Art roles explained
Lighting Artist
How does the colour of the mountains change as dawn approaches? How is torchlight reflected in the dragon’s eye? What’s the player’s visibility as the fog rolls in?
As a Lighting Artist, you’ll work closely with environment artists and art directors to ensure that the lighting fits the game’s artistic style and enhances the player’s experience. You’ll use tools within game engines like Unreal or Unity to place and adjust lighting sources, control shadows, and make sure that characters and objects are well-lit in different environments. The goal is to ensure the game world feels immersive, whether it’s through soft natural light or dramatic, high-contrast setups.
Many Lighting Artists have degrees in game art, film production, or visual effects, but hands-on experience and a strong portfolio are key. You’ll need a good understanding of how light interacts with objects and an eye for detail.
For this role, you should be someone who loves visual storytelling and has a good understanding of art principles like color theory, composition, and shading. You’ll also need to be comfortable working with complex lighting systems and game engines.
Your portfolio should showcase a range of lighting scenarios, demonstrating your ability to create mood and enhance visual storytelling.
You’ll love this role if you’re into
- Drawing
- Maths
- Designing things
In your own time, at your own pace
Your learning Journey
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