Updated and revised, this bestselling tutorial is a clearly written, well-organized introduction to Flash and gives the beginner an overview of the application's newest version.
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Introduction xxiii
Part I: Assembling the Graphics You’ll Animate in Flash
HOUR 1 Basics 3
Jump Right In and Make an Animation.......................................................................... 3
Getting Your Bearings....................................................................................................... 6
The Stage.............................................................................................................. 7
The Tools Panel................................................................................................. 11
The Timeline....................................................................................................... 12
The Properties Panel......................................................................................... 14
The Library......................................................................................................... 19
Getting Around in Flash................................................................................................. 20
The Current Layer............................................................................................. 20
The Current Frame............................................................................................. 21
The Current Scene or Current Symbol........................................................... 22
Navigating Through the Interface.................................................................. 23
Document Properties....................................................................................................... 26
File Types.......................................................................................................................... 27
Source (.fla) Files............................................................................................... 27
Exported (.swf) Files.......................................................................................... 28
HTML Files That Host the .swf File............................................................... 29
Summary............................................................................................................................ 30
QandA................................................................................................................................... 30
Workshop......................................................................................................................... 31
Quiz...................................................................................................................... 31
Quiz Answers..................................................................................................... 31
HOUR 2 Drawing and Painting Original Art in Flash 33
Drawing on the Stage...................................................................................................... 34
Tools.................................................................................................................................. 34
Viewing and Modification Tools.................................................................... 35
Creation Tools................................................................................................... 37
Selecting and Transforming Objects............................................................................. 53
Object Draw Mode Versus Merge Mode...................................................... 54
Selection Tools ................................................................................................. 56
The Dropper Tool.............................................................................................. 60
Transforming Scale, Rotation, Envelope, and Distortion............................ 61
Using Snap to Objects to Connect Shapes................................................... 65
Summary............................................................................................................................ 68
QandA................................................................................................................................... 68
Workshop......................................................................................................................... 69
Quiz...................................................................................................................... 69
Quiz Answers..................................................................................................... 69
Exercise............................................................................................................... 70
HOUR 3 Importing Graphics into Flash 71
Vector Graphics Versus Raster Graphics...................................................................... 71
Reasons to Avoid Importing Graphics......................................................................... 72
Importing Vector Graphics.............................................................................................. 73
Importing from a File......................................................................................... 73
Using Bitmaps (Also Known as Raster Graphics)...................................................... 79
Importing Flat Raster Graphics........................................................................ 80
Adjusting Bitmap Properties........................................................................... 82
Importing Layered Raster Graphics................................................................ 87
Summary............................................................................................................................ 90
QandA................................................................................................................................... 90
Workshop......................................................................................................................... 91
Quiz...................................................................................................................... 92
Quiz Answers..................................................................................................... 92
HOUR 4 Using the Library for Productivity 93
The Concept of the Library............................................................................................ 94
How to Create and Use Symbols.................................................................... 94
How Symbols Help You................................................................................. 100
Using the Library........................................................................................................... 101
Getting Your Bearings.................................................................................... 101
Managing the Library by Using Names, Sorting, and Folders................. 103
Using Symbols from the Library.................................................................................. 106
Placing Instances of Symbols on the Stage................................................ 106
Modifying Instances of Symbols................................................................. 106
Using Color Styles.......................................................................................... 108
How Each Instance Behaves Differently..................................................... 112
Nesting Instances of Symbols Inside Symbols.......................................... 113
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 116
QandA................................................................................................................................. 116
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 117
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 117
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 118
HOUR 5 Controlling Color 119
Using Blends and Filters............................................................................................... 119
Controlling Color............................................................................................................ 124
Creating Solid and Gradient Swatches......................................................... 124
Using and Transforming Gradients.............................................................. 130
Applied Examples Using Blends and Filters............................................... 135
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 139
QandA................................................................................................................................. 140
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 140
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 141
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 141
HOUR 6 Applied Layout Techniques 143
Setting Text..................................................................................................................... 143
Static Text Layout........................................................................................... 143
Embedding Fonts for Dynamic Text............................................................. 145
Applied Examples Using Color Styles, Blends, and Filters..................................... 148
Practical Uses for Blends............................................................................... 148
Practical Uses for Filters................................................................................. 150
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 153
QandA................................................................................................................................. 153
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 154
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 154
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 155
Part II: Animating in Flash
HOUR 7 Understanding Animation 159
How Animation Works................................................................................................. 159
Elements of Animation.................................................................................................. 160
Frames and Frame Rate................................................................................... 160
Frame Rate Versus the Number of Frames................................................... 163
Frame Rates of Different Types of Animation............................................ 164
Keyframes and Blank Keyframes.................................................................. 165
Tweening.......................................................................................................... 169
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 170
QandA................................................................................................................................. 170
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 171
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 172
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 172
HOUR 8 Animation the Old-Fashioned Way 173
Understanding the Brute-Force Animation Technique........................................... 173
Previewing an Animation Using Test Movie.............................................. 176
