Level 4 Junior 2D Artist (Visual Effects) Apprenticeship

As a junior 2D artist apprentice, you will be responsible for creating 2D graphics for various mediums, such as video games, animations, and illustrations. 

You’ll also learn how to collaborate with other members of the creative team, take and implement feedback, and manage your workflow to meet tight deadlines. Your role is essential to the success of the project, and you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the digital arts industry. 

Apprenticeship details

DURATION

18 Months

PRICE

Free (no debt!)

LEVEL

4

QUALIFICATION

Apprenticeship + CIM

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?

Those who want to start their career in the digital arts & media industry and want a general understanding of how to develop assets for use in video, games and more.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

AT THE END OF THE COURSE YOU’LL GET

Are you an employer looking to hire a digital marketing apprentice? Get in touch

What will you learn on the Junior 2D artist (visual effects) Apprenticeship?

As a junior 2D artist apprentice, you’ll learn the fundamental skills necessary to create high-quality 2D graphics for various mediums. 

You’ll learn how to use industry-standard software to create artwork that meets client specifications and communicates visually with the audience.

The role of a 2D artist requires both technical and creative skills, and you’ll be actively involved in the design process, taking and implementing feedback, and managing your workflow to meet deadlines. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a real employer, gaining valuable on-the-job experience in the digital arts industry.

Watch 'Day in the life of an Apprentice'

Group 64 - Big Creative Education

Download the
Junior 2D Artist Employer Pack

Junior 2d artist apprenticeship pack
studetn at computer for 2d visual artist apprenticeship

What is a creative apprenticeship?

80% of your time will be spent at a work placement with a leading creative business

20% of your time will be spent in the classroom or attending “off-the-job” training

Skills Bootcamps

Industry Masterclasses

Online Learning

1:1 Tutorials

Guest Speakers

ONLINE LEARNING

What is covered on the Junior 2D Artist Apprenticeship?

There are four enrolment days into the online tutorials so your starting points will be different depending on the time of year you applied for.

Visit this factsheet from the institute of apprenticeships to learn more about this qualification.

This symbol tells you at what point the enrolment days are:

