Samuel Benge wrote:
> [...]
> 
> I take this to mean I can't use my 'luminous bloom' filter, which is 
> made with POV-Ray? The filter takes a rendered image, slaps it onto a 
> plane and spreads out the highlights. It is all raytraced completely 
> within POV.
> 
> Wouldn't my filter show off POV's abilities in yet another useful way, 
> making it nearly 'on par' with the expensive rendering packages?

 From my personal understanding this would not violate the letters of 
the rules but their spirit.  Note the rules don't say anything about 
post processing being bad or so, the decision to disallow any post 
processing was just made to ensure that what is judged is the actual 
scene design work of the entrant and not some photoshopping skills.  As 
written in the guidelines:

http://www.povcomp.com/guidelines/

you are welcome to submit a post processed version in addition to the 
unmodified render and this will be considered in judging.  But the 
unmodified image has to be good as it is as well.

-- Christoph