472.

The Contest and all accompanying materials are copyright © 2006 by O'Reilly Media, Inc.

The O'Reilly logo is a registered trademark of O'Reilly Media, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

We're sorry but the contest has closed. Thanks for your interest!