Lighting artist enable depth and realism to be added to a computer-generated (CG) scene through lighting, just as a director of photography (DoP) does in a live-action film.
Lighting artist enable depth and realism to be added to a computer-generated (CG) scene through lighting, just as a director of photography (DoP) does in a live-action film.
They adjust the colour, placement and intensity of CG lights to create atmosphere, add realism and depth. Using reference photos taken on set or location, they match the illumination of virtual 3D objects to the look of the on-set production and cinematography.
Lighting a shot requires a blend of artistry and scientific knowledge of how light falls on objects. It also involves reflecting the look and style set out by the director of the film or TV programme. This can create technical challenges.
The role of the lighting artist varies depending on the size of the VFX studio. In larger studios, lighting artists light the shots while a lighting technical director works with the pipeline TD to overcome the technical challenges and create the software tools that the lighting artist needs. In other studios, those two roles are combined, so the lighting artist needs considerable technical skills as well as artistic ones. Lighting artists work in-house in a VFX studio.