The lighting artist is responsible for illuminating all CG assets, characters, and/or environments for live action visual effects and or animated projects. Tasks can range between the more technical matching of light from filmed backgrounds through to the more creative mood enhancing styles of animated content. They use light to enhance the depth, tone, atmosphere and mood of a given scene. A lighting artist works to the vision of the director and create different styles of lighting to convey extraordinary effects.
Light animated and photo-real scenes with precision.
Campus VFX’s 4-month Lighting Technical Director Certificate program can now be learned part-time online, or full-time in a hybrid format to include both Katana and Houdini. Taught by industry professionals, the program builds a professional portfolio showcasing both stylized and photorealistic lighting, preparing students for careers at top-tier studios in animation and VFX.
In the full-time hybrid format, you’ll have the same live online Katana lectures as the online program, plus full-time access to our Vancouver school from 9:30 to 5:30. You’ll receive assistance from our on-campus instructor and attend live, in-person lighting classes using Houdini, reinforcing the concepts covered in the online curriculum with SideFX’s software.
You’ll learn from experienced industry professionals who provide personalized guidance and are available to support you every day, not just during lectures.
They alternate between teaching and working, staying connected to the industry’s latest innovations to keep this lighting course as close to the industry-standard as possible.
Our graduates go on to create the effects behind blockbuster films, streaming hits, and cinematic worlds of every kind. Trained to thrive in studio environments, they continue to shape the industry with their skills, creativity, and collaboration.
Meet our alumni and see where their journey has taken them.
NEXT ACADEMIC START DATE IS JANUARY 5, 2026
In your personal letter, we want to know about you as a person and your feelings towards visual effects, movies, film-making, art, design, or technology. Be sure to share with us why you have chosen this program and what research you have done.
Also, illustrate to us your ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment. Remember, this is your time to really tell us all about you so feel free to go all out!
Your portfolio should include 6–8 pieces of your best work in any medium that demonstrate your artistic skills. This can include photography, drawing, comic or graphic design, painting, sculpture, website design, and/or digital imagery.
Basic 3D experience can be a strong asset, along with photography and solid visual fundamentals. Including any 3D work helps us better understand your current level, but portfolios come in many forms. What matters most is an artistic eye, attention to detail, and a good understanding of composition and motion.
Let us know any question you might have from our programs to your application.
Get in touch today.