Book Description
Macromedia Flash is fast becoming the Web's most widely used platform for creating rich media with animation and motion graphics, but mastering Flash isn't easy. Most entry-level books teach through simple examples that concentrate on either animation or scripting, but rarely both together. To get the most from Flash 8, you not only need to be proficient in programming/interface design, you need the creativity for story telling and the artistic insights to design fluid animation.
Flash 8: Projects for Learning Animation and Interactivity teaches Flash design rather than simply Flash itself. With a standalone series of walkthroughs and tutorials for Flash beginners coming from a graphics field, this book teaches Flash in the context of real-world projects. Rather than learn a Flash tool for the sake of it, you learn which areas of Flash are important, and which are less used, simply by seeing how typical content is actually created. And rather than a text-heavy approach, this graphically rich book leads you through hands-on examples by illustration.
Each project in the book starts with goals and broad sketches before moving to design and scripting. This helps you understand design intent-the why of the process-rather than just learning the interfaces and the how of it all. Along the way, you'll create Flash content that includes traditional animation techniques (as seen in full-length animated features), and ActionScript-based interactive animation, such as custom web site interface designs. You also learn how to combine both traditional animation techniques and ActionScript to create feature-rich Flash assets from the ground up.
Co-authored by educational developers with years of experience creating compelling content, interfaces, and applications, Flash 8: Projects for Learning Animation and Interactivity offers a content-driven approach that is also inspiration-driven. You learn because you're accomplishing something tangible, not because you think you need to know how a tool works.
If you want to understand how various features of Flash come together to create a final end design, this book provides you with both the insight and the know-how.
Customer Reviews:
Look Ma! I can Animate! And Interact!.......2007-04-19
I like this book. It's easy. It's clear. It reminds me of the wise words: "Keep it Simple Stupid!"
I used this book to teach a class of teenagers about Flash and it was great. I gave it to a marketing guy who professed an interest in making some stuff in Flash and it was great. And I've used it myself. Again, great. The authors have filled the book with practical mini-projects that explain various concepts in Flash.
This is a book about the basics for beginners. It covers the basics of a whole range of methods and techniques. And it touches upon more advanced concepts briefly and helpfully. All the way from the drawing tools in Flash to using some action script and bit map effects. It has a very clear explanation of what a conditional statement is, for example. And also exaplins variables and scope succintly and accurately. It also tells you how to make a roll-over button in Flash. Awesome! (Hey... remember the first one you made? I still get excited about swapping images on the fly with code, so I can dig it.)
If you know somebody who has NO CLUE - and I include myself in that category at times, obviously - how to: center something on the stage (Align), undo to ten steps ago (History), make a photo move around (Importing, Tweening), have a cartoon character walk believably (Walk Cycles), display only part of a photo (Masking), make a volume knob for your own web radio station (Sound Control), let people email them from their Flash website (Form Data)... Well, then! This is the book for them.
This is great for the beginner.......2007-04-18
Flash 8 Projects for learning Animation and Interactivity
By Rich Shupe & Robert Hoekman, Jr.
Publisher: O'Reilly
Copyright 2006
IBSN: 0-596-10223-2
Review by: Linda Weller
The books learning style is organic. They pair topics with goals. You learn by doing. Shortcuts are highlighted. Self teaching is encouraged by allowing you to expand on the projects using what you have learned. Sample files are available online or on the CD Rom.
They try to spoon feed you a little ActionScript in the sidebars of the book. Then you get to the chapter on creating a form and wow your using somewhat complex ActionScript and a PHP form. I hope you have a server installed that allows PHP for this one.
This book is filled with lots of special little tips. For example they tell you the difference between object level undo's and document level undo's. I bet you thought it was just ctrl +z.
Some of the Flash 8 features that are covered are Object drawing and Merge draw and when to you each one, metadata fields to make your Flash files search engine friendly, copy to grid assistant and, the distributed duplicate assistant.
Productivity tips are covered using the align panel, timeline effect assistants and the history panel. Have you ever needed to change a symbol's registration point after it is made? Go to the Info window.
Usability is covered. The author's show you how to add an active content bar to your menu buttons so the user knows where they are in the menu. Also, using the anchor from the label type drop down menu which is like an HTML anchor enables the back and forward buttons to work when navigating browsers.
There is information on all the basics: making an invisible button, tweening, shape tweening and, masks. How to work with assets is discussed. They show why we use PNG format in Flash with a rather graphic example. You can access round trip editing with a program of your choice.
