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Matte Painter Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Company3

Compositor (General Submission)

New York, NY · On-site

... matte painting projections, complicated removals, beauty work, and paint/rotoscoping. MAIN DUTIES: The VFX Compositor will take instruction and direction from Leads and VFX Supervisors to execute ...

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How much do matte painter jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for matte painter in the United States is $21.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.55 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Matte Painter vs Concept Artist?

AspectMatte PainterConcept Artist
CredentialsTypically requires a background in fine arts, illustration, or digital art; often a degree in related fieldsSimilar credentials, often with a focus on illustration, design, or fine arts
Work EnvironmentPrimarily in film, TV, and game industries; working with visual effects teamsPrimarily in film, gaming, and entertainment; collaborating with directors and designers
Industry UsageUsed to create detailed background environments for visual effectsUsed to develop visual concepts and designs for characters, environments, and scenes

While both roles require strong artistic skills and digital proficiency, Matte Painters focus on creating realistic backgrounds for visual effects, whereas Concept Artists develop initial visual ideas and designs for projects. Both collaborate closely with production teams but serve different stages of the creative process.

How does a Matte Painter typically collaborate with other departments during the production process?

Matte Painters frequently work closely with visual effects supervisors, 3D artists, compositors, and directors to ensure their digital environments seamlessly integrate into live-action footage. Collaboration often involves reviewing concept art, understanding camera angles and lighting requirements, and making adjustments based on feedback from the VFX team. Regular communication is essential to address technical constraints and creative direction, helping to achieve the desired visual outcome for each scene.

What are matte painters?

Matte painters are artists who create realistic or stylized painted representations of landscapes, sets, or distant locations that are used in films, television, and video games. Their work allows filmmakers to depict environments that are either impossible or too expensive to build physically. Matte painters typically use digital tools to seamlessly blend their artwork with live-action footage, helping to create immersive and believable worlds on screen.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Matte Painter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Matte Painter, you need a strong background in digital painting, art fundamentals, and visual storytelling, usually supported by a degree in art or visual effects. Proficiency in industry-standard tools like Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, and compositing software such as Nuke is crucial. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are standout soft skills for this role. These abilities ensure the seamless integration of digital environments into films or games, enhancing the overall visual narrative.
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Matte Painter jobs near you
Infographic showing various Matte Painter job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,394 per year, or $21.8 per hour.
GEORGIA, USA: Compositor & Digital Matte Painter: MID-SR

GEORGIA, USA: Compositor & Digital Matte Painter: MID-SR

Barnstorm VFX

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Temporary

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

About Barnstorm
Barnstorm is an Emmy and VES-nominated visual effects studio based in Los Angeles and with operations in Vancouver, Montreal, Atlanta, NYC and the UK. We provide photo-realistic visual effects for a variety of episodic and select sequences in feature films. We pride ourselves in our artists' talent and dedication to producing world-class visual effects.
Who You Are
You are an experienced Nuke Compositor and Digital Matte Painter ready to jump into an exciting studio environment with a wide variety of projects. You have an advanced knowledge of Nuke Compositing techniques and a firm photographic grasp of light, depth of field, distortion, and motion blur. You have a strong creative vision and can add photo realistic Digital Matte Paintings with speed and precision. In addition to speed, you have the ability and passion to work on anything from paint outs, rotoscoping, and set extensions, to creating beautiful photo-real digital matte paintings.
What You'll Do
  • Effectively and seamlessly integrate elements with production footage, using rotoscoping, keying, painting, tracking, and other compositing techniques
  • Along with Leads, Supervisors, and other artists, collaborate with other departments to complete assigned tasks under tight deadlines and fast turnaround times.
  • Craft photorealistic digital paintings and environment elements that align with the project's visual style; using a blend of 2D and 3D tools including camera setup, projection modeling, animation, and light passes
  • Blend photographic textures, painted elements, and 3D assets to envision, create, and design immersive digital environments using techniques like camera animation, projection mapping, and advanced layering.
  • Seamlessly integrate your work into final shots, maintaining a consistent sense of lighting, depth, perspective, and color throughout the composition
  • Fuse traditional painting techniques with technical expertise in photography, modeling, and digital design to develop both 2D matte elements
  • Collaborate closely with VFX Supervisors to identify efficient workflows and ensure every plate aligns with creative concepts and production timelines
  • Deliver consistently high-quality work and troubleshoot technical problems on assigned shots.
  • Execute clients' vision to the highest standards.

What You Bring
  • 5+ years working in a photo real VFX environment; episodic experience preferred
  • Advance knowledge of Nuke
  • Mocha, Silhouette, experience preferred
  • Demonstrated Digital Matte Painting on reel
  • An ability to work with speed and accuracy in a high volume environment
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, fast changing
  • Resourceful and able to take on all levels of task responsibilities from low to high and start to finish.
  • A thorough understanding of both feature film and television VFX production pipelines
  • An ability to interpret supervisor and client notes quickly and independently

About This Role
Note: At this time we are only accepting applications from those artists legally eligible to work in the USA.
Project and staff positions available with extended health benefits and opportunity to participate in RRSP programs.
Benefit plans are dependent on the local plan offering and employment status.
Barnstorm VFX is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive team that provides a meaningful work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Indigenous people, people of color, people of all genders or non-genders, and people with disabilities of all types are encouraged to apply. We thank everyone for their interest and application, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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