The Crowder Quill contest operates as a longstanding literary and arts annual, and its digital art category is designed for work that is generated or altered digitally—or for photographs manipulated to create special effects. The category is explicitly distinct from standard photography: images with only minor adjustments belong in the photography sections, not here. Entries are judged on contrast, composition, and creativity, and the work must be entirely the artist's own; the use of other people's images or images posted on a website is not permissible. A model consent form is included in the submission form for entries using live models, and entrants are asked not to use children's names as entry titles. There is no entry fee. Individuals may submit up to four entries per category, and each entry must be sent separately. The contest's guidelines state that failure to meet all requirements may result in automatic disqualification, so attention to the submission mechanics is as important as the work itself. Winning entries are published in the magazine, and entrants give express permission for that publication. The deadline is February 1 each year; for the 2026–27 cycle, the verified date is February 2, 2027. The contest does not announce a cash prize in the provided information, and no location is specified. The curatorial emphasis falls on digitally native or digitally transformed imagery that demonstrates technical control and a clear authorial hand.