Why You Should Stop Using Das Element as a VFX Tool

Avais Gilani
Shade, Inc.
Published in
2 min readSep 19, 2023

In a world where AI is on the rise, having a traditional media management solution is no longer an option. If you’re still struggling with das element, it’s time to get caught up. Here’s why switching to an AI VFX manager is best for modern studios.

Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels. Found using Shade.

Why das element Was Never Good:

1) Manual Headaches: Though it has auto-tagging features, das element leans heavily on manual organization, a process that often results in a huge time waste. And das element’s auto-tagging has always been, In their own words, “a bogus assumption for a human user.”

2) Confusing Pricing Model: Trying to decipher das element’s pricing model and its confusing features is a headache. The end result is often paying more for something you really don’t understand, let alone use.

3) Lack of AI Power: While das element claimed to offer AI features, they are rudimentary at best and require additional payments. These features pale in comparison to any modern large language model.

4) Poor Workflow Integration: If I have to find an asset, I close After Effects, open das element, copy it, open After Effects again, then paste. You can see the problem here. The Integration within apps just isn’t there.

Shade: The Future of VFX Tools:

Now, let’s shift our focus to Shade, the AI VFX manager made for modern studios.

1. Precision Auto-Tagging: Shade’s AI automates tagging, categorization, and safeguards for your digital assets the right way. Shade’s auto-tagging is accurate and reliable.

2. Visual Neural Search Engine: Shade’s AI analyzes objects within your media, allowing you to search based on visual and auditory elements.

3. Seamless Integration: Unlike das element, Shade seamlessly integrates with your favorite software with it’s spotlight search, including video editing platforms like After Effects, Maya, and Blender — no more time-wasting transitions between windows.

4. Centralized Database Integration: Teams can seamlessly search one centralized database of all their assets, no matter where those assets are stored, whether it’s on SMB shares, NFS, or S3 storage (more coming soon).

5. Constant Improvement: Shade is continually evolving, with native rotoscoping support, video transcription, and more on the horizon. We’re committed to providing you with the latest tools.

6. Privacy-Centric Design: Every decision we’ve made in developing Shade Studio has privacy in mind. From AI processing to data indexing and search optimization, your data remains secure and under your control.

Making the Switch

It takes a lot less time than you’d expect (about 30 minutes) to get Shade set up at your studio. You can download the local build at www.shade.inc, or schedule a meeting with our CEO here if you’re looking for the API.

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