Editing One Keyframe at a Time.................................................................... 177
Changing the Frame View Setting................................................................. 177
Using the Onion Skin Tools.......................................................................... 177
Enhancing a Frame-by-Frame Animation................................................................... 182
Incorporating Pauses...................................................................................... 182
Implying Motion.............................................................................................. 183
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 185
QandA................................................................................................................................. 185
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 186
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 186
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 187
Exercise............................................................................................................. 187
HOUR 9 Using Motion Tweens to Animate 189
Creating a Motion Tween............................................................................................. 189
Following the Rules of a Motion Tween..................................................... 192
Motion Tweening Techniques and Tips..................................................... 193
Fine-Tuning a Motion Tween...................................................................................... 198
Using Multiple Keyframes............................................................................. 198
Using Ease In and Ease Out.......................................................................... 200
Custom Easing................................................................................................. 201
Rotating in a Motion Tween.......................................................................... 204
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 205
QandA................................................................................................................................. 206
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 207
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 207
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 208
Exercises........................................................................................................... 208
HOUR 10 Using Shape Tweens to Morph 209
Making a Shape Tween................................................................................................. 209
Following the Rules of a Shape Tween........................................................ 211
Techniques and Tips...................................................................................... 211
Refining and Fine-tuning a Shape Tween.................................................................. 215
Using Shape Hints.......................................................................................... 215
Understanding Shape Hints.......................................................................... 218
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 220
QandA................................................................................................................................. 221
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 222
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 222
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 222
Exercise............................................................................................................. 222
HOUR 11 Including Sound in Animations 223
Importing Sounds.......................................................................................................... 223
Supported Formats.......................................................................................... 224
Using Sounds................................................................................................................. 227
Synch Settings................................................................................................. 229
Effect Settings.................................................................................................. 232
Loop Settings................................................................................................... 234
Controlling Quality and File Size................................................................................. 236
Digital Audio Fundamentals ......................................................................... 237
Export Settings................................................................................................. 238
Tricks for Efficiency........................................................................................ 242
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 243
QandA................................................................................................................................. 244
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 245
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 246
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 246
HOUR 12 Using Layers in Animations 247
How Layers Work.......................................................................................................... 247
The True Purpose of Layers.......................................................................... 247
Layer Properties That Help You Edit............................................................ 250
Managing Layers............................................................................................ 254
Using Layer Properties for Visual Effect.................................................................... 255
Guide Layers.................................................................................................... 255
Motion Guide Layers...................................................................................... 260
Mask Layers..................................................................................................... 263
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 267
QandA................................................................................................................................. 268
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 269
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 269
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 270
Exercises........................................................................................................... 270
HOUR 13 Nesting Animations in Movie Clip and Graphic Symbols 271
Movie Clip Symbol Behavior....................................................................................... 272
Creating Nested Movie Clips........................................................................ 272
Comparing Movie Clip Symbols to Graphic Symbols................................ 274
When to Use Movie Clips............................................................................. 277
Subtleties of Movie Clips............................................................................................. 278
Addressable Movie Clip Instances.............................................................. 278
Effects on Download Order........................................................................... 280
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 280
QandA................................................................................................................................. 280
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 281
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 282
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 282
Exercises........................................................................................................... 283
HOUR 14 Creating Special Effects 285
Effects with Shapes....................................................................................................... 285
Painting with Bitmaps..................................................................................... 286
Breaking Apart Text........................................................................................ 287
Turning Text into a Shape.............................................................................. 289
Using Filters for Special Effects................................................................................... 291
Showing Depth with Shadows...................................................................... 292
Adding a Motion Blur.................................................................................... 294
Masking Effects............................................................................................................. 295
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 301
QandA................................................................................................................................. 302
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 302
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 302
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 303
Exercise............................................................................................................. 303
Part III: Adding Interactivity and Video
HOUR 15 Basic Interactivity 307
Basic ActionScript......................................................................................................... 308
Specifying Actions by Using Parameters.................................................... 311
Frame Actions.................................................................................................. 315
Making Simple Buttons................................................................................................. 316
Listening for Events...................................................................................................... 320
Understanding Event Handling.................................................................... 322
Properties and Methods................................................................................. 324
ActionScript Application............................................................................... 326
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 330
QandA................................................................................................................................. 330
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 331
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 331
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 332
HOUR 16 Introducing Components 333
What Is a Component?................................................................................................. 334
Using the Button Component...................................................................................... 338
Using the RadioButton Component............................................................................ 340
Changing Component Appearances........................................................................... 344
Manually Editing Component Skins............................................................. 344
Setting the Style of a Single Component Instance..................................... 346
