From 26 to 29 April 2023, Computer Animation and Visual effects students had the opportunity to engage with lighter artist Francesco Alliaud.
What is light, how to read it and how to reproduce it in CG? How is photography fundamental to storytellig, to ‘guide’ the viewer’s eye, facilitate the reading of scenes and create impactful emotional effects? How, then, does light facilitate visual storytelling?
These are just some of the questions addressed during the Masterclass with light artist Francesco Alliaud, a professional in the field with decades of experience behind him. Over the course of 4 days, the principles of photography applied to 3D were discussed, practical examples of lighting on 3D scenes were analysed, looking at the various techniques and types of lighting, creating lighting rigs, and exploring the differentiation between various types of light and their use. The aim is to work directly on the short films made by the students, and finally apply the concepts learned in a practical manner.
About Francesco Alliaud
Graduated in 2001, he started working as a storyboard artist, intercutter and visualiser for advertisements and 2D animated series. In 2005, he graduated from the Experimental Centre of Cinematography in Turin, and in 2006 he started working at Lumiq Studio on the Donkey Xote project, an Italian-Spanish production as 3D Animator and Lighter artist; he later moved to Milan, where he collaborated on various short films and commercials. In 2009 he worked for Baarìa by Giuseppe Tornatore as Lighter artist per the set designs in 3D. In 2010, he moved to Paris to work as a layout artist on the animated film Un monstre a Paris, and in 2011 he was called to Granada for Justin y la espada del Valor, working as Senior Previz artist and Senior Lighter. He then began working for Ilion animation studio, in Madrid, as Senior lighter on Spanish and international films, including Mortadelo y filemon (2014) and Wonderpark (2018). DAfter this experience he was called upon to collaborate as Lead Lighter for TV series in 3Double Production in Tenerife. In 2020 he was contracted by Animal Logic Sydney to work on Peter Rabbit 2 as Senior Lighter. Back in Europe, he has been working since 2021 in Madrid as Senior Lighter for Skydance animation studio.
Some moments of the Masterclass
