Lighting and Compositing Artist

As a Lighting and Compositing Artist, you will be responsible for creating high-quality lighting setups and compositing final renders to achieve the desired visual mood and quality across various projects, including video games, films, TV shows, and other media. You will work closely with the art and production teams to ensure that the lighting and compositing align with the creative vision and meet both technical and aesthetic requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lighting Setup & Implementation:
• Create and implement lighting setups for characters, environments, and assets, ensuring that the lighting enhances the mood, atmosphere, and storytelling of each scene.
• Work within real-time engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) or offline renderers (V-Ray, Arnold, Redshift) to develop lighting solutions that meet the artistic and technical goals of the project.
• Collaborate with the environment, character, and VFX teams to ensure lighting is consistent and integrated seamlessly across different elements.
• Compositing:
• Composite rendered layers, passes, and elements (such as characters, environments, and effects) to create final images or sequences that meet the creative brief.
• Use compositing software such as Nuke, After Effects, or Fusion to bring together multiple elements, balance colour and light, and enhance the overall visual quality.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues in compositing, including balancing layers, color correction, and integrating CGI with live-action footage (if applicable).
• Ensure that lighting and compositing support the intended color palette and mood of each scene, adjusting lighting setups and compositing techniques to achieve the desired look.
• Apply colour correction and grading techniques to enhance the overall visual consistency and storytelling of the project.
• Work closely with the art director to ensure that lighting and compositing meet the artistic direction and visual tone.
• Optimization & Performance:
• Optimize lighting setups and compositing workflows to ensure efficient render times and performance, particularly in real-time engines.
• Implement performance-friendly lighting solutions that maintain visual quality across different platforms (console, PC, mobile).
• Identify and address any rendering, lighting, or compositing issues that may affect the quality or efficiency of the production pipeline.
• Work closely with environment artists, animators, VFX artists, and technical artists to ensure that all assets and scenes are lit and composited to a high standard.
• Collaborate with the production and technical teams to ensure that lighting and compositing workflows are integrated smoothly into the production pipeline.
• Communicate with clients and internal stakeholders to present lighting and compositing progress, taking feedback and making revisions as needed.
• Testing & Quality Control:
• Test lighting and compositing setups in different lighting scenarios and environments to ensure they perform well in various conditions and camera angles.
• Conduct regular reviews of lighting and compositing work to ensure it meets quality standards, both technically and artistically.
• Ensure all assets are properly named, organized, and stored in the company's asset management system for future use or revisions.

Requirements:

• Experience & Skills:
• 3+ years of experience as a Lighting and Compositing Artist in the gaming, animation, or VFX industry.
• Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Unreal Engine, Unity, Nuke, After Effects, or Fusion.
• Strong understanding of lighting techniques, both for real-time and pre-rendered environments, including dynamic lighting, GI (global illumination), HDR, and PBR (physically based rendering) workflows.
• Solid experience in compositing techniques, including color grading, multi-pass compositing, and integration of CG elements with live-action footage.
• Artistic & Technical Aptitude:
• Strong artistic sense and understanding of how lighting and compositing contribute to the overall visual narrative of a scene.
• Ability to balance artistic quality with technical efficiency, optimising lighting setups and compositing for performance while maintaining visual fidelity.
• Knowledge of rendering pipelines and the technical requirements for different platforms (console, PC, mobile).
• Problem-Solving & Innovation:
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot technical issues related to lighting, rendering, and compositing.
• Ability to develop innovative solutions for lighting and compositing challenges, particularly in real-time environments.
• Team Player & Communication:
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with artists, engineers, and production teams.
• Willingness to take and incorporate feedback to improve the visual quality and consistency of lighting and compositing work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with real-time engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) for lighting and rendering.
• Familiarity with HDRI lighting, real-time ray tracing, or volumetric lighting techniques.
• Experience working in an art outsourcing studio or on outsourced projects.
• Knowledge of scripting languages (Python, MEL) to automate lighting or compositing workflows.

Mid-Senior level

Full-time

Art/Creative

Computer Games