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Animation Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Work closely with CGI Supervisors, Lighting Artists, Modelers, Animators, and Production teams to optimize the compositing process. * Communicate rendering requirements, AOV needs, and technical ...

Work closely with CGI Supervisors, Lighting Artists, Modelers, Animators, and Production teams to optimize the compositing process. * Communicate rendering requirements, AOV needs, and technical ...

Work closely with CGI Supervisors, Lighting Artists, Modelers, Animators, and Production teams to optimize the compositing process. * Communicate rendering requirements, AOV needs, and technical ...

Lead 3D Tracking Artist

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

... Animation, Lighting, and Compositing. * Create accurate rotomation of CG character rigs to match ... Review artist work, identify opportunities for improvement, and help troubleshoot difficult ...

... VFX, animation, professional photography, digital imaging, or another high-end visual production environmentProfessional experience as a VFX Supervisor, Rendering Supervisor, Lighting Artist or ...

New

... VFX, animation, professional photography, digital imaging, or another high-end visual production environmentProfessional experience as a VFX Supervisor, Rendering Supervisor, Lighting Artist or ...

New

CGI Lead

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$225K/yr

Acting as the bridge between creative leadership, production teams, and 3D artists, this role defines technical workflows, oversees asset creation, lighting, rendering, and animation, and ensures the ...

... VFX, animation, professional photography, digital imaging, or another high-end visual production environmentProfessional experience as a VFX Supervisor, Rendering Supervisor, Lighting Artist or ...

New

CGI Lead

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$20.75 - $28.25/hr

Acting as the bridge between creative leadership, production teams, and 3D artists, this role defines technical workflows, oversees asset creation, lighting, rendering, and animation, and ensures the ...

Job Title 3D Visualization Artist About Canoo Canoo's mission is to bring EVs to Everyone and build ... Use Maya and Redshift Render for stills, animation, lighting, and shading * Data preparation of CAD ...

CGI Lead

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$20.75 - $28.25/hr

Acting as the bridge between creative leadership, production teams, and 3D artists, this role defines technical workflows, oversees asset creation, lighting, rendering, and animation, and ensures the ...

Showing results 21-40

Animation Lighting Artist information

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$5

$29

$37

How much do animation lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation lighting artist in the United States is $29.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.76 and $32.93 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an animation lighting artist do?

An Animation Lighting Artist is responsible for creating the lighting and shading in animated films, TV shows, or video games. They establish mood, atmosphere, and visual continuity by adjusting light sources, shadows, and reflections. Using software like Maya, Houdini, or Renderman, they work closely with the art and rendering teams to enhance scenes for storytelling. Their work ensures that characters and environments are visually appealing and convey the intended emotion.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animation lighting artist?

To thrive as an Animation Lighting Artist, you need a strong grasp of lighting theory, color, composition, and computer graphics, often backed by a degree in animation, visual effects, or a related field. Expertise with industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, RenderMan, and Arnold is commonly expected, and knowledge of render pipelines is highly valuable. Strong communication, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail help artists collaborate effectively and achieve a director's vision. These skills ensure the creation of visually compelling scenes that enhance storytelling and meet project deadlines in a team-oriented environment.

What are some typical challenges animation lighting artists face during production?

Animation Lighting Artists often encounter tight deadlines, frequent revisions, and the challenge of balancing artistic vision with technical constraints such as render times and optimization requirements. They must also collaborate closely with other team members, such as animators, compositors, and technical directors, to ensure consistency and maintain quality throughout the production process. Adaptability and problem-solving are key, as lighting needs may change based on evolving creative direction or feedback. Successfully overcoming these challenges contributes significantly to the visual storytelling and overall production value of the project.

What cities are hiring for Animation Lighting Artist jobs?

Cities with the most Animation Lighting Artist job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Lighting Artist jobs?

The most popular types of Animation Lighting Artist jobs are:

What states have the most Animation Lighting Artist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Animation Lighting Artist jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Animation Lighting Artist jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Animation Lighting Artist jobs are:

Infographic showing various Animation Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $60,546 per year, or $29.1 per hour.

Compositing Artist

thelab

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Position Summary:

The Compositing Artist is responsible for creating the final seamless image by integrating live-action footage with computer-generated (CG) elements, matte paintings, visual effects, and digital enhancements. As the final stage of the CGI production pipeline, this role combines artistic vision with technical precision to produce photorealistic, high-quality visuals that meet creative and client expectations.

