V-Ray Cinematic Lighting Course (10 Weeks)

Course Duration: 10 Weeks
Mode: Online / Offline
Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Week 1: Introduction to Cinematic Lighting & V-Ray

Understanding the fundamentals of cinematic lighting
Overview of V-Ray and its interface in Maya/3ds Max
Importance of light direction, contrast, and mood
Exploring different types of V-Ray lights

Week 2: Essential Lighting Techniques

Three-point lighting system in cinematics
Key light, fill light, and rim light setup
Understanding exposure and color temperature
Working with V-Ray Rect Lights and Sphere Lights

Week 3: Realistic Light Behavior & Shadows

Understanding light decay and falloff
Soft vs. hard shadows for realistic depth
Adjusting shadow properties in V-Ray
Creating dramatic lighting using negative fill

Week 4: Cinematic Mood & Atmosphere

Creating different moods (warm, cool, high contrast)
Using fog and volumetric lighting for depth
Nighttime and golden hour lighting setups
Using Gobos and Light Textures for storytelling

Week 5: Photographic Approach to Lighting

Understanding real-world cinematography techniques
Using camera exposure settings in V-Ray
Depth of field (DOF) and motion blur for realism
Understanding Filmic Tone Mapping and LUTs

Week 6: Interior & Exterior Lighting for Films

Natural lighting for indoor cinematic shots
Simulating sunlight, moonlight, and artificial lights
Balancing interior and exterior exposure
Using V-Ray LightMix for dynamic lighting variations

Week 7: Character & Portrait Lighting in V-Ray

Lighting setups for hero shots and close-ups
Skin shading and SSS (Subsurface Scattering) in V-Ray
Creating soft and diffused beauty lighting
Enhancing facial details with rim and bounce light

Week 8: Advanced V-Ray Rendering & Optimization

Using V-Ray Frame Buffer for post-processing
Optimizing light samples for noise-free renders
Understanding light path expressions (LPE)
Improving render speed while maintaining quality

Week 9: V-Ray Compositing & Post-Production

AOVs (Render Passes) for compositing
Multi-light rendering for flexible adjustments
Integrating renders into Nuke/Photoshop for final look
Adding film grain and cinematic color grading

Week 10: Final Cinematic Shot & Portfolio Presentation

Lighting a full cinematic shot from scratch
Applying storytelling through light and shadow
Rendering and compositing the final image
Portfolio tips for film and CG industry professionals

Gallery (3)

About the Trainer

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7 Courses

Brajesh Kumar

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20 Years of Experience

I am a seasoned Animation and VFX professional with 20 years of industry experience, having worked with top studios such as ScanlineVFX, MPC, DNEG, Technicolor, The Mill, and many more. Throughout my career, I have contributed to high-profile projects, including Aquaman 2, Mission: Impossible 6, Cats, Black Adam, Blue Beetle, Maleficent, and several others. My expertise lies in lighting, compositing, and cinematic visuals, with extensive knowledge of industry-standard tools like Autodesk Maya, V-Ray, Nuke, ZBrush, and Unreal Engine.

Passionate about mentoring and training aspiring artists, I am dedicated to sharing my experience through structured courses that provide hands-on learning and industry insights. My goal is to help students build successful careers in CG, VFX, and compositing by equipping them with the technical skills and industry knowledge required to excel in the field.