Introduction to Lighting for Animation
with Alexander Corll
Description
In Introduction to Lighting for Animation, Lighting and Compositing TD Alex Corll shares his process of lighting a shot from start to finish using Maya, Arnold and Nuke. This includes researching reference images and assessing your scene, initial scene optimization, and additional tips to help speed up your workflow. He starts with establishing base lighting using an appropriate HDRI, and progresses to setting up a key light, fill light, and additional accent lights. He discusses some tips for using blockers and light filters in Arnold, as well as adding specific lights to accent the character and leverage animation in the scene. He then discusses adding atmosphere and realism using volumetric lighting. Finally, Alex concludes with an overview of render layers and final image output, including render settings and some basic compositing in Nuke to produce a fully lit, final image.
Duration: 1h 48m
Format: HD 1920x1080
Alexander Corll
Lighting Artist at DreamWorks Animation
Alex Corll is a Lighting Lead and 3D Compositing Artist with extensive experience delivering high-end visuals across feature films, animation, and commercial projects. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design, he has developed a strong foundation in cinematic lighting, compositing, and visual storytelling, bringing technical precision and artistic sensitivity to every production.
He currently serves as a Lighting Lead 3D Compositing Artist at General Motors, following earlier work at Magnetic Dreams Animation Studio in television and commercial production. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to major feature films in collaboration with leading studios including Disney, Animal Logic, DreamWorks Animation, Halo Studios, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. His credits include Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, Strange World, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