Setting the Style of One Component Type................................................. 346
Setting the Style of All Components............................................................ 347
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 347
QandA................................................................................................................................. 347
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 349
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 349
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 349
HOUR 17 Using Components 351
Using Data Providers.................................................................................................... 351
Using the List Component............................................................................. 355
Using the DataGrid Component.................................................................... 357
Exercises with Other Components............................................................................... 359
Using the ProgressBar Component.............................................................. 359
Using the Slider Component.......................................................................... 361
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 363
QandA................................................................................................................................. 364
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 365
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 365
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 366
HOUR 18 Using Video 367
Embedding Video Versus Playing External Video..................................................... 367
Making Video Look Good.............................................................................. 368
Supported Formats.......................................................................................... 370
Using Video.................................................................................................................... 376
Playing an Embedded Video.......................................................................... 376
Playing External .flv Videos........................................................................... 378
Special Effects.................................................................................................. 380
Optimizing Quality and File Size.................................................................... 386
Using Outside Video Editors......................................................................... 387
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 387
QandA................................................................................................................................. 388
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 389
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 389
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 390
Part IV: Putting It All Together for the Web
HOUR 19 Linking a Movie to the Web 393
Basic Publishing............................................................................................................. 393
Simple Hyperlinks.......................................................................................................... 398
Using Style Sheets......................................................................................................... 403
What Other Web Tasks Can Flash Do?..................................................................... 405
Targeting Windows........................................................................................ 405
Sending Email: The mailto: Command.......................................................... 406
Using Flash Inside a Larger Website.......................................................................... 407
Pop-up Windows............................................................................................ 407
Uploading Files to a Web Server................................................................................. 410
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 412
QandA................................................................................................................................. 412
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 413
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 413
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 414
HOUR 20 Designing a Website to Be Modular 415
Loading Movies or Images........................................................................................... 416
Determining When a Movie Is Fully Loaded............................................................ 419
Playing External Sounds............................................................................................... 422
Loading External Text.................................................................................................... 423
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 425
QandA................................................................................................................................. 426
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 426
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 427
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 427
Exercise............................................................................................................. 427
HOUR 21 Minimizing File Size 429
File Size Considerations................................................................................................ 429
Calculating Download Times......................................................................... 430
What’s Big? What’s Small?........................................................................... 431
Sounds and Bitmaps....................................................................................... 434
Using the Bandwidth Profiler........................................................................ 438
Improving the Download Experience........................................................... 447
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 448
QandA................................................................................................................................. 448
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 449
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 449
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 450
HOUR 22 Optimizing Performance 451
Measuring Performance................................................................................................ 451
Impacts on Performance................................................................................................ 452
Be Creative....................................................................................................... 453
Avoiding Gratuitous Special Effects............................................................ 453
Avoiding Streaming Sounds......................................................................... 454
Graphic Issues................................................................................................. 454
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 457
QandA................................................................................................................................. 457
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 457
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 458
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 458
HOUR 23 Advanced Animation Techniques 459
It’s the Result, Not the Technology........................................................................... 460
Simple Techniques to Use Sparingly........................................................... 460
Ways to Fool the User................................................................................... 461
Applying Conventional Techniques.......................................................................... 462
Adding a Motion Blur.................................................................................... 463
Using Anticipation.......................................................................................... 465
Using Overkill.................................................................................................. 467
Simulating Depth............................................................................................. 469
Controlling Point of View............................................................................... 474
Beginning with the End in Mind................................................................... 476
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 477
QandA................................................................................................................................. 477
Workshop....................................................................................................................... 478
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 478
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 478
Exercise............................................................................................................. 479
HOUR 24 Publishing a Creation 481
How to Publish............................................................................................................... 481
Ensuring Users Have the Flash Player......................................................... 485
Using Publish Templates............................................................................... 488
Adding Metadata to Your Flash Creation.................................................................. 490
Deciding Which Media Types to Publish.................................................................. 492
Publishing Flash (.swf) Files.......................................................................... 492
Publishing HTML Files.................................................................................. 495
Publishing GIF, JPG, and PNG Files.............................................................. 496
Exporting Other Media Types...................................................................................... 502
Publishing AVI Files........................................................................................... 502
Publishing Image Sequences............................................................................. 502
Summary...................................................................................................................... 503
QandA............................................................................................................................. 504
Workshop................................................................................................................... 504
Quiz.................................................................................................................... 505
Quiz Answers................................................................................................... 505
Exercise............................................................................................................. 505
GLOSSARY 507
Online Bonus Content
Appendix A Shapes You Can Make in Merge Drawing Mode
Appendix B Resources
Appendix C ActionScript Primer0672329379, TOC, 5/22/2007
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