At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning lighting and compositing for animated episodes using Unreal and Nuke.
- Company: Join a creative studio that values visual storytelling and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for mentorship and growth.
- Other info: Exciting projects with potential for early application closure; start date in June 2026.
- Why this job: Be part of a talented team and shape the mood of captivating narratives.
- Qualifications: Experience in Unreal, strong understanding of lighting principles, and teamwork skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Our Senior Lighting and Compositing Artists ("L&C") are wonderful visual storytellers. They define the mood and atmosphere of our narratives, and highlight the charming details of our characters, props and environments. They are the savants of light, colour and creative problem solving. Your day‑to‑day will focus on creating the lighting of our episodes, finessing the colours in compositing, whilst always maintaining the right balance between the highest quality and meeting deadlines.
Day to day:
- Creating lighting scenes in Unreal with assets from the animation and effects departments and then compositing these rendered shots in Nuke to create the final shot.
- Tweaking provided light rigs, render set‑ups and compositing templates to achieve the required look of your shot.
- Monitoring your renders to ensure they are within a given render time budget.
- Working as part of a team of lighting and compositing artists, and regularly communicating with your Team Lead and the Lighting & Compositing Supervisor.
- Managing your time efficiently to meet the deadlines of your assigned shots.
- Problem solving to fix errors and glitches and addressing notes efficiently.
- Covering for the Team Lead if they are off.
- Expected to take on the more challenging and technical shots.
- Helping the Team Lead by providing support and mentorship to the more junior members of the team, whilst developing your management skills.
Must Have:
- Using Unreal – have a technical understanding of how lighting works in 3D rendering – different types of lights, render setups, physically based rendering, ray tracing and global illumination.
- Knowledge of lighting principles and how light is used to meet a creative brief, especially in stylised animation.
- Technical understanding of biased rendering to optimise sampling, making your renders efficient and avoiding noise and artefacts.
- Understanding of colour theory, aesthetics and composition.
- Technical understanding of utility passes (Z, Position and Normals) and how they are used in compositing using Nuke.
- Understanding of cinematic principles; e.g. DOF, Motion Blur, Lensing etc.
- Problem solving skills to find the best approach to meeting the brief as well as troubleshooting issues and asking questions if unsure.
- Having an eye for detail for scrutinising final shots for any errors or inconsistencies.
- Good communication and being a team player, sharing your knowledge and skills with other team members.
- Able to respond positively to feedback.
- Working independently.
- Being diligent, taking initiative and being reliable.
- Being organised and managing your time efficiently.
- Previous experience as a L&C Artist on an animation production.
- Understanding of a 3D production pipeline.
Bonus Points:
- Experience using Flow/Shotgrid.
- Knowledge of shading.
- Understanding of a 3D production pipeline.
- Understanding Path Tracing in Unreal.
Senior Lighting and Compositing Artist (with Unreal) employer: Blue Zoo Production
Join a dynamic and creative team where your artistry as a Senior Lighting and Compositing Artist will shine. Our company fosters a collaborative work culture that values innovation and personal growth, offering mentorship opportunities to help you develop your skills while working on exciting projects in a vibrant location. With a commitment to quality and creativity, we provide a supportive environment that encourages you to push boundaries and bring your unique vision to life.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Lighting and Compositing Artist (with Unreal)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow artists and industry professionals on platforms like LinkedIn or Discord. Join relevant groups and participate in discussions to get your name out there and learn about potential job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a stunning portfolio that highlights your best lighting and compositing work. Make sure to include breakdowns of your projects to showcase your problem-solving abilities and technical know-how.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Be ready to discuss your previous projects, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Practice common interview questions with a friend to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing applications directly from passionate candidates. Tailor your application to highlight your experience with Unreal and Nuke, and don’t forget to mention your teamwork and mentorship skills!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Lighting and Compositing Artist (with Unreal)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:Make sure to highlight your experience with Unreal and Nuke in your application. We want to see how you've tackled lighting and compositing challenges in the past, so don’t hold back on those details!
Tailor Your Application:Take a moment to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Use the job description as a guide to showcase your relevant skills and experiences that align with what we’re looking for in a Senior L&C Artist.
Be Creative:Since we’re all about visual storytelling, consider including a portfolio link that showcases your best work. This is your chance to impress us with your eye for detail and creativity in lighting and compositing!
Apply Early:Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! Our vacancy might close early if we get a lot of applications, so make sure you apply through our website as soon as you can to secure your chance.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Zoo Production
✨Show Off Your Technical Skills
Make sure to brush up on your knowledge of Unreal and Nuke before the interview. Be ready to discuss specific lighting techniques, render setups, and how you’ve tackled technical challenges in past projects. This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise and problem-solving skills!
✨Prepare Your Portfolio
Have a well-organised portfolio that showcases your best work as a Lighting and Compositing Artist. Include examples that highlight your understanding of colour theory, aesthetics, and cinematic principles. Be prepared to explain your creative process and the decisions you made for each piece.
✨Practice Team Communication
Since this role involves working closely with a team, practice discussing your work and giving feedback in a constructive manner. Think of examples where you’ve collaborated effectively or mentored junior artists. Good communication can set you apart from other candidates!
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Prepare to discuss specific instances where you encountered issues during production and how you resolved them. Highlight your ability to troubleshoot and adapt, as this is crucial for meeting deadlines and maintaining quality.
