Apples new Shake 3.5, features new shape-based morphing and warping tools for advanced compositing and new shape shifting special effects, fine-tuned to take advantage of the performance and architecture of the Power Mac G5 and Mac OS X version 10.3 Panther.
As high-resolution formats like HD become commonplace in post-production, Shake is the production proven product for delivering quality, speed, openness and affordability for resolution independent visual effects, said Rob Schoeben, Apples vp of applications marketing. Apple has integrated shape-based morphing and warping, the most highly sought after features for our users, directly into Shake 3.5, making these advanced features even easier to create.
The new shape-based morphing and warping features in Shake 3.5 use industry standard spline tools, making it more intuitive to create and modify effects than with traditional mesh-based warping tools. Morphing and warping further enhance Shakes visual effects tools, including layering, tracking, rotoscoping, painting and color correction.
Shake 3.5 has also improved upon the Rendezvous enabled Shake Qmaster network render manager that can now handle distributed rendering tasks for both Shake and Alias Maya, allowing visual effects artists to easily distribute rendering tasks across a cluster of Apples Xserve G5 servers or desktop Power Mac G5 computers. With the addition of support for 16-bit RGB and 10-bit YUV QuickTime formats, Shake 3.5 ensures that the highest quality image is always maintained, whether exchanging media with Final Cut Pro HD or archiving entire sequences.
Shake 3.5 features one of the fastest resolution independent software rendering engines on the market, with production proven visual effects tools and a compositing architecture that supports multiple resolutions and color bit depths simultaneously. With Shake 3.5, visual effects artists can selectively choose which operations process at 8-, 16- or 32-bit floating color bit-depth, allowing high dynamic range images to be composited with greater fidelity while still maintaining high performance. Shake 3.5 also includes the industrys leading keyers, Photron Primatte and CFC Keylight.
Shake 3.5 is integrated with Apples suite of professional applications, including Final Cut Pro HD, Apples editing software; Motion, a breakthrough new application that redefines professional motion graphics production; DVD Studio Pro 3, a professional DVD authoring application; Soundtrack, an innovative music composition tool; and Logi Pro 6, for computer-based music production.
Shake 3.5 is available immediately for Mac OS X, Linux and IRIX through Apple Authorized Pro Film Resellers. Shake 3.5 will be available for Mac OS X with unlimited render licenses for a suggested retail price of $2,999, and for Linux and IRIX for a suggested retail price of $4,999 with an annual maintenance of $1,499. Registered users of Shake 3 can upgrade for $799. A full list of Shake 3.5 system requirements can be found at www.apple.com/shake.
Designed for major motion picture studios and leading visual effects houses, Shake has been used in the production of every Oscar-winning film for Best Visual Effects over the past seven years, including this years winner, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING.
