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- Use your artistic skills to paint digital images for animations, films, and other media
- Creative and skilled work with the opportunity to work on high profile projects
- This is a growing field with opportunities around the world for skilled artists
The role of the digital painter is to add colour to outline images using digital techniques and specialist software.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
You'll normally be given drawings and outlines done by other members of the team and you will then tidy up the lines and add colour using a programme like Photoshop, Toon Boom, Illustrator, Animo, or Opus Creator. Your work will bring the initial drawings to life through your use of colour and your artistic ability.
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
Digital painters work for animation studios, film studios, video game companies, or advertising agencies, as part of the team of people who create animations and visual effects.
You'll need
To become a digital painter, you'll need excellent artistic ability, attention to detail, a strong eye for colour, and the ability to concentrate for long periods of time.
Most digital painters study an art related subject to build the skills they need for this work - illustration, animation, or fine art are all good options. You'll need to build up a portfolio of work to apply for jobs, and you'll also need to show that you can use the key industry-standard software programmes like Photoshop, Toon Boom, Illustrator, Animo, or Opus Creator. Studying on a formal course will normally enable you to access these programmes (which can be quite expensive).
Gaining some work experience in this field will help you build a network of contacts and understand how the industry works, so finding opportunities for work experience or internships by following the major animation studios and other employers on social media is a good way to make sure you spot opportunities as they come up.
CAREER PROSPECTS
You might specialise in a particular kind of work, or focus on 2D or 3D animation, or you might choose to work across a range of styles.