Animation and Effects with Macromedia Flash MX 2004 [Paperback]

Jen deHaan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2004 | ISBN-10: 032130344X | ISBN-13: 978-0321303448

What started as a simple animation tool has evolved into a full-fledged Web development environment. Which means that if you're like many of today's Flash developers, you may know little about actually creating animations and effects with the program. Here to solve that dilemma is a hands-on guide from one of today's leading Flash experts. By showing you how to create 10 projects based on real-world Web solutions, author Jen deHaan provides a thorough grounding in all of Flash's effects and animation fundamentals. Each chapter represents a single project with simple step-by-step instructions for re-creating the cool Web elements pictured in these pages: an animated character, a Flash interface that uses transitions to "page" through different areas of a site, an animated gallery, a dynamic menu that animates using the Tween classes, a simple game, button effects, Timeline animations, scripted effects, text effects, and more! Ten real-world projects reveal the magic behind the most useful Flash-produced animations and effects, and a companion CD includes lesson files and sample software.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

What started as a simple animation tool has evolved into a full-fledged Web development environment. Which means that if you're like many of today's Flash developers, you may know little about actually creating animations and effects with the program. Here to solve that dilemma is a hands-on guide from one of today's leading Flash experts. By showing you how to create 10 projects based on real-world Web solutions, author Jen deHaan provides a thorough grounding in all of Flash's effects and animation fundamentals. Each chapter represents a single project with simple step-by-step instructions for re-creating the cool Web elements pictured in these pages: an animated character, a Flash interface that uses transitions to "page" through different areas of a site, an animated gallery, a dynamic menu that animates using the Tween classes, a simple game, button effects, Timeline animations, scripted effects, text effects, and more! Ten real-world projects reveal the magic behind the most useful Flash-produced animations and effects, and a companion CD includes lesson files and sample software.

About the Author

Designer, developer, and author Jen deHaan has been employed by Macromedia to write and improve documentation as well as to create examples and applications for Flash MX 2004. She is also the author of Flash MX 2004: Training from the Source and writes regular articles for Macromedia's Developer Center.

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Macromedia Press (November 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 032130344X
• ISBN-13: 978-0321303448
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,232,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unfinished Business, January 17, 2005

By 

Jonathan Robinson (Tasmania, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Animation and Effects with Macromedia Flash MX 2004 (Paperback)

I preordered this book before it was released. For me it is useful, informative and worth its price. It has helped me to build on and consolidate previous basic flash skills.

However, it is disappointing that the accompanying web site FLanimation.com looks like it has been abandoned (as at Jan05) - especially since the book refers to it for checking out extra tutorials etc there. Unbelieveably they are listed as COMING SOON!!! After two months I am still waiting.

Also I don't want to waste time checking over a tutorial to finally conclude that the action script example was not my fault, but that the text was poorly written. I hope that any corrections in exercises will be listed on the website very soon.

This book is not near the excellence of ADOBE's 'Classroom in a Book' series. But then again, very very very few computer books are. The ADOBE textbooks are the benchmark. (No ADOBE doesn't write books for MACROMEDIA products.)

Overall I am happy that I purchased this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Needs much better Action Scripting Examples, January 3, 2005

By 

James S. Hellman (Glen Arm, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Animation and Effects with Macromedia Flash MX 2004 (Paperback)

I found the sections on Action Scripting to be seriously lacking in easy to follow examples. The accompaning CD had completed exercises that are useless to beginners (not enough step by step examples). I have some familarity with coding as a Macromedia Director User and could not get some the exercises to work (example:Excercise 1 Chapter 7). I got very little from this book and would not recommend it to anyone. Needs better step by step examples.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview of Basic Flash, November 28, 2005

By 

Katalin Nivelt "kati" (los angeles) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Animation and Effects with Macromedia Flash MX 2004 (Paperback)

The book might not be perfect but gives a very clear overview of Flash MX 2004 and its animation techniques. I find it very useful for teaching with, as it supplements my class structure. It doesn't over complicate the description and helps a beginner to understand Flash.

It doesn't focus only on one aspect of the program but highlights the major elements.