VIDEOÂ GAME LIGHTING BOOTCAMP
START DATE:Â Â
8Â DECEMBER 2025Â
DURATION:Â
16 WEEKS & 24Â LIVEÂ SESSIONS
1 LIVE SESSION PER WEEK (WEEKS 1-8)
2 LIVE SESSIONS PER WEEKÂ (WEEKS 9-16)
APPLY NOW
TRANSFORM YOUR CAREER IN 16 WEEKS
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START DATE
8Â DECEMBERÂ 2025
*There will be no class the week of December 22nd and 29th for the holidays*
DURATION:Â
16 WEEKS & 24Â LIVEÂ SESSIONS
1 LIVE SESSION PER WEEK (WEEKS 1-8)
2 LIVE SESSIONS PER WEEKÂ (WEEKS 9-16)
Level Up Your Video Game Lighting Skills with Maria Yue - Lighting Artist on Far Cry and Gears 5!Â
Learn directly from a lighting artist who has worked on blockbuster games and led lighting teams at top studios like Splash Damage. Maria will teach you how to create cinematic, emotional, and immersive lighting that brings game worlds to life.
Over 16 weeks, you’ll master Unreal Engine 5 techniques, apply theatre and photography principles, and learn pro workflows used in the industry. With 24 live sessions, personalized feedback, and a real-time lighting project, you’ll gain the skills to solve lighting challenges, make confident creative choices, and build portfolio-ready, production-quality visuals.
THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF...
YOU’RE AN ENVIRONMENT OR FX ARTIST WHO WANTS TO MASTER LIGHTING IN UE5
If you already build beautiful scenes but struggle to make them feel alive, this bootcamp will teach you how to design lighting that enhances mood, storytelling, and gameplay clarity using industry-tested workflows trusted by AAA studios.
YOU’RE A TECHNICAL ARTIST OR 3D GENERALIST READY TO ELEVATE YOUR VISUALS
You’ve got the technical side down, now it’s time to focus on the art. Learn how to translate your technical knowledge into emotionally engaging lighting setups, optimized for real-time performance in Unreal Engine 5.
YOU’RE AN ADVANCED ARTIST OR FINAL-YEAR STUDENT CREATING A FLAGSHIP PORTFOLIO PIECE
If you’re aiming to produce a cinematic, professional-quality lighting project that showcases both your artistic taste and technical skill, this bootcamp will guide you step by step, from concept and reference to final rendered scene.
YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE
Train with Maria Yue, Ex-Principal Lighting Artist at Splash DamageÂ
Master the art of real-time lighting that makes your game scenes unforgettable and helps you stand out in the world of game development. What makes this course different:Â
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Learn cinematic lighting from Maria Yue, a lighting artist who worked on hit titles like Far Cry, Star Citizen, Robinson: The Journey, and Gears 5.
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Work through real production challenges. Each unit of this live online bootcamp is packed with hands-on projects that mirror real studio challenges, helping you master Unreal Engine 5.
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Gain the confidence to pursue advanced lighting or environment roles.
Learn directly from Maria Yue, Lighting Artist on Far Cry and Gears 5!
This LIVE online bootcamp gives you expert teaching, personal feedback, and a finished, studio-quality lighting project that shows off your creativity and technical skills helping you get ready for your next big break in the gaming industry.
WHAT YOU'LL DO DURING THE BOOTCAMP
HANDS-ON PROJECTS
Bring your lighting skills to life with hands-on projects inspired by real game studios. You’ll learn how to use light to set the mood, guide gameplay, and make your scenes run smoothly, from finding references and setting up your shots to creating your final cinematic renders. Each project helps you practice theatrical lighting in Unreal Engine 5, building both your creative eye and technical skills.
EXPERT-LED WORKSHOPS
Learn directly from Maria Yue, a lighting artist who has worked on big games like Far Cry, Star Citizen, and Gears 5. She’s led lighting teams at top studios such as Romero Games, Splash Damage, and Sharkmob London, bringing real industry experience to every class.
Over 24 live sessions, Maria will guide you step by step, from finding great visual references and setting up your lighting, to fixing performance issues and perfecting your final render.
You will also watch Maria light scenes in real time, showing how top studios use lighting to create emotion, mood, and storytelling in games.
PORTFOLIO-BUILDING EXPERIENCE
Elevate your portfolio with a cinematic, AAA-quality lighting scene that showcases your artistic style and technical precision. Through personalized feedback and art direction, you’ll learn to troubleshoot common production issues, present your lighting work professionally, and gain the confidence to apply for lighting or environment roles in game development.
You’ll graduate not just with a polished project but with the skills and insight to make lighting your creative superpower.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
MARIEÂ YUE
EX-PRINCIPALÂ LIGHTING ARTISTÂ AT SPLASH DAMAGE
Brings over 14 years of expertise in hybrid and real-time lighting technologies
Maria Yue is a Lighting Artist with over 14 years of experience creating games such as Far Cry, Star Citizen, Gears 5, and Robinson: The Journey. She has led lighting teams at top studios, including Splash Damage, Sharkmob London, and Romero Games, crafting cinematic and in-game lighting that brings worlds to life.
As founder of EmberShade, Maria now teaches artists worldwide how to harness real-time lighting in Unreal Engine 5, turning technical skill into compelling storytelling and immersive experiences.
BOOTCAMPÂ CURRICULUM
UNIT 1 (Weeks 1-4)
Design and Setup Your Lighting Project
UNIT 1 (Weeks 1-4)
Design and Setup Your Lighting Project
UNIT 2 (Weeks 5-8)
Shape up your design concept via surface and lighting
UNIT 2 (Weeks 5-8)
Shape up your design concept via surface and lighting
UNIT 3 (Weeks 9-12)
Everything about Volumetric Lighting
UNIT 3 (Weeks 9-12)
Everything about Volumetric Lighting
UNIT 4 (Weeks 13-16)
Director’s cut, final polish and how to present your work
UNIT 4 (Weeks 13-16)
Director’s cut, final polish and how to present your work
STUDENTÂ ARTWORK FROM A PAST BOOTCAMP WITH MARIA
WHATÂ STUDENTS FROM MARIA'S PAST BOOTCAMP ARE SAYING...Â
Daniel Rojas
"It was an amazing experience. The content, teacher (Marie Yue), and format of the course were excellent. I got a job after I finished some of the exercises, so was extremely helpful for me as a professional."
Jordan Osborne
"Maria Yue provided fantastic mentorship, and I cannot wait to continue this journey to improve! I’m also very thankful to all of my peers in the bootcamp for their feedback, which helped guide me along the way.
During the bootcamp, I was able to create an environment inspired by concept art I really love, created by Martin Deschambault and Ubisoft for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate!"
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are there any live lessons?
Are there any live lessons?
What software do I need?
What software do I need?
What is the refund policy?
What is the refund policy?
How long will I have access to the bootcamp?
How long will I have access to the bootcamp?
How do I receive project feedback?
How do I receive project feedback?
Do I get a certificate of completion?
Do I get a certificate of completion?
APPLY
Submit the quick and easy form below to apply to the Video Game Lighting Bootcamp with Maria Yue