WHAT DOES A LIGHTING ARTIST DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Lighting Artist Do?)

Film Lighting Artist Techniques / Photo Credit: StudioBinder

WHAT DOES A LIGHTING ARTIST DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Lighting Artist Do?)

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What Does A Lighting Artist Do?

In the fields of visual effects and digital animation, as with live-action, lighting is an important element that creates mood, depth, and realism in a scene. Whether producing a fully animated film or enhancing a filmed sequence with the use of computer-generated imagery, lighting artists put some of the last finishing touches on the project. 

Lighters make sure there is consistency in lighting, color balance and mood between the various elements of a shot or scene. When appropriate, they ensure the computer-generated imagery looks photorealistic to match the live action plates.

Lighting Artist add the lighting that creates atmosphere, increasing realism, tone and depth in a scene and clarifying location, weather and time of day. They balance individual elements to enable the compositors to produce a convincing image. They refer to the production designs and apply that visual style as faithfully as possible, taking care to maintain continuity.

They match technical skill with aesthetic judgement to create images that not only look good but are easy to render (i.e. output; translating computer data into images).

On some projects, they may be involved in the research and development of different effects for the Art Director or Lighting Supervisor. In a large company or on a larger project, they are often part of a team, but they need to be able to work with a minimum of supervision, understand the tools available and know how to use them to create the desired effects. On smaller productions, the role of Lighter may be combined with that of Modeler or Texture Artist.

Lighters need to work closely with the rendering and compositing departments to understand what is required at the next stage and ensure their material is easy to use and delivered on time.

On smaller projects, lighting is a fundamental skill required by generalists who cover more than one role. On larger productions, there is likely to be a team of dedicated Lighters.

Duties

The lighting artist working as a member of a visual effects or digital animation team is responsible for applying all lighting effects to a scene. He or she takes into consideration the light sources of the live-action plate (the filmed scene over which VFX features are placed) and applies virtual lighting to mimic the existing illumination within the environment. He or she may also add secondary virtual light to visually enhance the objects or characters in the scene, such as adding eye glint or rim lighting. The goal is to ensure that the VFX and live-action elements blend seamlessly, as though both exist in the same environment.

In animation without live-action sequences, the lighting artist is concerned with providing the evidence of light sources depicted in the scene; that may be light cast from lamps, street lights, or natural outdoor lighting. To create sequences that are realistic to the world of the film or television show, the lighting artist uses a discerning eye to creatively manipulate qualities like light color, intensity, and angle. In relation to the characters and objects in the scene, the lighting artist uses the shader settings implemented by the shading and texture artists to properly integrate the result of qualities like object reflectivity, light scatter, and the appearance of wet surfaces.

When the lighting artist is satisfied with the look sequence, he or she completes a rough composite (for visual effects with live-action scenes) to test that the computer-generated objects appear realistic in the scene. Upon approval of the light or visual effects supervisor, the lighting artist renders the images and passes the sequence through the pipeline for final compositing.

Skills & Education

Lighting artists must be artistically trained and fluent in the technology of computer animation. A solid background in 2-D and 3-D art should include a thorough understanding of color theory, perspective, and other basic principles of design theory. Study must also include the mastery of software tools such as Maya, Photoshop, After Effects, and similar digital art and animation applications. Additional experience in film and television production with a specific concentration in cinematography and production lighting is also valuable. A college degree in computer animation or similar program is recommended for this career.

What to Expect

Lighting is just one phase of the larger production pipeline. It is the lighting artist’s job to build upon the work of the other artists, while enhancing and supporting their work. It takes a careful eye for detail to produce a beautifully lit sequence that feels natural and exudes the intended mood and atmosphere of the scene. This is a skill that can be built upon knowledge and experience but requires an individual with great instincts for storytelling and characterization.

Employment opportunities for lighting artists exist within visual effects studios and digital animation production companies. This field is closely related to shading, texturing, and look development, as well as lighting for video games. Graduates with a relevant degree and strong portfolio of independent or amateur work may find entry-level opportunities as a junior member of the lighting department. Others often rise to the position through an internship with the studio or role as a render wrangler or compositor.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures,

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Film Lighting Artist Techniques / Photo Credit: StudioBinder