Chapter 7 is loaded with lots of animation techniques such as using shape tweening to have a house draw itself, gradient masks, enabling bitmap caching with ActionScript on the mask and masked movie clips. There is a whole exercise to help you learn to decide when you would use scripted and when you would use timeline animation.
The chapter on sound give you some great tips on trimming unused portions of your sound and using short loops to optimize your files. They even tell you of a free sound editor. You create an MP3 player and a video player with ActionScript as well as creating players using the components.
All the new Bitmap caching and filter effects are discussed. You make bevel filters using ActionScript 2.0 classes.
They close off the last chapter with lots of web resources and tips. For example for file optimization purposes you can go to "file--save-- compact new" this totally removes deleted files from the system and reduces file size.
VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!.......2006-10-10
Are you a beginning Flash user who wants to bring their project ideas to life? If you are, then this book is for you. Authors Richard Shupe and Robert Hoekman, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that includes everything you need to get started in Flash.
Shupe and Robert Hoekman, begin by showing you how to use Flash's vector drawing tools. Then, the authors describe how you can set up your work environment the way you feel most comfortable. The authors then show you how to use a few essential techniques to create your first animated Flash movie. Next, they show you how to give your audience some control through the use of buttons and ActionScript. The authors also show you how Flash can work with other applications to help you meet your project needs. They continue by showing you how movie clips allow you to create animations that play independently of one another. Then, the authors show you how to create an animated advertisement for the sale of a home; as well as, other experience with some of these techniques. Next, they show you how to work with sound. They continue by showing you how to add video to your projects, with and without Action Script. Then, the authors describe how you can composite bitmap and vector assets on the fly and learn how to inject a heightened sense of expression into your files with real-time filter effects. The authors then show you how to use text. Next, they focus on solving one problem: Keeping initial download times to a minimum without compromising too much quality or creativity. The authors also show you how to use a template and components to construct a three-question quiz about what you've learned so far. They continue by exploring two slightly less conventional distribution methods for Flash content. Finally, they show you a few projects that demonstrate some of Flash's less common uses.
Several techniques are used in this most excellent book to help you better understand and retain the information you are given. More importantly, the preceding approach is what makes this book more effective learning tool than other books on the shelf.
Learning Flash animation for beginner.......2006-08-13
The Flash 8 projects for learning Animation and Interactivity book is a good resource for beginner to learn animation. It takes you step by step using practice examples to teach you basic animation techniques. The title of the book show two issues the first one is learning animation and I think the writer covered this part very well for beginners. The second issue is Learning Interactivity, which is covered along with the animation. The chapter that causes confusion for me is the 13th chapter. As it talks about e-learning in Flash, which is a very big issue that can not covered in one chapter, even for beginners. I think this part needs another book to cover deeply and give the beginner a strong beginning step in the field of e-learning.
Regardless the 13th chapter I see the book focused well and this helps the beginners to grasp the idea of the animation in Flash.
A Good Channel through which to learn Flash interface and action script.......2006-05-17
As the title states, this project-based approach to learning Flash 8 covers everything from becoming familiar with the interface to using both vector graphics versus pixilated images to the power of writing action script.
For the beginning Flash 8 user, this book starts from scratch on how to draw objects. It begins by having the reader draw a simple box; by then end of the third chapter, what started as one object has become a movie, complete with alpha effects, motion effects, and even a first stab at action script. The remainder of the book builds off these core aspects of Flash. As a beginner, the book made it easy to follow through the step-by-step processes required to make Flash 8 work as desired.
Not only does the book walk Flash users through the step-by-step processes, it also includes very useful sidebar notes and separate comment boxes (not to mention the wide sidebar space that just happen to be perfect for note-taking). These features are helpful in understanding how Flash `thinks' about the commands given in the projects. Also, the side notes will oftentimes refer the reader to the chapter in which a process is discussed in more detail to aid those more experienced users who have skipped around rather than reading the book cover-to-cover. Another handy feature of Flash 8: Projects for Learning Animation and Interactivity is the appendix titled "Tips and Resources," which lists some optional websites to extend Flash 8s possibilities; there is also a list of sites to practice with more tutorials.
One potential downside of working through these projects comes with any book that uses the project-based approach: time. It takes time to work through the examples, even the ones that start out with some of the background work already done for you. However, this approach also gives a more thorough understanding of Flash 8 and should be beneficial to anyone who prefers a hands-on approach to learning the software. As such, it may be best suited for beginning users, but definitely has some information throughout that all semi-experienced Flash users should know.
