Competition Rules and Guidelines
Craftsmanship Competitive Divisions
Note: Fully store-bought cosplays are not permitted in Craftsmanship categories.
Beginner
Street clothing allowed.
Must be altered by at least 25%, or
25% of the costume must be crafted from scratch.
Intermediate
At least 50% of the costume must be altered from street clothing.
50% of the full outfit must be crafted from scratch.
Masters
No street clothing allowed.
All costume elements must be hand-crafted.
Exceptions
Items such as shoes, tights, wigs, and hat bases may be purchased as-is.
Intermediate: Modification of these items is expected.
Masters: Modification is required.
Additional exception cases will be handled by the Cosplay Coordinator on a case-by-case basis at the Masters level.
Commissioned Pieces & Eligibility
If part of your cosplay is commissioned, you must disclose this in your submission.
Acceptance of commissioned components is at the Cosplay Coordinator’s discretion.
Any cosplay that has previously won a craftsmanship award at any level is not eligible for this contest.
Scoring Breakdown
Accuracy – 20%
How closely does your cosplay match the original design?
If you’ve added creative flair, does it still honor the spirit of the source?
Quality – 40%
How well is your costume constructed?
Does it fit well?
Are the finishes clean, sharp, and polished?
Technique – 40%
What crafting skills are demonstrated?
Are materials used in creative or innovative ways?
Does your personal style shine through?
Build Book Requirement
Your build book should include:
Reference art
Sketches
Concept art
Progress photos
Requirements:
Bring at least one physical copy for the judges.
Organize your build book clearly.
Include a brief description of your build process.
Maximum: 4 pages front & back (8 pages total).
Cover and back page do not count toward the page limit.
Prejudging
Join us for our Craftsmanship Mixer at 12:00 PM!
Meet the judges
Chat with fellow contestants
Enjoy light snacks
Prejudging will take place during this mixer.