Dover Studios (http://www.DoverStudios.com) has released "Shake
Techniques 2nd Edition," their latest visual effects training video.
It provides compositors with a variety of solutions that can be
applied to everyday compositing challenges.

The second edition has been completely updated and features 1080p
high definition video. Through a series of in-depth lessons, visual
effects artists, Andrew Hazelden and Russell Hazelden, share tips and
techniques that will help you create better composites in Shake.

Topics include several approaches to stabilizing footage including
the Stabilize node that uses motion trackers, and the SmoothCam node
that uses optical flow technology. Participants will learn how to use
the Defocus node and see how it can be used to simulate a real lens
by creating the Bokeh lens effect and how to discover how to pull a
key from a bluescreen shot by using the Keylight keyer and learn how
to use the Keylight status mode to troubleshoot a key.

Advanced topics include: creating a procedural animation using an
audio file and an expression, and building a composite using an
external matte with the SwitchMatte node. Demystify the topic of
alpha channels by learning what the terms premultiplied and
unpremultiplied really mean.

"Shake Techniques 2nd Edition" is available now as a download for
US$49.95 Single user and multi-user site licensed versions of the
video are available.