Flash 5.0: Graphics, Animation & Interactivity [Paperback]

James L. Mohler (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076682909X | ISBN-13: 978-0766829091 | Publication Date: November 28, 2000 | Edition: 1

Flash 5: Graphics, Animation & Interactivity, 2E with Flash, fully updated to the latest release, demonstrates how you can create a web site with maximum effect and a limited file size. Macromedia Flash is explained in a straightforward, easy to understand manner and includes examples of the most common Flash functions. In addition to complete coverage of vector animation commonly associated with Flash, ad banners, buttons, and animated corporate logos are also addressed. Learn how to integrate sound with animation, create vector images with transparency, and create quick loading animated sequences to play while the rest of the web content downloads. This book is the perfect learning tool and desk reference for anyone involved with web design.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Mohler is a Senior Research Scientist and Associate Professor at Purdue University, where he currently leads a highly talented group of artists and programmers who are building Purdue¿s next-generation web presence. He is also serving as the SIGGRAPH 2005 Conference Chair, where he will be responsible for the largest computer graphics and interactive techniques conference in the world. James Mohler is the author or co-author of more than 20 computer books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: OnWord Press; 1 edition (November 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076682909X
• ISBN-13: 978-0766829091
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,966,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for learning Flash, esp. ActionScipt, December 21, 2000

By 

George Entenman "Besta é tu" (Chapel Hill, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flash 5.0: Graphics, Animation & Interactivity (Paperback)

I am very impressed by Mohler's book because he doesn't just parrot the stuff in Flash, the way so many books seem to. I've looked at many other books that promise a lot but which in reality simply list the options for each flash tool that anyone can see just by pulling down the menu.

Mohler tries to explain the concepts underlying flash. For example, he distinguishes two sublayers on each flash layer: this distinction helped clarify for me issues of precidence, grouping, etc. And I've learned some very useful lessons about handling user events (keystrokes, mouse clicks, etc.) in movie clips versus buttons.

Learning flash is like learning a foreign language: you have to do the exercises as you go along. Mohler's exercises are always simple and quick and they teach just one or two points at a time.

The book does not seem particularly intended for people who want to learn to draw pretty pictures, although I'm sure they could benefit from learning about flash's underlying structure. This book seems to be for programmers like me and for people interested in animation.

So far I have worked my way up through the 7th chapter and skipped ahead on occasion. I have learned much more from this book than from Macromedia's own documentation or from the tutorials at flashkit, etc

The only criticism I have of this book is that the index could be much better.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book backed by superb email support, January 2, 2001

By 

Lewis Kurfist (Park Ridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash 5.0: Graphics, Animation & Interactivity (Paperback)

This is by far the best coverage of Flash 5.0 ActionScript I have found. The author's clear prose and liberal use of examples included on the companion cd rom have allowed me to quickly learn the ins and outs of Flash web animation and programming. He also provides outstanding email support, not only answering my question quickly, but also attaching an example illustrating the solution described in his return email.

Flash Graphics, Animation & Interactivity is an excellent investment for first time Flash users as well as experienced Flash programmers upgrading from an earlier version.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Flash 5 ActionScript reference I've seen yet., February 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Flash 5.0: Graphics, Animation & Interactivity (Paperback)

I read this book on a flight from Singapore to Sydney. I couldn't put it down... Why? Well, finally, after reading plenty of material on Flash I found a book I could get some clear and detailed information from about ActionScript and the Flash 5 development environment.

When I got home to San Mateo I applied what I had read to my current Flash project and things have really taken off for me from there.

There are some great features including an ActionScript Object Macro-organizer, a pull-out Quick-key reference guide and excellent studies/examples on the CD.

If you are looking for a book to take you above the "graphic designer" level, this Flash book might be a great place for you to start, but I highly recommend that you get a good grasp of JavaScript first.