Environment Surfacer

Key Purpose of the Job: 

Environment Surfacers will be required to deliver outstanding assets, both creatively and technically, and ensure the delivery of assets within the time frame established.

Since each project is different and requires a unique artistic vision, the candidate will have to demonstrate high skills to adapt to any style or design and have a solid foundation on the technical aspects of environment surfacing creation.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality CG environment assets through texturing, look development, and grooming, using provided reference material while maintaining the required visual style and production standards;

• Submitting and presenting your work clearly in dailies and production reviews, communicating your creative and technical decisions. Receive, understand, and address artistic and technical feedback;

• Quality check your work before handing off to downstream depts using DNEG protocols;

• Learn and become familiar with DNEG Surfacing Dept workflows and pipeline tools;

• Follow workflows set by show leads and supervisor;

• Attend various project-specific reviews/discussions, department assembly, and other mandatory meetings;

• Share new workflow ideas with the team.

Job Requirements

• Experience working on feature animated films of varying artistic styles;

• Production experience as an Environment Surfacer including some or all of: props, architecture, terrain and vegetation;

• A strong sense of colours and textures balance with the ability to adapt to any look or style;

• Ability to work closely with Surfacing Leads and Supervisors to ensure the quality and technical viability of environment assets for a production;

• Ability to effectively translate your ideas, suggestions, and questions with other members of the team.

• Knowledge of  grooming tools and understanding of general use in environments;

• Proficient in Mari (preferred), Substance, and some knowledge of Photoshop; 

• Production experience in modern ray-tracing or path-tracing software like RenderMan or Arnold;

• Demo reel with descriptive breakdown illustrating knowledge and experience in painting, illustration, or design.

Additional Skills

• Degree in Computer Animation or relevant course;

• Demonstrates curiosity and a willingness to explore, test, and adopt new workflows, tools, and techniques to improve the quality and efficiency of texturing, lookdev, and grooming;

• Solaris and Houdini knowledge

This role is on a contractual basis for 6 months

Experience working on feature animated films of varying artistic styles; Production experience as an Environment Surfacer including some or all of: props, architecture, terrain and vegetation; A strong sense of colours and textures balance with the ability to adapt to any look or style; Ability to work closely with Surfacing Leads and Supervisors to ensure the quality and technical viability of environment assets for a production; Ability to effectively translate your ideas, suggestions, and questions with other members of the team; Knowledge of grooming tools and understanding of general use in environments; Proficient in Mari (preferred), Substance, and some knowledge of Photoshop; Production experience in modern ray-tracing or path-tracing software like RenderMan or Arnold; Demo reel with descriptive breakdown illustrating knowledge and experience in painting, illustration, or design.