Is it still a good time to learn how to Shake ?

December 12, 2007 9:28 AM

Is learning Shake, the visual effect software, still worth the trouble since Apple dropped it or should i learn to use a different package ?

I am learning to do compositing and motion graphics. Right now i'm playing with after effects. It's a very good software but it seems that a lot of vfx houses are using node based interface packages to do their stuff. I'd like to learn to navigate in such a software.
Shake is one of those package and it seems to be the most widely used.
My problem is that, Shake is not supported by Apple anymore.
They're planning on releasing a new thing next year called Phenomenon. Since it's an Apple product, nobody knows anything about it yet, it could be a new and improved Shake, it could also be a dumbed down version to appeal to a larger market.
Should i still put the time and money to train on Shake or should i move to another software (Nuke ?) or should i just wait for the release of Phenomenon ?

posted by SageLeVoid to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Places that are using it already will keep using it until something better comes along, and that something may well be Phenomenon.

Whatever that something is, though, every place transitioning to it will have to learn it, whether they're currently on Shake or on something else.

Meanwhile, you don't know what the next big thing is yet, and having Shake on your resume won't hurt -- besides, you'll be able to learn concepts that will likely transfer to other node-based packages.

But, there's cost to consider. So the question really becomes picking which of these two options will cost you more:

1. Training on Shake (and the associated costs in money and time);
2. Waiting around to see what the next big thing is (and the associated costs in lost revenue and not having Shake training as a base for learning the next big thing.)
posted by davejay at 9:44 AM on December 12, 2007

There's always going to be some inertia in the market that will keep older software around for a while. This is usually the result of economics (new software is expensive) and training. You'll probably continue to see jobs for Shake but they will gradually diminish and the requirements for that particular skill will become secondary and then disappear in place of Phenomenon and other packages.

But that doesn't mean there won't be jobs and you could conceivably do quite well for a while - if you already knew Shake. Given that you'd have to spend your time and money learning software that is already dead, you'd be better off getting in on the Phenomenon (or Nuke) market as it grows, rather than chase one that is shrinking. If you were getting paid to learn, my advice might be different, of course.
posted by tommasz at 9:45 AM on December 12, 2007

You should learn a node based compositor. For much compositing work, it really makes life easy.

That being the case, it's got a very unique interface, and overall, was a pain to learn. It's great command line/math based...and so-so from a GUI point of view.

Have you looked at conduit? It's no shake, but it works inside FCP + motion.

Reasons to really use shake: Keying, tracking (although I'd suggest mocha), roto work.
Reasons not to use shake: text and tons of presets. Shake does neither terribly well.

Shake is dead. Phenomenon may or may not be dumbed down, cleaner, or whatever. Aside from shake, there's no other full node based compositor (although again, combustion has some features and again a good keyer + tracker.)

You'll spend $500 on the software + training time+cost. There aren't tons of free tutorials on it.

One last note, make sure you know of a place you can get shake; odds are that apple (when they release 'whatever') will have an upgrade path.
posted by filmgeek at 9:50 AM on December 12, 2007 [1 favorite]

Seconding filmgeek. FWIW, Shake is still an important part of my firm's workflow. The skills you develop are more important than the tools you develop them with.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:59 AM on December 12, 2007

Go ahead and learn shake. Whatever they come out with that's the next big thing will be geared toward allowing long time Shake users to transition into the new software easily. It will undoubtedly have a lot of interface niceties that Shake users will find familiar.

But, if you're doing more than compositing (you mentioned vfx work) then don't rely solely on shake. keep at least somewhat familiar with after effects and motion and maybe combustion.

the real question you may want to ask yourself is: "what are places that I'd like to work at looking for right now?" if it's shake users, then stick with it. they're not going to fire all their shake guys once something new comes out. they're going to ask those guys what to do and go with whatever the shake guys want. just keep an eye out for the next thing and try to apply your shake skills to it and refamiliarize yourself. it'll be good practice for when you go pro and have to do that once a year anyway.
posted by shmegegge at 10:34 AM on December 12, 2007

My company is still all shake based and will be for some time. Nuke is really the only other plays in this space, in my mind. While they are different, most of the basics are the same between packages. Learning shake right now will not be a waste of time.
posted by brent_h at 11:17 AM on December 12, 2007