A Simple Guide to Flash MX (Simple Guide)

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A Simple Guide to Flash MX (Simple Guide)

Introduction
Since the emergence of the World Wide Web less than a decade ago, graphic
artists have demanded more and more from their software whilst also requiring
fast download times for their finished masterpieces. In the past few years,
Macromedia® Flash™ has become the de facto standard Web design tool for
creating interactive animated presentations on the Internet.
Flash is now in its sixth incarnation (known as MX) and works by placing
sequences of images along a Timeline, in much the same way as traditional
cartoon artists produced acetate movies. Flash takes much of the effort out of
the creation process by automating many of the tasks that traditional artists
have had to do by hand. It also gives you total control over how the elements of
the program interact with one another and with the end user.
Deceptively complex pages and animations can be put together in incredibly
small files, which download very much faster than traditionally coded HTML
pages. Most Web browsers support the display of Flash files, and – in short – no
serious Web developer can now afford to be without it.
With the introduction of this MX version, Macromedia has made a number of
changes to the way the program works. Not only have some of the keyboard
shortcuts been changed since version 5, but the Panels that were introduced
in that version have been changed once again. Similarly, Generator – which

only came in to its own in version 5 – has disappeared altogether and been
incorporated into the new Actionscript. This may well leave users of version 5
feeling frustrated that, having learned how to use that version they now have
to re-learn it all over again. However, with MX the changes, though major,
have made the program much more useable and straightforward.
What is in this book?
Whenever you get hold of a new program, there’s always the temptation to run
before you can walk. You bought Flash, after all, to get animated and interactive
movies published for use on the Web or as standalone files. It can seem a
bit tame, therefore, to have to learn how to construct simple graphics first; but
Flash is not one of those programs that you can busk your way through – at
least not if you want to make full use of the tremendous power of the software.
So, starting with the basics, this book takes you through the setting up of a
Flash movie and explains all you need to know about the Flash environment.
Very soon we’re off using the drawing and painting tools and learning how to
handle objects, insert text and import artwork from other programs.
The fun stuff then comes with the discovery of layers and the use of symbols
and putting them to work in creating first basic, and then more complex animation,
coupled with interactivity and sound.
Finally, it’s important to know how Flash can deliver your movies to an audience
– via the Web, as standalone projectors or even as alternative file formats
such as animated GIFs and QuickTime or AVI movie files.
Throughout the book there are copious screen shots to help you grasp what is
a complex program, quickly and easily.
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