Group 84 - Big Creative Education
  • The General VFX Shot Pipeline
  • The film and TV shot pipeline. 
  • VFX Terminology
  • The VFX Production Pipeline. 
  • The importance and methods of retaining the quality of the source material.
  • Understand the departments and the processes
  • The importance of building efficient and flexible shot workflows 
  • The importance of naming conventions and version control 
  • How readability of shot workflows is important in a team environment 
  • The impact of accurate bidding/time estimating of shots
  • How readability of shot workflows is important in a team environment 
  • The impact of accurate bidding/time estimating of shots 
  • How to determine which technique is the correct method to generate the matte.
  • How to analyse the shot to determine the most efficient breakdown of shapes and keyframes.
  • How to produce a consistent Matte Edge.
  • Motion Blur, how it affects the matte and the principals of animation to effectively replicate in the generated matte.
  • How the matte will be used in the composite.
  • The process of following image features across a series of frames in order to record the position of an object in the source footage
  • Camera moves, how they impact the tracking process and how to select the most appropriate method to produce an accurate track
  • The technical process of tracking and how you can improve the accuracy and efficiency of tracking the shot
  • Lens distortion and how to model the amount of distortion in live action footage
  • How to determine the most appropriate method for removing unwanted artefacts in live action footage.
  • Use patching techniques to remove unwanted objects within the live action footage 
  • Use frame-by-frame painting to remove unwanted objects within the live action footage
  • Camera moves and how they impact patching or frame-by-frame painting.
  • Accurately remove wires, rigs, tracking markers and camera/lighting equipment 
  • Use appropriate techniques to remove dust and scratches from live action footage
  • How Computer-Generated Imagery can be rendered in multiply passes in order to be adjusted more efficiently in the composite. These passes can include: colour, diffuse, specular, shadow and beauty lighting
  • The concept and purpose of a template or hero script
  • Perspective, depth of field and scale and how this relates to a seamless composite
  • Photographic composition, light and colour
  • Perspective, depth of field and scale and how this relates to a seamless composite
  • Photographic composition, light and colour
  • Colour Correction operations and their correct use. 
  • The effect of filtering in transformations and how to reduce image degradation 
  • Apply appropriate colour corrections to seamlessly blend several elements
  • Retiming Techniques and the Technical Process underlying the tools.
  • The effect of filtering in transformations and how to reduce image degradation.
  • Apply transformations and image warping to seamlessly blend elements
  • How digital images are encoded and stored, especially colour spaces and their appropriate use
  • The differences in linear light, gamma encoded and logarithmic encoded pixel values
  • The implications of working with high and low dynamic range images
  • The VFX colour pipeline, from acquisition to working space, balance grades, look grades and delivery
  • Convert between common colour spaces
  • Select the appropriate colour space for the given task
  • Combine images from multiple colour spaces
  • Apply colour adjustments at the correct stage of the composite, using non-destructive adjustments where possible
  • The makeup of an image, in terms of channels and pixel values.
  • The differences between 10, 12, 16 bit integer pixel values and 16, 32 bit floating point pixel values
  • The meaning and implication of pre-multiplication and it’s use.
  • The maths involved with common compositing operations.
  • The importance of accurate briefs and feedback notes
  • The importance of timely delivery of briefs and feedback, to increase efficiency within the team
  • Effectively break a shot into smaller tasks that can be completed by other team members
  • Produce briefs that accurately describe the tasks, including time estimates
  • Review the work provided by other team members and give accurate and clear feedback
  • 3D space, including projections and UV texturing
  • How ‘match-moving’ is used to track the movement of a camera through the shot footage
  • Able to build a simple 3D scene, including cameras, simple geometry and projection cameras
  • Produce a virtual camera that matches a simple live action camera move by using ‘match-moving’ software tools
  • Extract 2d co-ordinates and 3d planes from match-moved cameras and scenes in order to place new images into the shot footage in perfectly matched perspective
EPA READINESS

What do I need to do once I finish the online learning

After the 12 month tutorial sessions you’ll be required to submit material to pass your EPA, pass your two exams (Coding Principles & Marketing Principles) and submit your CIM Level 3 Assignment.
  • Those who want to start their career in marketing
  • and want a general understanding of the full spectrum of marketing.
  • Those who want to start their career in marketing
  • and want a general understanding of the full spectrum of marketing.
  • Those who want to start their career in marketing
  • and want a general understanding of the full spectrum of marketing.
  • Those who want to start their career in marketing
  • and want a general understanding of the full spectrum of marketing.

See how Tamuka’s apprenticeship secured him a job at ITN

Tamuka studied a Digital Media Apprenticeship with ITN. They were so impressed with his work it lead to a full-time role as a Cameraman for ITV London. He worked four days at ITN studios and one day at college to gain his qualification.
Play Video

Our current junior 2d artist apprenticeship vacancies

Standing Beside You Every Step of the Journey

Accelerate your growth with regular 1-on-1s with coaches and tutors who are invested in your professional and personal development.
Rectangle 73 - Big Creative Education

YOUR TUTOR

Teaching digital marketing to apprentices is incredibly rewarding. I love to pass on my knowledge, see apprentices grow, and ensure the industry's success.

Matthew Hughes

Digital Marketing Tutor

Rectangle 74 - Big Creative Education

YOUR WORK COACH

As a work coach for apprentices, I take great pride in my job knowing that I am helping to shape the future of the industry and the professionals in it.

Jamie Marriott

Work Coach

Am I Eligible?

Age

16+

years of age to be able to apply to an apprenticeship

English & Maths

C/4

Grade or above (or functional skills level 2) in English & Maths to qualify,

I don’t have 5 GCSE’s but I still want to apply

Testimonials

Why students choose BCE for their apprenticeships