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Trainee Animation Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

thelab

CGI Lighting

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, Visual Effects, or equivalent professional experience. * Experience in CGI lighting and rendering for commercial, retail, or ...

TheLab

CGI Lighting

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$150K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, Visual Effects, or equivalent professional experience. * Experience in CGI lighting and rendering for commercial, retail, or ...

TheLab

CGI Lighting

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, Visual Effects, or equivalent professional experience. * Experience in CGI lighting and rendering for commercial, retail, or ...

TheLab

CGI Lighting

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, Visual Effects, or equivalent professional experience. * Experience in CGI lighting and rendering for commercial, retail, or ...

AGBO

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC

You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ... Collaborate with animators, lighting artists, and designers to ensure cohesive scene composition

New

AGBO

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ... Collaborate with animators, lighting artists, and designers to ensure cohesive scene composition

New

AGBO Films LLC

Sr. Cinematic Layout Artist

Raleigh, NC · On-site

You'll work closely with animation, lighting, and narrative teams to ensure every shot serves the ... Collaborate with animators, lighting artists, and designers to ensure cohesive scene composition

New

TheLab

Compositing Artist

Manhattan, NY · On-site

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

thelab

Compositing Artist

Manhattan, NY

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

TheLab

Compositing Artist

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$150K/yr

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

TheLab

Compositing Artist

Manhattan, NY · On-site

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

Swaybox Studios

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 ...

New

TheLab

CGI Lead

Manhattan, NY · On-site

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 ...

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Trainee Animation Lighting Artist information

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$5

$29

$37

How much do trainee animation lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for trainee 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 a trainee animation lighting artist do?

A Trainee Animation Lighting Artist is responsible for assisting in the creation and adjustment of lighting within animated scenes to achieve the desired mood, atmosphere, and visual style. They work closely with senior lighting artists and other departments to ensure that the lighting complements the storytelling and enhances the visual appeal. Trainee artists learn to use industry-standard lighting software and tools while developing their technical and artistic skills. Their work helps to bring animated characters and environments to life through effective use of light and shadow.

What is the difference between Trainee Animation Lighting Artist vs Junior Animation Lighting Artist?

AspectTrainee Animation Lighting ArtistJunior Animation Lighting Artist
CredentialsBasic knowledge of lighting software, relevant courseworkSimilar credentials, often with some practical experience
Work EnvironmentTraining programs, supervised projectsEntry-level projects under supervision
Industry UsageInternship or apprenticeship rolesFull-time entry-level position in animation studios

The main difference is that a Trainee Animation Lighting Artist is typically in a learning or internship phase, focusing on gaining skills and experience, while a Junior Animation Lighting Artist is an entry-level professional actively working on projects with more responsibility. Both roles require similar foundational knowledge, but the trainee role emphasizes training and development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a trainee animation lighting artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Trainee Animation Lighting Artist, you need a solid understanding of lighting principles, color theory, and basic animation, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio of work. Familiarity with industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Houdini, and rendering engines such as Arnold or RenderMan is typically expected. Attention to detail, creativity, and strong problem-solving abilities are essential soft skills for this role. Mastering these skills ensures visually compelling scenes, efficient collaboration with production teams, and successful adaptation to the technical demands of animation projects.

What are some common challenges faced by trainee animation lighting artists during their initial projects?

Trainee Animation Lighting Artists often encounter challenges such as understanding the technical requirements of different lighting software and adapting to the established visual style of a studio. Balancing artistic creativity with the need to meet tight production deadlines can also be demanding. Additionally, collaborating effectively with senior lighting artists, animators, and compositors requires strong communication skills to ensure the final look matches the director’s vision. Overcoming these challenges typically involves seeking feedback, continuous learning, and practicing flexibility within a team-oriented environment.
What cities are hiring for Trainee Animation Lighting Artist jobs? Cities with the most Trainee 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 Trainee Animation Lighting Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Trainee Animation Lighting Artist jobs include:
Trainee Animation Lighting Artist jobs near you

CGI Lighting

thelab

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Position Summary:

The CGI Lighting Artist is responsible for creating high-quality lighting and rendering solutions for digital assets across a wide range of client projects. Working within HOME, Wellcom's AI-enabled production ecosystem, this role combines artistic expertise with emerging technologies to produce photorealistic imagery while supporting efficient, scalable production workflows.

The CGI Lighting Artist collaborates closely with modelers, texture artists, compositors, developers, and production teams to establish lighting that enhances realism, reinforces brand standards, and supports creative objectives. They will also help evaluate and integrate AI-enabled tools that improve lighting workflows without compromising quality.



Key Responsibilities:

  • Create realistic and visually compelling lighting for CGI assets across product visualization, advertising, retail, and marketing campaigns.
  • Develop lighting setups that enhance mood, realism, and brand consistency.
  • Optimize rendering workflows to balance visual quality with production efficiency.
  • Collaborate with modeling, texturing, compositing, and production teams throughout the creative process.
  • Maintain consistency across multiple assets, environments, and deliverables.
  • Troubleshoot rendering and lighting issues while ensuring deadlines are met.
  • Work with AI Developers and production teams to evaluate AI-assisted lighting, rendering, and workflow automation opportunities within HOME.
  • Contribute to lighting standards, documentation, and best practices across production teams.
  • Stay informed on advancements in CGI rendering, lighting techniques, and AI technologies relevant to production.



Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, Digital Arts, Visual Effects, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Experience in CGI lighting and rendering for commercial, retail, or advertising projects.
  • Strong understanding of lighting theory, color, composition, and photorealism.
  • Experience with physically based rendering (PBR) workflows.
  • Strong attention to detail and visual storytelling.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.



Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with AI-assisted rendering or production workflows.
  • Knowledge of physically accurate materials and shader development.
  • Experience working with large-scale production pipelines.
  • Familiarity with automation tools or scripting (Python is a plus).
  • Experience supporting photography, product visualization, or e-commerce content production.
  • Understanding of cloud rendering and distributed rendering environments.



Technical Skills:

3D Software

  • 3ds Max
  • Houdini

Rendering Engines

  • V-Ray
  • Karma

Production

  • Physically Based Rendering (PBR)
  • HDRI lighting
  • Color management
  • Render optimization
  • Asset management

Emerging Technologies

  • AI-assisted rendering tools
  • Workflow automation
  • Basic scripting (Python preferred)
  • Familiarity with HOME AI workflows



Success in This Role:

A successful CGI Lighting Artist will:

  • Produce photorealistic lighting that elevates the quality of digital content.
  • Optimize rendering workflows for speed, consistency, and scalability.
  • Collaborate effectively with creative, production, and technology teams.
  • Help identify opportunities where AI can improve efficiency while maintaining creative excellence.
  • Contribute to the continued evolution of HOME by supporting innovative production workflows that combine artistic craftsmanship with emerging AI technologies.

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