Average customer rating:
- Maybe the best Flash book I read
- Best buy for your time
- Good concept with a flawed delivery
- Great Learning Tool
- The Flash MX Project
|
The Flash MX Project
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Duncan
Manufacturer: New Riders Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0735712832 |
Book Description
Learn Macromedia Flash MX from the absolute beginning through
The Flash MX Project. This book begins with web project management concerns and challenges as well as Web design considerations and concepts, and then quickly progresses through beginning and intermediate Flash MX skills.
The Flash MX Project is broken up into a collection of hands-on seminars that each focus on teaching a specific aspect of Flash MX. Each seminar begins with a lesson that covers the concepts and techniques contained in that seminar. Then it continues with a Workshop, in which you are taken step-by-step through applying those concepts and techniques to an actual Flash movie. Reflecting the popularity, style, and award-winning innovation of many children's activity web sites, including Crayola and Lego, The Flash MX Project features a fictional children's activity site. If you choose to work through the book cover-to-cover, you will build an entire Flash web site that includes compelling graphics and animation, audio, video, ActionScript-driven activities, games and personalization, and XML-driven forms. However, if you wish to learn a specific aspect of Flash MX, you'll be able to go right to the seminar that covers it, open the source files off of the CD, and pick it right up.
Customer Reviews:
Maybe the best Flash book I read.......2003-06-10
I have spent lots of money on Flash books and most aren't worth a dime. This book gives you hands on training by building a site. I would say it isn't the easiest book to read, but very well written. What this book showed me was how to put to use what all those other books talked about. Learning flash is one thing, but knowing how to design a website using flash is something hard to grasp. This book helped. Also, this book made me realize how difficult it is to put a quality site together using Flash. Consequently, Flash seems like a lot of work to spruce up your site a little. What we really need is a program easier then Flash that can animate your site (Swish doesn't have the power to do what flash can). Buy it if you are prepared to read and work hard at building and learning from this book. Believe me you'll learn something from this book if you put forth the effort.
Best buy for your time.......2003-06-03
If you have any desire of learning Flash MX, this si the bookfor you. I'm a college student with little time and even a smaller checkbook. This book definitely taught me everything I needed and wanted to know about Flash -- from making a movie to the complexity of Action Scripting -- in little time. Plus, it was easier on my pocketbook than almost any other comprehensive book available.
Good concept with a flawed delivery.......2003-01-11
The concept behind this book is to learn by building a Flash MX project from beginning to end. It is a great concept and a great way to learn. Sadly, the delivery is highly flawed.
To cite an example: The activity on page 73 has the reader turning on the Grid feature and editing the properties. The book tells the reader to select File, Grid, Edit Grid. There are no Grid selections under the File menu option. They are located under the View menu. Mistakes such as this occur far too often in the book.
I suppose a reasonably intelligent reader could figure it out for themselves (and learn in the process) but, if that is the case, why does one need to spend $30 to work around someone elses errors.
I also found myself annoyed by the use of non gender neutral language. In most instances, "she" is used over the more neutral "they". I do realize that this is a minor point, but annoying otherwise.
New Riders publications, have some great ideas. However, their technical editors leave a lot to be desired. In nearly every book I have used by them, their have been serious technical flaws (one book's files did not match the text instructions). These books are not inexpensive and greater care should be taken with technical material.
I was feeling generous today and gave it 3-stars. You will get something out of it, but be prepared to work for it.
Great Learning Tool.......2002-12-27
Don't let the project site developed in this book mislead you. Though its style and design are aimed to a very young audience, learning by developing the site touches on every feature of Flash MX, even the up-town, whiz-bang, o-so-cool features used in the most sophisticated Flash sites, so, rather than ooohing and wowing over dazzling effects, you actually delve into the foundational concepts and techniques of creating a Flash site.
The explanations are clear, and the instructions concise. For those who have never created a Flash file or site, but who have a million ideas to impliment, this book is invaluable.
The Flash MX Project.......2002-12-20
Do you learn best by reading the theory and mechanics, and then doing it? This one's for YOU!
The writing is concise and broken into manageable clumps that suit those who mull new ideas as well as those who read only headings and captions, then slam into gear on their own.
Build a website using FlashMX with no pain or strain. But don't be fooled by the simplicity of this book's website project style and subject matter. The site construction takes you painlessly through every up-town feature FlashMX has to offer.
In a classroom/lab situation or alone in your own quiet corner of the web universe, this book will boost you up to speed with FlashMX in a flash.
Book Description
See how far your imagination can take you as you explore Web design possibilities with Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash, and Macromedia Fireworks. Begin your journey with Dreamweaver as you plan your project: set your Home Page and add additional pages. Jazz up your new site with images, graphics, and awesome backgrounds. Next, tackle Flash as you learn how to create animation. Add sound and motion and work with scenes. Then it's on to Fireworks as you work with interactivity and animation. Finish up by combining your newfound skills. Insert Fireworks images and Flash movies into a Dreamweaver document. With a little creativity, some solid design principles, and truly powerful multimedia tools, the possibilities are endless!
