Assistant Animation Clean Up Artist Jobs in Ridgewood, NJ

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.