A Comprehensive Study of Shake 4 (Shake 200)

Unlocking Shake

Shake

Course Description

This five day hands-on course introduces students to the primary feature set and basic interface of Shake. Using visual effects shots from major motion pictures, students will learn the process of integrating computer-generated elements with live action photography using motion tracking and colour matching tools, as well as utilising keying techniques to place blue and green screen shots against background plates. Most importantly, learn to create multi-layer composites using Shake’s Node tree organisational structure.

Who Should Attend

This class is designed for those wanting to learn compositing and visual effects using Shake and who prefer prefer hands-on and interactive instruction.

What You Will Learn

  • Understanding the Shake Workflow and basic compositing
  • Working with Colour Correction and Keys
  • Using QuickPaint and the RotoShape Tool
  • Working with Audio and Video
  • Tracking and Stabilisation
  • Working with the Command Line

Prerequisites

Students should have the following prerequisite knowledge prior to attending the course:

  • Basic knowledge of Mac OS X
  • Basic knowledge of compositing and effects

Course Outline

Day 1

Topic Description
The Shake Workflow Interface Workflow, The Shake Interface, Importing Images and Sequences, Using the Viewer
Basic Compositing Process Trees, Creating a Simple Tree
Colour Correction Basic Colour Correction Tools, Using PlotScanline to Understand, Colour Corrections, Concatenation, Colour Matching Using Channel Isolation, Colour Matching Using ColorMatch, The ColorCorrect Node

Day 2

Topic Description
Intermediate Compositing, Part 1 Essentials of Compositing
Intermediate Compositing, Part 2 Creating a Drop Shadow, Animation, Image Warping and Grain
QuickPaint Setting Resolution, Edit versus Paint Mode, Using the Brushes, Picking Colour, Modifying Strokes, Stroke Modes, Converting Strokes, Creating a Write-On Effect, Painting in Perspective, Dustbusting and Rotoscoping

Day 3

Topic Description
RotoShape Add Shapes Mode versus Edit Shapes Mode, Creating and Modifying Shapes, Knot Modes, Right Mouse Controls, RotoShape Exercise, Roto Tips, Miscellaneous Rotoshape Viewer Controls
Film Compositing Film Resolution Files, Proxies, The Vine Composite, Rendering Full Resolution
Video/Audio Video Fields, Miscellaneous Video Functions, Audio

Day 4

Topic Description
Keying Understanding Primatte
Advanced Compositing Photoshop Files, FileIn the Source Material, Tracking: Stabilisation, Building the Composite, The Curve Editor
Animation Creating the Fairy

Day 5

Topic Description
Tracking One-Point Tracking, Four-Point Tracking, Tracker Adjustments
Command Line Shake in the Command Line
Compositing Maya Renders in Shake Multipass as a Lifestyle, A Multipass LIghting Composite, Creating a Multipass Macro, Compositing the Multipass Scene, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Rendering Out of Maya, More Maya-Shake Timesavers

To Register

Check the course schedule for a list of courses available for registration at Apple Authorised Training Centres worldwide.

Build Credibility. Get Certified.

This course covers the knowledge necessary to become an Apple Certified Pro, Level One in Shake. Level One certification is granted upon successful completion of the Shake, Level One exam. Apple Authorised Training Centres offer this exam either as part of the course or separately.

Apple Pro Training Series

Shake 4

The book for this course is Shake 4, by Marco Paolini.