Customer Reviews:
It is good to read and try the software as a first step..........2004-01-22
This book is well-organized for a very beginner to learn how to use Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks as a first step. Actually I enjoyed practicing Dreamweaver and Flash with this book in a way. The pictures helped me to understand what I should do. However, I think the Fireworks part is too simple. I believe that many web designers always use PaintShop, Photoshop, or Fireworks to design the surface/skin of websites at first, transfer them to Dreamweaver to finalize them and make them functional as a web site. This book does not explain how to use fireworks enough for web designs. It is not great in the last part explaining how to put Flash, Fireworks, and Dreamweaver together as a effective web site. No web designer would be satisfied with only this book.
If this book was good to keep in my shelf, and I check something in the book again, I would have put four or five stars. However, I don't feel I need to keep this book. This means that I won't review this book again. That makes me put only three stars here.
Great coverage.......2003-12-01
This book contains great coverage of the different applications: Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX, and Fireworks MX. It is very helpful in my classroom and my students react well to it!
Great for Web Design Class.......2003-09-23
I am presently using this book in my semester Web Design I class. The book is great for students to learn how to use Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks. The sample files are very helpful to use with each exercise. My students are learning a great deal!
Average customer rating:
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PROJECT FLASH MX (Macromedia Flash)
Nat Gertler
Manufacturer: Cengage Delmar Learning
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Project: Photoshop (Project (Delmar))
ASIN: 1401826016 |
Book Description
Bring Web pages to life with eye-catching animation, interactive graphics, deluxe menu systems, and many other cool and creative features! Project Flash MX features 20 hands-on projects designed to lead readers, step-by-step, to a thorough understanding of the "whys" and "hows" of today's most popular tool for creating innovative web graphics. Ideal for readers who learn by doing, every project in this fast-paced and richly illustrated how-to book is broken down into a set of specific procedures. For additional simplification, each procedure is further divided into a series of short, straightforward steps that are accompanied by clear, concise, and easy-to-follow instructions. Tips appear at strategic points to reinforce key concepts and help readers avoid common pitfalls. A "Deeper Understanding" feature allows readers to explore in greater depth some of the most frequently used and leading-edge functions of Flash. All of the projects are presented in a logical sequence so that readers can build on the skills learned in previous projects. Best of all, each project produces its own tangible and rewarding result, propelling beginning through intermediate users to new levels of skill with Macromedia's Flash MX.
Book Description
This new book provides in-depth projects with instruction and practice for courses involving website production with graphics, animation and sound and creation of optimized and interactive web graphics. Macromedia Dreamweaver MX creates and manages websites and Internet applications. Macromedia Fireworks MX designs and optimizes web graphics for easy integration into a website. Macromedia Flash MX creates rich Internet content and applications. Macromedia Freehand MX creates vector-based illustrations for the web and for print.
Book Description
This book provides in-depth projects with instruction and practice for courses involving Web site production with interactive graphics, animation, and sound. It is an excellent addition to any curriculum on multimedia and Web site design and offers instsruction on Macromedia Flash MX 2004, Dreamweaver MX 2004, Fireworks MX 2004, and Freehand MX.
Average customer rating:
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Flash Mx 2004: Proyectos Profesionales/Professional Projects (Diseno Y Creatividad / Design & Creativity)
Daniel De La Cruz Heras
Manufacturer: Anaya Multimedia
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ASIN: 8441517088 |
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Multimedia Projects for Macromedia Flash MX and Dreamweaver MX
Macromedia Inc
Manufacturer: Course Technology
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound
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ASIN: 0619055146 |
Book Description
This new three-ring instructor binder provides additional projects with instruction and practice for courses involving website production. Includes coverage of graphics, animation, sound, and creation of optimzed and interactive web graphics. An excellent companion to any curriculum on multimedia and web design.
Books:
- Goodnight Moon
- Hieronymus Bosch
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- How to Get a Job in Computer Animation
- How to Wrap Five More Eggs: Traditional Japanese Packaging
- How Video Works
- iMovie 6 & iDVD: The Missing Manual
Books Index
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Macromedia Flash 8 @work: Projects and Techniques to Get the Job Done (@Work)
Dreamweaver 8 Design and Construction (O'Reilly Digital Studio)
Flash 8: The Missing Manual
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Foundation ActionScript for Flash 8 (Foundation)