Working within HOME, Wellcom's AI-enabled production ecosystem, the Compositing Artist collaborates closely with CGI artists, lighting artists, supervisors, and production teams to ensure consistency across every deliverable. This role leverages emerging technologies and efficient production workflows while maintaining the highest standards of visual quality and technical accuracy.



Key Responsibilities:

2D/3D Integration

  • Seamlessly integrate multi-pass CGI renders (including AOVs such as beauty, specular, reflection, depth, shadow, and utility passes) with live-action footage.
  • Ensure continuity in lighting, shadows, reflections, perspective, and atmosphere to create photorealistic final imagery.
  • Blend CGI, matte paintings, and practical elements into cohesive visual compositions.

Keying & Extraction

  • Extract high-quality mattes from green screen and blue screen footage while preserving fine details such as hair, motion blur, transparency, and edge fidelity.
  • Refine keys and composites to achieve clean, production-ready results.

Digital Prep & Clean-Up

  • Perform advanced paint work including wire removal, rig removal, marker cleanup, clean plate generation, and image restoration.
  • Utilize tracking, cloning, and paint techniques to remove production artifacts while maintaining image integrity.

Tracking & Matchmoving

  • Apply 2D, planar, and 3D tracking techniques to accurately integrate digital assets into moving footage.
  • Utilize industry-standard tracking tools, including Mocha and Nuke's built-in tracking systems, to support stable and accurate composites.
  • Collaborate with tracking teams to resolve complex camera movement challenges.

Atmospheric & Visual Effects Enhancement

  • Enhance shots through the integration of atmospheric effects including dust, smoke, haze, depth cues, lens flares, light wraps, grain, and environmental effects.
  • Ensure all enhancements support the realism and creative direction of each project.

Color & Technical Consistency

  • Maintain strict adherence to color management pipelines, including ACES and OCIO workflows.
  • Match color, exposure, white balance, grain, and overall image characteristics across multiple sources.
  • Ensure technical consistency throughout production while delivering photorealistic imagery.

Cross-Department Collaboration

  • Work closely with CGI Supervisors, Lighting Artists, Modelers, Animators, and Production teams to optimize the compositing process.
  • Communicate rendering requirements, AOV needs, and technical adjustments that improve downstream production efficiency.
  • Support the continued evolution of HOME by identifying opportunities where AI-assisted workflows and automation can improve compositing efficiency while maintaining creative and technical excellence.



Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Visual Effects, Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, or equivalent professional experience.
  • 3+ years of professional compositing experience in advertising, VFX, animation, or digital production.
  • Strong artistic eye for composition, lighting, color, and photographic realism.
  • Deep understanding of digital photography, lens behavior, perspective, and visual continuity.
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting production deadlines.



Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience working within commercial advertising, retail, e-commerce, or creative production environments.
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted production workflows and emerging visual effects technologies.
  • Experience with advanced color management workflows (ACES, OCIO).
  • Knowledge of scripting or workflow automation (Python preferred).
  • Experience working alongside CGI, lighting, and pipeline development teams.



Technical Skills:

Compositing Software

  • Foundry Nuke
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Blackmagic Fusion (preferred)

Tracking & Matchmoving

  • Mocha Pro
  • Nuke Tracking
  • 3D Camera Tracking
  • Planar Tracking

CGI & Production

  • Multi-pass compositing (AOVs)
  • Keying
  • Rotoscoping
  • Paint & cleanup
  • Matte extraction
  • Color grading
  • Digital photography principles
  • Render pass integration

Color Management

  • ACES
  • OCIO
  • Linear workflow
  • HDR imaging

Emerging Technologies

  • AI-assisted compositing workflows
  • Workflow automation
  • Familiarity with HOME AI production tools



Success in This Role:

A successful Compositing Artist will:

  • Deliver seamless, photorealistic composites that combine live-action footage and CGI into compelling final imagery.
  • Maintain exceptional technical accuracy while preserving the creative vision of each project.
  • Collaborate effectively across CGI, lighting, production, and creative teams to ensure efficient project delivery.
  • Continuously refine workflows by embracing emerging technologies and production innovations.
  • Contribute to the ongoing evolution of HOME by supporting scalable, AI-enabled production processes that enhance efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of visual quality.