On Contest Holder side the system works as follow:

Managing the contest entries

1. As a new entry or comment is posted you'll get an email alert, login and go to your contest page to check it.
2. Always answer to questions posted in the comment area and, of course, post your critics, requests and clarifications on what you need, you like and don't like.
3. Start ranking the entries as soon as you can along with targeted comments.
   1. To rank a design just click/mouse over the light blue star on each entry, a small rank selector will popup. Select the appropriate ranking with a click of your mouse (1,2,3,4,5, OK, not interested, unrank). That's it.
   2. While in "accepting entries" mode, you can rank, change place, unrank.... do it as many times as you need, it will not affect your final decisions at all.
   3. To leave a targeted comment on a particular design, click on the small balloon. A comment window will show up, enter your comment here. The comment will be posted in the contest's comment public are but will report a reference to that design (comment about #xxxx Posted on....).
   4. If there's a design that you really do not like, mark it as NOT INTERESTED. Nobody will get offended, instead it will say a lot about your needs. Anyway be always kind and respectful with the community members.
4. 24hrs before the end of the contest you can extend it:
   1. If you got less than 40 entries you can add 1 more week for free.
   2. If you got more than 40 entries you can extend the contest paying a $50 fee, half of it will go to increase the prize.
   3. To extend the contest just click on the link in your admin area (as you login) under Active Contest tab or My Contest.
   4. Depending on your status, you'll be invoiced by Paypal. Our team will alert the community about your extended contest.

Judging your contest

1. When the contest ends its "accepting entries" status, will enter in "judging". You have 1 week to review the entries.
2. What can you do in this mode:
   1. You can keep ranking
   2. You can keep commenting and interacting with the community
3. What you can't do in this mode:
   1. You can't request more entries
   2. You can't request changes on present designs
4. When you're ready, assign the final ranking. Ranking is very important as it assigns scores to each Designer, like a feedback, it will build a designer reputation. Some tips:
   1. Start awarding designs that you like but are not in your TOP 5, with the F (finalist).
   2. Proceed with your TOP 5, starting from the 5th place to the 1st.
   3. Award and declare the winner.
   4. One more step, assign the medals (gold, silver, bronze) to the TOP 3. Update the medals using the button on the bottom of the page.
   5. Done :)

Final Changes and getting your files

1. You and the Winner will have instant access to the Final Changes Page. Use the link in contest page, up right.
2. It's a private area for you two, to communicate, place your requests and get the files. Start with your requests about the awarded design, you can ask for color changes, font variations and small things.
3. The Designer will upload the designs in this page for you to review.
4. When everything looks fine, use the REQUEST FINAL FILES link. The Designer will be alerted and will upload the ZIP with the source files and works. Download and inspect the ZIP.
5. If everything is ok, click on the RELEASE PAYMENT link. You're now officially the owner of the graphics.

For any help send an email to support@zenlayout.com or open a ticket at http://support.zenlayout.com

On Designer side the system works as follow:

Entering a contest

1. Register and login (make sure to add your working Paypal address in your profile page), browse the contest with "accepting entries" status, read the Contest Holder's briefing carefully.
2. If you think you can make it, start working on your ideas.
3. When creating a LOGO or a CORPORATE IDENTITY use ONLY vector design apps, like Adobe Illustrator.
4. Save your work in a vector format for your future reviews and export to JPG or PNG
   1. Size: 640x480 max or scaled down
   2. RGB color space
   3. Use a white, black or smooth gradient background
   4. 1 entry = 1 logo. Do not put more than 1 design in the same file
   5. Please do not add any watermark, your name or site to your entry
      
   6. Do not use clipart, stock images or anything else that you have not created yourself
   7. If it's a logo contest, please do not create mock-ups of your design on website screenshots, gadgets or anything else.
   8. It it's a corporate design contest we suggest you first post the logo separately and in other entries, the logo applied to business cards, letterhead or whatever the Client is requesting.
5. Go to the contest page and click on the "ENTER CONTEST" link.
6. Submit up to 5 images per upload, add a note. Tip: if you add your note/comment after the upload, using the comment system in the contest page, the Contest Holder will get an extra email alert.
7. Wait for the Contest Holder to review your work, he/she may asks for some small changes or rate your entry.
8. Keep going with entries and kind communication with the Contest Holder until the end of the contest.

What if you win a contest

1. You and the Contest Holder are invited to meet in private at the Final Changes page, the link to access it is located on the contest page. There you can communicate and upload changes to fine tune the awarded design only.
2. When the Contest Holder is satisfied with your submissions, he/she will request the Final Files. You will get an email alert. Prepare your files in EPS or whatever the Contest Holder requested. Add any changes or color variation, source files and if you want you can add a text file with some explanations. ZIP it all together and upload it at the Final Changes page using the "UPLOAD FINAL FILES" link.
3. When the Contest Holder has downloaded the ZIP and checked it, he/she will then release the payment.
4. Wait 1 or 2 business days to get the prize delivered. You'll get a Paypal notification.

For any help send an email to support@zenlayout.com or open a ticket at http://support.zenlayout.com