Layout Artist
Layout artist is an entry level job position in the process of basic filmmaking part to design shot frame, camera paths and angles, along with depth, perspective, and lighting for an animated sequence. They work with directors to translate storyboards into action sequences with initial line work for backgrounds, acting as the eye of the cinematographer and gaffer in animation.
They give the characters some poses and rough animation, then animate the cameras giving them nice movements and continuity between shots and scenes. With layout artists, director can try different angles and lenses to find the best ones for each shot.
Take a screen cap of Toy Story (1995) as an example, the final version of is basic on the work of layout artist as below:
Matchmove Artist
In this job position, Matchmove artists track and calibrate live footage frames in order to incorporate them into a digital replica. They transfer the real life camera’s movements into a computer-generated model by combining live camera shots into an environment in CG software and using matchmoving software, to generate models.
Moreover, Matchmove artists perform body and object tracking by using markers to recreate the movements of people, vehicles, or other objects in CG. The motion files, including camera, object, or body tracks, created are then passed along to other departments via the VFX pipeline to digital compositor.
Lighting Artist
Lighting artists are also integral parts of the storytelling process, manipulating color and light in subtle and dynamic ways to emphasize mood shifts.
Lighting artists are in charge of the lighting, rendering, and compositing of shots together with character and environment renders to meet the director’s vision. Moreover, they use shader settings to simulate reflection and wet surface effects.
Just as there is a director of photography and gaffer in live-action productions who decide what lights to use and where to place them, so there is a lighting artist in CG animations.
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Reference:
1. Spectrum, C.G. (n.d.). Layout Artist Job Description, Salary, Skills & Software | CG Spectrum. [online] www.cgspectrum.com. Available at: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/layout-artist
2. VISION AGE VFX. (2020). Types & Methods of Matchmoving – Matchmove Company. [online] Available at: https://www.visionage-vfx.com/types-methods-of-matchmoving/
3. Dobbert, T. (2005). Matchmoving : the invisible art of camera tracking. Almeda, Ca: Sybex.
4. mountcg.com. (2020). What is Matchmoving and What Does a Matchmove Artist Do? [online] Available at: https://mountcg.com/what-is-matchmoving-and-what-does-a-matchmove-artist-do/
5. Demilked. (2019). Lighting Artist Realizes People Have No Idea What His Job Means And Gives Some Amazing Examples. [online] Available at: https://www.demilked.com/lighting-artist-explains-his-job-dan-o-brien/
6. www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Why Lighting Animated Movies Is So Complicated | Movies Insider. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcT0w8jEESw