Juried by a nationally representative jury of distinguished designers, art directors and illustrators, each year¡¯s Illustration Annual features the best work in drawing, painting, collage, electronic and three-dimensional illustration.

Published each July, 73,000 copies of the 238-page Illustration Annual will be sold and distributed worldwide, assuring important exposure to the creators of this outstanding work. As a service to art directors, designers and art buyers, the index will carry addresses and telephone numbers of the illustrators represented.

The Illustration Annual incorporates special reproduction techniques developed by CA, including quality 175-line color separation and printing on premium 80 lb. coated paper by one of the finest printers in the United States. Everything that was originally in color is reproduced in color at a size that allows the concept to be understood.

Of the 7,207 entries to the 43rd Illustration Annual, only 229 were accepted, making the Illustration Annual the most exclusive major illustration competition in the world.

Entry Requirements

Illustration Annual Categories/Fees
These categories are judged by the illustration jury and will appear in the 2004 Illustration Annual: Advertising: $25 single entry/$40 series
Books: $25 single entry/$40 series
Editorial: $25 single entry/$40 series
For Sale: $25 single entry/$40 series
Institutional: $25 single entry/$40 series
Self-Promotion: $25 single entry/$40 series
Unpublished: $25 single entry/$40 series

Eligibility
Illustration first printed or produced between March 15, 2003 and March 15, 2004 is eligible. Entries may originate from any country. Explanation of the function in English is very important to the judges. Submission of entries acknowledges the right of Communication Arts to use them for publication and exhibition.

Preparation of Entries
Each illustration is a single entry. A piece with several illustrations must have a dot or some other mark indicating which specific single illustration is to be judged. If a single illustration isn¡¯t indicated, the entry will be disqualified. Campaigns or series are limited to five illustrations. If the entry has more than five illustrations, indicate which are to be judged. If this isn¡¯t indicated, the entry will be disqualified.

Entries can be submitted as UNMOUNTED printed samples, e.g., ad tear sheets, pages or spreads, brochures, annual reports, books, posters, etc., or paper or plastic mounted 35mm slides. (Slides are projected for the judges.) Please do not send transparencies larger than 35mm. No glass mounts. Posters over 18" x 24" should be submitted on slides. Please do not send original slides or pieces of art you want returned. NO ENTRIES WILL BE RETURNED. No exceptions.

Preparation of Packages
Address packages to Communication Arts Illustration Annual. Non-United States contestants should mark each package "Materials for Contest Entry. No Commercial Value.¡± No provision will be made by CA for U.S. Customs or airport pickup. International entries should be sent by post or international courier. All entries must be received by March 15, 2004.

Notification of Acceptance
Only accepted entries will be notified on or before May 9. Complete credits and any additional material necessary for reproduction will be requested at that time. No additional fees are required. Award of Excellence certificates for the illustrator, client and art director of each accepted illustration will be mailed in September 2004.

How the Judging Takes Place
The five jurors work in screening teams of three with one of CA¡¯s editorial staff working as the sixth juror. Each category is distributed in half so each group screens one half of the entries.

Print entries are spread out on tables by category. Most categories require several room setups. Each juror views the entries independently. Any juror can put an entry into the final voting by picking it up from the table. Entries on slides are selected by checking an "in¡± or "out¡± column on prepared scoring sheets.

For finals, all five jurors work as a single team. In one hall, print entries are again spread out on tables by category. Two paper cups, one white and one red, with slots cut in the bottom, are placed upside down to the right of each entry. White cups are for "in¡± votes, red cups for "out.¡± Each juror votes with different colored ceramic tiles by putting his or her tile in the appropriate cup.

After all the jurors finish voting on print, they move to another hall for slides. Again, voting is done by each juror checking the "in¡± or "out¡± column on scoring sheets.

Meanwhile, in the print hall, if the votes do not total five, a check of the tile colors tells the Communication Arts staff which juror has inadvertently missed that piece and he or she is called back to vote.

After the judges make their selections, their votes are tallied. A simple majority is usually required to place a finalist into the Annual.

Call For Entries
Download Illustration 2004 Entry Form
Call: (650) 326-6040, 8a.m.-5p.m. M-F Pacific Standard Time
Fax: (650) 326-1648
E-mail: shows@commarts.com and request that we fax the entry forms to you.