Understanding light for digital environments
This course will allow each individuals to learn the workflow of a Lighting Artist within a AAA production, varying from realtime rendering to pre-rendered shots for marketing scenes. The game engine that will be used for this course is Unreal Engine 5, created by Epic Games, which will build strong fundamentals on how to create Baked Lighting scene and a Dynamic Lighting scene.
The students will learn how to adapt to different scenarios using Lumen and explore their favorite area of expertise within the Lighting department, covering Prop/Character Lighting, Environment and Gameplay Lighting, finally an intro to Movie Render Queue for prerendered videos for your lighting scenes. The course will provide the students with a set of different environments and assets, created by Adriano Grasso, to gain more accessibility for each student’s artistic vision.
The students will learn how to adapt to different scenarios using Lumen and explore their favorite area of expertise within the Lighting department, covering Prop/Character Lighting, Environment and Gameplay Lighting, finally an intro to Movie Render Queue for prerendered videos for your lighting scenes. The course will provide the students with a set of different environments and assets, created by Adriano Grasso, to gain more accessibility for each student’s artistic vision.
Registration Now Open
Registration Period
Apr 24, 2024 -
Jul 15, 2024
Course Start
Jul 11, 2024
Course Format
Standard
Skills Level
Intermediate/Advanced
Duration
10 weeks
Q&A
Once a week
Feedback
Individual recordings
Lecture Type
Pre-recorded
Assignment
Due each week. Expect to spend 10-20 hrs/wk viewing lectures, Q&A, and time on assignments.
PREREQUISITES
Maya, Basic knowledge of Unreal Engine and its tools, Knowledge of Photoshop. Course recommendations: Intro to Unreal 5
MATERIALS
Maya, Unreal Engine, DaVinci Resolve, Photoshop, PureRef
The more you know, the better.
Week #1
INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF LIGHTING
During this lesson we will dive into the basic fundamentals of lighting and where do we take inspirations from. The process will include useful links and Lighting Units to set the ground of the student’s formation.
Basic Color Theory | Art Direction and Referencing | PBR/Lighting Units reference documentation
Week #2
INDOOR SCENE - SEMI BAKED
Quick Intro to Unreal Engine 5 and its Lighting Tools including Direction Light / Skylight / HFog / Reflections / Lightmass importance volume etc.
Baking Instructions – EV Values | HDRi setup for baked PBR scene for Skylight | Presenting a general PBR accurate unit sheet as reference for students.
Week #3
OUTDOOR SCENE - SEMI BAKED
Outdoor Daytime – Skydome & HDRI | Reflection setup + VFX | Volumetric Fog | Player pathing
Week #4
OUTDOOR SCENE - NIGHT TIME - LUMEN
Dynamic Lighting approach on:
Volumetric Sky and Atmosphere | Real-Time reflections | Fill/Area Lights | Dynamic Post Processing
Week #5
INDOOR SCENE - NIGHT TIME - LUMEN
Dynamic Lighting approach on:
Volumetric Sky and Atmosphere | Real-Time reflections | Fill/Area Lights | Dynamic Post Processing
Week #6
OUTDOOR SCENE - NIGHT TIME - EVENT LIGHTING - LUMEN
Dynamic Lighting approach on:
Volumetric Sky and Atmosphere | Real-Time reflections | Fill/Area Lights | Dynamic Post Processing
Week #7
CHARACTER LIGHTING 1
Rim lighting | Scene temperature based on reference and mood | Turntable Shop and marketing shots
Week #8
PROP LIGHTING 2
Rim lighting | Scene temperature based on reference and mood | Turntable Shop and marketing shots
Week #9
PERSONAL PROJECT - PART I
Create an outdoor dynamic Lumen scene, indoor baked lighting scene. Or an outdoor dynamic cinematic lighting scene and indoor prebaked lighting scene
Week #10
PERSONAL PROJECT - PART II
Quality and Balance overview | Performance and AAA production commitment times
Student Gallery
Your journey starts here
LECTURES BY
Adriano Grasso
Course Start: Jul 11, 2024
For specific questions regarding TBA instructors, please contact CGMA Admissions Department at registration@cgmasteracademy.com
Instructor's Gallery
LECTURES BY
Adriano Grasso
Course Start: Jul 12, 2024
Andrew Prince is a Lead Lighting Artist at Infinity Ward with over 16 years of experience. His experience includes specializations in Art Direction, lighting and environment art within numerous game engines such as Unreal, Unity & Radiant. Andrew's passion lands within lighting and he has had the privilege of lighting various game modes such as single player campaign missions, multiplayer maps and cinematics, all of which have very different approaches and challenges. Within his 16 year career he has worked at AAA and Indie studios in a Lead or Sr. role on game titles large and small including Call of Duty, Bioshock Infinite & Starblood Arena (PSVR).
Instructor's Gallery
PRICING SCHEDULE
Even though our courses are the most affordable for the quality of education, these finance options allow you to focus on your goals instead of the barriers that keep you from reaching them.
3x Payments
$332.67
2x Payments
$499
Full payment
$998
Summer TERM REGISTRATION
Now Open
Apr 24, 2024 -
Jul 15, 2024
COURSE BEGINS on Jul 11, 2024
What makes this learning experience unique?
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK
Receive personalized feedback on all assignments from the industry’s top professionals.
LIFETIME ACCESS
Enjoy lifetime access to the spectrum of course content, including lectures, live Q&As, and feedback sessions.
CERTIFICATION
Show off your Certification of Completion when you turn in 80% of course assignments.
FLEXIBLE LEARNING
Learn anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace with flexible, online course scheduling.
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We can help with admissions questions, portfolio review/course recommendations!
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