VFX Roles and What They Do

If you have read my previous articles you might know by now that I am an FX Artist. And that is why most of my ideas and examples are very close to FX related tasks and procedures. Now, if you are a beginner you might not know all the roles in the sector. Therefore in this story I want to explain to you what professions there are and what they do.

1. Previsualization

This role which is also called “previz” is the beginning of the whole thing in 3d. You basically create the first 3d looks by checking the storyboards that comes from the concept artists. Previz artists also create models/environment/animation so this profession often needs you to be a generalist. But don’t think that previz artists create those stunning renders, the output they have are generally low quality, those outputs are sometimes not even rendered, just viewport animations. That is because they try to visualize roughly how a scene will look. In some companies I saw previz artists focusing on camera placement and movement, in some others it was the layout artist’s job. In some, the two roles were mixed. And that is why previz artists tend to work side by side with layout and concept artists.

2. Layout

Another generalist skills requiring role. This role requires the artists to know a lot about camera placement, movement, angles, perspective and composition. Especially photography skills are important for a layout artist. This role requires artists to act like a director and create what the director imagines, in a 3d environment. They work together with previz artists and the director.

3. Concept Artist

This role is especially essential in more fantastic/unreal VFX works because concept artists draw the characters, environments and props for the movie/show. So they basically design the things that will be modeled by the modeling department. The concept artist should be very good with creating a 2d image and have knowledge about lighting and color.

4. Runner

Runners support everyone in the studio. They might deliver files, equipment, organize meetings, sometimes welcome the clients. This one is mostly accepted as an entry level position to the VFX sector. The good thing is, a runner can see how each of the processes work in the sector, gets to know a lot of people and if can improve their 3d skills most probably will become a 3d artist.

5. 3d Modeler/Modeling

Probably the most famous role in the industry is the modeler. As the name suggests you create 3d models or assets by using the concepts from the concept artist or by references. In some studios 3d modelers are divided into different categories like environment artists, character modelers or hard surface modelers. Some companies also want the modeler to assume the role of a texture artist.

6. Texture Artists/Texturing

The texturing department works closely with the modelers to create their textures. They paint the details on a 3d model to make it look realistic. So because they are painting a 2d image onto a 3d model, a texture artist has to have both 2d and 3d skills as well as knowledge of color, form and lighting.

7. Animator

Animators are responsible to bring the rigged models to life. And that is why animators work closely with riggers. The animated models are not always humans or animals, animators need to work on vehicles, spaceships, machines, trees, furniture so basically anything that can move. Lastly they also work on the animations of mocap suit performances, don’t think that a motion capture suit works straight away and gives you an animation ready asset. In smaller studios I often see that riggers and animators are merged into one role.

8. Riggers

Riggers build skeletons and controls that need animating. Then they pass these skeletons or rigs to animators so they can use them to give the models movement. So a rigger will almost always work closely with modelers and animators. Riggers need to have good anatomy knowledge.

9. FX Artists

Effects artists are responsible for creating natural phenomenon like explosions, fire, water, dust, cloud, destruction, debris, cloth, hair and more. They are also required to do abstract, unrealistic magical effects. An FX Artist needs to have a good eye in seeing the physical aspect of how things move and behave in the world. This is both a creative and a technical role, an even more technical version is an FX Technical Director who creates tools or setups for the FX Artists to use. (Check out HERE for a detailed comparison between an FX artist and an FX TD)

10. Environment Artists

These people create as the name suggests, environments. So they basically replace those green screens behind the characters you see at the breakdowns of movies with 3d environments. They must be good with modeling and especially sculpting. They work closely with concept artists and modelers. In some smaller studios modeling and environment design is merged into one role.

11. Lighting

This department is responsible to apply lighting effects to make everything look realistic and blend into the real footage. Therefore a deep understanding of color, light and how lighting works is a must for this role. Since they light everything in a movie or show, they can work closely with any department that is required. Some studios merge lighting and rendering roles into one.

12. Rendering

Just like the lighting department, rendering department also requires very good color and lighting skills in addition shading. Rendering artists work closely with lighters. They need to optimize the scenes and renders to get the best possible result in the shortest possible amount of time.

13. Matchmove Artists

The matchmove department basically creates a 3d camera for all the other artists to use. It is also called motion tracking. They also line up 3d objects or characters with the real ones. The reason is, for example you have an actor that was filmed and the CFX department needs to add a cape to that character. If there is no 3d object to attach it to then how does CFX do their jobs? That is when the matchmove artists come into play. I have also seen some studios where animators took care of the matchmove animations. Matchmove artists might also go to the movie set to put up tracking markers and points to help them. They must be very good with cameras, lenses and perspective.

14. Matte Painters

Matte paints are often times used to fill the far background of green screen footages. Therefore this is mostly 2d work in Photoshop, however, studios tend to want matte painters to know about 3d softwares and compositing to be able to blend their environments with the renders.

15. Character Effects Artists

Similar to FX Artists or FX TDs, CFX artists work on cloths on characters, feathers, flags or hair/fur. Sometimes they work with tree and foliage simulations. Other times you can see a CFX artist working on the drool effects on your favorite Alien movie. In some studios these artists are merged into one and called FX Artists. In some other bigger studios the role is separated and Grooming Artists emerged who are only responsible for working on hair.

16. Compositing

Compositing artists (compositors) put everything (assets like models, effects, environments, render layers etc.) together and blend them with the real footage. So they basically create the final look of the movie or show. Compositors need to be good with color, lighting and composition. They are also the people to remove the green or blue screens behind the characters on the background.

17. Rotoscoping (Roto) Artist

This is considered as the most tedious task an artist can get. However, I have seen people that think rotoscoping is like a therapy. Rotoscope artists draw masks (borders) around subjects to separate them from the real footage frame by frame. In smaller studios compositors are also roto artists and in most places roto artists become compositors. This profession requires a lot of patience and roto artists work closely with the compositors.

18. Generalist

These days most big studios don’t have generalists because they want artists that focus on one subject. However, smaller studios tend to hire generalists. A generalist position is probably the most fun because that artist can do anything from modeling, texturing to lighting, compositing, fx and more. Of course this is not that easy and you need to have very good knowledge of every aspect of 3d. This profession is not advised for beginners and is more suitable for experienced people. (Don’t get me wrong here, when starting at first trying everything and understanding the basics and then choosing a specialiazied path is a great strategy)