Digital compositors are in charge of combining images from various sources to create images. The majority of compositors work in the film, television, or print media industries. The images they produce can be used as dramatic special effects or designed to blend in seamlessly with the background. Digital composition is a growing field that, depending on your skill level, can be quite lucrative. You’ll need to get certifications and build a portfolio to work as a digital compositor.
A four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is a common path to becoming a digital compositor. This degree focuses on teaching art theory fundamentals as well as practical aspects of art, such as specific tools and methods. BFAs are available from a variety of specialized art schools as well as larger universities. While it is possible to self-learn the skills required to become a digital compositor without a BFA, having the diploma assures potential employers that you have a broad base of knowledge on which to base various types of compositing work.
Image and video compositing are the two most common types of digital compositing. Image compositors work with still images, combining elements from various sources to create a finished product. Many of these artists collaborate with the designers of the source images. They may not be photographers or illustrators themselves, but they can tell these people what lighting and composition they require. Compositing is made much easier with good source material.
Video compositors are similar to image compositors in that they process hundreds or thousands of frames at a time and create effects that change over time. This adds a great deal of complexity to an already difficult field, but the end result is very impressive. Most modern films rely heavily on composite video, with actors frequently working in front of a green screen and exotic backgrounds added later. If you work as a digital compositor in video, you will most likely be involved in both filming and post-production editing.
You’ll need a portfolio to work as a digital compositor. Your BFA shows an employer that you have a strong foundation, while your portfolio, or demo reel, demonstrates the type of work you do and the style in which you do it. A good portfolio will showcase your entire body of work. If you choose to specialize in a particular field, such as flame effects or fantasy compositing, your portfolio should still show a wide range of work within that field.