Brief Challenge – Spirit Level

For this brief you are assigned to create an image for the cover of the highly respected magazine ‘Time’.

The cover title and main article of this edition is ‘Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World’ and the publishers have decided they would like a highly detailed photographic image representing a spirt level, either close up on the bubble or with more of the level showing but the bubble still visible in the centre of the magazine cover.

The proportions of the spirit level to the magazine cover space are entirely up to the photographer based on the aesthetics of the spirt level and their vision.

Image
  1. The choice of spirt level, the colour, the look, style etc will be left entirely up to the photographer.
  2. The spirit level must be the only item in the photograph.
  3. The background can be white, black, grey or a gradient glow and the art director will leave this decision to the discretion of the photographer by using the Time Magazine cover template as a reference for space.
  4. The sprit level must obviously be level in the photograph meaning that the bubble must be positioned precisely between the level markers.
  5. The image must be lit stylishly and the product be pin sharp throughout.
  6. No Ai generated images are permitted and RAW files will be requested from any final selections

This getty images link might provide some ideas but should not be taken literally as the style requirements: https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/spirit-level

A mystery bonus will be provided by the art director to the best image submitted

Please download and utilise the PSD of the Time Magazine cover for your layout and creative decisions.

The art directors mock up image is for reference only and should not be indicative of the final requirement.

Download Time Magazine Cover Template PSD

DEADLINE: 20th May 2026

Spirit Level Brief - Members Gallery

Comments

  1. Hello from Germany,

    I’m a non-native English speaker and therefore I’m not really sure about the term „gradient glow“.
    And overall I do not want to get disqualified by the Art director 😉 by an accidential misunderstood.

    Do you mean with „gradient glow“ a (onyl radial?) gradient which is produced by a studio/flash, whatever light.
    Or does the wording also allow and artificial gradient mask like it is available in the layers & masks tool of C1 (I suppose the naming and location is the same in PS).

    Thank you
    Joerg

  2. 1. Are basic touch ups allowed like healing brush to remove surface imperfections or even specks of dust from the sprit level?

  4. What is really annoying is taking a good-looking image and then, on enlargement, seeing dust, smears, scratches and manufacturing imperfections.

  5. Patrick Durocher

    I get a message that my image has been submitted, yet I have a warning that my image is too large. And I can’t seem to be able to repace it. Not even sure it uploaded.

    1. Hi Patrick,

      We’ve updated this, if you could please try uploading again and let us know if there are any issues 🙂

      Emma

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