Learn to create cinematic, atmospheric lighting in Unreal Engine 5.
Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in visual storytelling. Over 6 weeks, you’ll learn to design lighting that transforms environments and guides the viewer’s eye—whether for games, cinematics, or real-time art.
This course is designed for beginners to intermediate Unreal users who want to build confidence in real-time lighting. If you’re an aspiring environment artist, cinematic designer, or real-time creative, this course will sharpen your technical skills and artistic eye.
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How the Course Works

Beginner

Basic familiarity with Unreal Engine interface
Understanding of 3D space and basic transforms
Recommended: Completed UE5 beginner tutorial

Windows PC
Unreal Editor

Six weeks of live training from introduction to final project

Live online via Zoom.
Recordings are provided for review

Starting Wednesday
5th Nov 2025
6pm UTC
What You’ll Learn
Gain industry-relevant skills and knowledge you can apply right away, with guidance from expert mentors.
Design dramatic directional, interior, and atmospheric lighting setups to elevate your environments.
Master optimization and troubleshooting techniques to ensure your projects look great and run smoothly.
Your Learning Journey
- 01 Fundamentals
- 02 Basics
- 03 Directional & Sky
- 04 Interior
- 05 Advanced Features
- 06 Optimization
Lighting Fundamentals & Theory
Learn the principles of light, shadow, and color. Understand how lighting affects storytelling and how artists use it to establish mood.
Unreal Engine Lighting Basics
Get familiar with Unreal’s lighting systems. Explore real-time vs baked lighting, light types, and basic setup inside the engine.
Directional Lighting & Sky Setup
Build realistic outdoor scenes with directional lights, skylights, and atmosphere settings. Create natural time-of-day transitions.
Interior Lighting Techniques
Light enclosed environments effectively. Learn strategies for balancing artificial light sources, bounce lighting, and contrast in interiors.
Advanced Lighting Features
Dive deeper into volumetrics, emissive materials, and post-processing to create cinematic effects and enhance realism.
Optimization & Troubleshooting
Discover workflows for balancing visual quality and performance. Learn how to debug lighting issues and optimize scenes for smooth rendering.
Accredited Bachelor Degrees & Diplomas
CG Spectrum offers specialised creative degrees and diploma programs designed to prepare students for careers in the entertainment industry. These programs focus on practical, industry-relevant skills, taught by experienced professionals. Key areas include:
- 3D & 2D Animation - Learn character and creature animation for film and games using industry-standard tools.
- Game Design & Development - Master game mechanics, level design, and programming to create immersive games.
- Visual Effects - Explore compositing, simulations, and digital effects for film and TV.
- Digital Illustration & Concept Art - Develop skills in character design, environments, and storytelling for games and film.
- 3D Modeling - Create assets for games, films, and virtual productions, focusing on both hard-surface and organic modeling.
Programs are flexible, online, and focus on hands-on learning, portfolio development, and mentorship from industry experts. These courses are suited for beginners and advanced learners looking to break into the creative industries.

Meet Your Mentor
Karim has worked on projects ranging from games to cinematic experiences, collaborating with creative teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible in real-time rendering.

Studios + Projects






Learn your way
Join a small group class for a collaborative experience, or opt for private 1-on-1 training for personalized guidance.Group Class
US$ 999The Group Class is the core program designed for collaboration, peer feedback, and community learning — while keeping the group small enough for personal mentor support.
- Level: Beginner
- Lessons: 6
- Capacity: 12
- Prerequisites:
Basic familiarity with Unreal Engine interface
Understanding of 3D space and basic transforms
Recommended: Completed UE5 beginner tutorial - Required Hardware: Windows PC
- Required Software: Unreal Editor
Class is live every Wednesday at 6pm UTC.
Starting November 5th.
Private 1 on 1
US$ 2,495If you prefer learning one-on-one with a mentor at your own pace, we also offer a private version of this course.
The requirements (software, tools, format, and support) are the same as the Group Class.
The private version runs over 6 weeks, giving you:
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Tailored guidance to match your goals
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Flexible scheduling within a clear 6-week timeline
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Direct feedback on your work
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The freedom to learn at a pace that suits you
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A stronger mentor relationship with focused support
FAQ
Find quick answers to the most common questions about this course.