Macromedia Flash Mx

by Brian Underdahl

Overview

Macromedia Flash is the hottest tool on the Web because its quick-loading and motion-rich files dovetail perfectly with the Internet's mission -- to provide visual information over which the viewer has navigational control. Capitalize on Flash motion by tweening animated sequence, then add sophisticated behaviors with ActionScript, the native programming language of Flash. Import, edit, and synchronize sound, and work with all types of graphic files -- including bitmap. Optimize your movies, then publish to the Web and to alternative formats. From simple animations you can create in minutes, to morphing text and highly animated movies, this guide will help you get the most from this awesome motion graphics application.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780072222661
Publisher:	McGraw-Hill Companies, The
Publication date:	03/22/2002
Series:	Beginner's Guide Series
Pages:	428
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.87(d)

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xv
	Introduction	xvii
1	Understanding Flash	1
	What Can You Do with Flash?	2
	Understanding Flash's Basic Elements	10
Project 1	Creating a Simple Animation	22
	Mastery Check	24
2	Learning the Flash Toolbox	25
	Learning the Toolbox	26
	Using the Tools	30
Project 2	Drawing a Truck and Adding Some Text	48
	Mastery Check	53
3	Learning the Flash Panels	55
	Understanding the Panels	56
Project 3	Setting Properties with the Properties Panel	74
4	Using the Timeline and Layers	77
	Understanding How the Timeline Works	78
	Understanding Layers	89
Project 4	Adding Some Layers and Frames to the Timeline	99
	Mastery Check	102
5	Drawing Objects	103
	Drawing Lines and Fills	104
	Using Colors	110
	Rotating, Skewing, and Scaling	119
	Grouping Objects	124
Project 5	Drawing a Button with a Gradient Fill	129
	Mastery Check	131
6	Creating Animations	133
	How Animation Works	134
	Learning About Tween Types	138
	Creating Motion Tweens	142
	Creating Shape Tweens	146
Project 6	Creating a Bouncing Ball Animation	152
	Mastery Check	155
7	Using Guides and Masks	157
	Understanding Guides	158
	Creating Guides	160
	Understanding Masks	168
	Creating a Mask	169
Project 7	Using a Mask to Create Banner Text	178
	Mastery Check	181
8	Creating Symbols and Using the Library	183
	Learning About Symbols	184
	Creating Symbols	189
	Using Symbol Instances	198
	Using Libraries	202
Project 8	Creating and Using a Rolling Wheel Movie Clip	211
	Mastery Check	214
9	Using Imported Graphics	215
	Understanding Importing Graphics	216
	Importing Vector Graphics	218
	Importing Bitmap Graphics	230
	Converting Bitmaps into Vectors	233
	Converting Text into Graphics	237
Project 9	Making Text Fly into Place to Assemble Words	240
	Mastery Check	242
10	Adding Sounds to Your Movies	243
	Understanding the Sound Options	244
	Importing Sounds	248
	Adding Sounds	250
	Synchronizing Sounds	254
	Editing Sounds	256
	Setting the Sound Output Options	261
Project 10	Compressing and Using a Soundtrack	265
	Mastery Check	268
11	Publishing Flash Movies	269
	Getting Your Movie Ready to Publish	270
	Optimizing Your Movies	272
	Putting Your Movies on the Web	282
	Exporting Flash in Alternative Formats	288
Project 11	Creating a Stand-Alone Flash Movie Using a Projector	291
	Mastery Check	293
12	Learning Basic ActionScript Concepts	295
	Understanding ActionScript	296
	ActionScript Basics	299
	Data Type Basics	312
Project 12	Adding Simple ActionScript to a Movie	316
	Mastery Check	320
13	Learning Basic ActionScript Programming	321
	Applying ActionScript	322
	Using ActionScript to Control Actions	329
	Using ActionScript to Control Properties	336
	Understanding Actions and Event Handlers	340
Project 13	Using Simple ActionScript to Control Movie Flow	342
	Mastery Check	346
14	Learning More ActionScript Programming	347
	Understanding ActionScript Versions	348
	Using More ActionScript Actions	352
	Using ActionScript Operators	360
	Using Functions in ActionScript	363
	Setting Properties	365
Project 14	Using ActionScript to Fade an Object In and Out	367
	Mastery Check	371
Appendix	Answers to Mastery Checks	373
Module 1	Understanding Flash	374
Module 2	Learning the Flash Toolbox	375
Module 3	Learning the Flash Panels	376
Module 4	Using the Timeline and Layers	377
Module 5	Drawing Objects	378
Module 6	Creating Animations	379
Module 7	Using Guides and Masks	380
Module 8	Creating Symbols and Using the Library	381
Module 9	Using Imported Graphics	382
Module 10	Adding Sounds to Your Movies	383
Module 11	Publishing Flash Movies	384
Module 12	Learning Basic ActionScript Concepts	385
Module 13	Learning Basic ActionScript Programming	386
Module 14	Learning More ActionScript Programming	387
	Index	389