Photo Compositing For The Entertainment Industry with Tony Washington

In this workshop, I’ll be sharing my process and techniques behind creating dynamic digital photo composites used across the entertainment industry. Drawing from my experience in comics, video games, film, and VR, I’ll break down how individual photographs, digital painting, and matte painting techniques are blended together to create cinematic scenes that support storytelling for major entertainment properties. We’ll explore how lighting, perspective, and visual consistency are managed to bring multiple source elements together into a seamless, believable image.

Throughout the session, I’ll provide real-world examples from my professional portfolio, demonstrating how these compositing techniques have been applied to projects ranging from poster art to key art, concept designs, and promotional materials. Attendees will gain insight into the full creative process — from initial concept sketches, photography considerations, asset gathering, and compositing workflows, all the way to final color grading and delivery for clients. Special focus will also be placed on how to plan and shoot with compositing in mind, helping photographers expand their own creative toolset.

Whether you’re looking to expand your post-production skill set, collaborate with entertainment clients, or explore new creative possibilities with your photography, this workshop is designed to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how digital compositing can elevate your work for today’s visual industries.

Tony Washington is an Eisner Award-winning illustrator with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, spanning comics, animated features, video games, and VR. His extensive credits include work on the Ratchet & Clank and TMNT CGI films, official poster art for The Crow, and lead illustrator for the ACLU (SDIC) for 9 years. He is also a New York Times bestselling artist for World of Warcraft: Ashbringer and a multiple San Diego County Fair award winner. Tony’s expertise in digital compositing, concept art, and matte painting has made him a sought-after artist for major studios and publishers. In addition to his studio work, he is an active member of the Adobe Experts Community and regularly leads workshops—both online and in-person—focused on supporting artists and students of all levels.