Games
Visual effects (VFX) artist
Also known as: Effects (FX) artist, Special effects (SFX) artist
What does a visual effects (VFX) artist do?
VFX artists add the wham, bam, crash and wallop to games. They create anything that moves that isn’t a character or an object. They create dust, water, explosions and superpowers. VFX artists use digital art software, alongside traditional art insights to create realistic effects that are stunning, like a tornado, or subtle, like slow moving clouds.
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What’s a VFX artist good at?
- Art: understand composition, colour, texture, and light, and know how these elements work together
- Physics and advanced maths: understand how elements like water, light and dust behave in different conditions
- Using software and games engines: create artwork using a range of programmes and physics software packages, know the technical capability of the game engine and the latest technologies and techniques
- Collaboration: work with the other artists, share the vision with designers and games developers
- Time management: work on projects to tight deadlines, prioritise tasks. VFX is often expensive so it’s necessary to know how to work within budget
Who does a VFX artist work with?
VFX artists work with all the other members of the art department – the concept artist, the modelling artist and the texturing artist and so on. They usually report to the art director.
How do I become a VFX artist?
This is a technical role and isn’t usually entry-level. Most VFX artists have had several years’ experience as games artists before specialising in effects. Typically, the route to VFX is though being a compositor, rotoscope artist, match mover, or in another area of motion graphics and game art. Some have worked in VFX studios for film and TV and gone into games VFX from there.
Look at the generalist programmer job profile or the animation job profile for details of how to get into the games industry through these routes.
At school or college:
This is one of a several within the games industry that requires both artistic and programming skills. While at school or college, try to combine arts and sciences. If you want to go to university, it would be useful to get A-levels or Highers in maths, physics, computer design, graphic design, graphic communication, art and design or computer science. Or you might want to take a level 3 vocational qualification in computing, art and design or media production. Look at what your local college offers, and the qualifications offered by training providers like Pearson, UAL, NCC Education and T Levels.
Get a degree:
Most people in the games industry have got a degree and you might want to be one of them. Have a look at ScreenSkills’ list of recommended courses in VFX. We recognise courses with our ScreenSkills Select award where they offer training in the relevant software, dedicated time to building a portfolio and have strong links with the games industry.
Build a portfolio:
Learn the software, experiment with games engines and start creating work that you can show to admissions tutors or employers. This is essential. Go to Build your games portfolio to learn how.
Search for jobs:
Use the UK Games Map to find out if there are games companies near you, then go to their websites directly and check out their open roles. You could also check out ScreenSkills jobs board. Look for entry-level roles as an animator, junior artist or generalist programmer and work your way into visual effects from there.
Look outside games:
There are a growing number of opportunities for VFX artists in VFX studios. Build up skills there that you can transfer into games.
Meet people in the industry:
Go to ScreenSkills’ events, follow your local film office and any local community arts and media organisations and attend their events. Go to how to network well for some tips.
Network online:
Create a LinkedIn profile. See if there’s a Facebook page or other social media group for people making films or videos in your area. Join it and take part. Create a ScreenSkills profile.
Explore ScreenSkills Resources:
ScreenSkills careers information:
The your career hub has a wealth of resources designed to help you start or progress your career.
ScreenSkills e-learning:
ScreenSkills has a suite of free e-learning modules for those who are over 18 which can improve your knowledge. The ScreenSkills Passport modules also prepare you as they are essential for some production roles. Some modules are available for those under 18. For anyone wanting advice about first steps, the Getting into the screen industries modules are very useful.
ScreenSkills skills checklists:
If you would like more detail about the tasks, responsibilities and skills required for many key roles in film and TV drama, children’s TV and unscripted TV you can look at our skills checklists.
You might also be interested in…
Being a lead games designer, level designer, 3D modelling artist, an environment artist or a technical artist in the games industry. You might also be interested in being a previsualisation (previs) artist, modelling artist, texture artist or an environment artist in VFX, or a modeller or background designer in the animation industry.
