Flash 5 Primer [Paperback]

John Policano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 2001 | Series: Prentice Hall PTR--The Primer Series

In Flash 5 Primer, Web graphics expert John Policano delivers clear, concise, powerfully effective Flash media production techniques for every Web designer. Policano starts by reviewing Flash 5's powerful new features, including its new and easier user interface, support for MP3 audio, Movie Explorer for managing large projects, and more. You'll learn how to import artwork and create new artwork in Flash; get your audio in sync; build ActionScripts that deliver powerful interactivity; and deliver your Flash movies on the Web. Next, you'll walk step-by-step through building a game with Flash 5; even learn powerful techniques for shrinking your file sizes.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Introduction

Macromedia Flash has exploded onto the Web development scene. Every day more Web developers and companies choose to use Flash on their site in one form or another. This book offers a way for you to sharpen and expand you skills by adding Flash to your resume.Target Audience

This book is for anyone interested in creating dynamic and more interesting sites—particularly intermediate to advanced developers. If you are not part of this group do not be scared off because there is something in here for you as well. You will need to work a little harder to understand some of the concepts, but the benefits to you and your career are worth it. Trust me: I have spent many late nights learning programs.

It doesn't matter if you are a designer or a programmer, you will find the examples in this book helpful. Flash works well with most of today's programs, such as Macromedia's FreeHand, Fireworks, and Dreamweaver, and Adobe's Photoshop, and Illustrator. If you work with these programs, it will be easier for you to pick up and understand Flash. What You Will Find in This Book

This book will show you how to build Web sites, games and other applications using Flash by covering all the components of Flash and how they can be used in various situations you might encounter.

Chapters 1 through 5 go into depth on topics like creating graphics, importing graphics, animating, using audio, and writing ActionScripts. Chapter 1 focuses on what has changed since Flash 4 and what is new with Flash 5. Chapter 2 shows you how Flash works with graphics. You will see how some of the tools work and what makes them unique. You will also learn how to import your graphics from many of today's popular graphics applications. Chapter 3 shows you how to animate the graphics that you have created or imported into Flash. You will learn about Shape Morphs and animating your graphics along a path. Chapter 4 deals with audio and goes into depth on how Flash works with audio. You will learn how to import audio and how to control the audio once it is imported. Chapter 5 gives you a look at ActionScript, which is the programming language used in Flash. There are examples that feature some of the new ActionScripts and include explanations of how the code needs to be written.

Chapters 6 and 7 give you examples on building whole projects. Chapter 6 will lead you through the building of an entire site and it even offers some tips on how to spruce up your current site by adding Flash. Chapter 7 shows you how to make games using Flash. This chapter features ShapeMatch, a classic memory game, and Flash Tennis, which is based on the classic arcade game Pong. These games include lengthy instructions on how to build the graphics and ActionScripts to make the games work.

Chapters 8 and 9 deal with the topics of exporting your file from flash and how to trim the file size of your final product. Chapter 8 gives you insight into the Publish feature in Flash as well as how to write your own code from scratch or with Dreamweaver. Chapter 9 shows you how to get a detailed look into your file and how to trim the file size of your final movie.

Chapter 10 gives you a range of examples that will fit almost any need. You will find examples that show you how to control audio with ActionScript, pause your movie, preload you file, use HTML in Flash, create scrolling text fields, and create movie clips that you can drag around the screen. These are just a few of the great examples you will find in this chapter.Before You Begin

You should be aware of a few things before you begin reading this book. You will notice there are Figures, Tables, Tips, Notes, and Warnings throughout the book. Conventions

Figures and Tables

Figures often show you how things are supposed to look and other times will show you how menus need to be set up. Tables will help you by listing file formats, accepted tags, etc.

Tips

These tips and tricks will help you make your project better or help you work faster.

Notes

These sections are more detailed explanations of what is being said in an example or paragraph. They should be read for more insight into the current topic.

Warnings

These comments are designed to warn you about areas where most people are prone to make mistakes. You will find these useful when you are troubleshooting your site for mistakes.Online Help

I have posted some of the examples from the book online at jpgraphics. Please check back often, as I will continue to add new examples when I get the free time.

You can also contact me with questions or comments at Flash5Primer@jpgraphics. If you would like to see an example that is not in the book or not online, please feel free to email me and I will try to post it as soon as I can.

From the Back Cover

The Flash 5 book for multimedia developers without time to waste! Get the right answers, get them now, and get results!

* Everything that matters and nothing that doesn't!
* Quick, real-world answers for Web and multimedia developers!
* Animation, audio, images, interactivity, ActionScripting, optimization, Flash games, and more

Answers. Solutions. Now!

Here are the crucial issues you face at every stage of Flash 5 production and the solutions and examples you can rely on to:

* Manage large projects
* Import images, video, audio-even MP3s
* Create artwork in Flash
* Use the Timeline, Symbol Libraries, and other Flash tools
* Add interactivity
* Preload and trim file size
* Write easy, powerful ActionScripts
* Create full-fledged Flash games
* And more!

Flash 5 Primer: Brilliant results in Internet time!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; 1st edition (March 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013031093X
• ISBN-13: 978-0130310934
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,705,743 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No fluff, just solid stuff, June 17, 2001

By 

Mical Fowler (High Point, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash 5 Primer (Paperback)

Gets to the point: This book is almost fluff-free. It starts with a readable "What's New in Flash 5" section, and moves into Flash basics quickly, with step-by-step tutorials in every chapter. (The source files are available online.) By the middle of the book, the reader is exposed to some involved ActionScripts, and a good audio chapter. The last part of the book includes an introduction to Flash games, a hands-on e-commerce site, a thorough Exporting section, and a chapter on Bandwidth issues.

Not just bare-bones: Policano fills the book with quick tips and observations that professionals and novices will appreciate: working with web sites, organizational tips, e-mail, clip art, plug-in detection, etc. Finding these real-world tips sandwiched in with the how-to tutorials elevates the book a little beyond the average Flash tome. There are enough good tips and techniques to make it a good value for intermediate and even some advanced users, like plug-in detection scripts, dealing with framesets, and the idea of storing URLs in text files during production.

Downside: There's no downside to this book. There are books with more color (which runs the price up), and books with trendier page layout (which may or may not help the learning experience), but this book is a straightforward, accurate, well-organized learning tool. A Glossary of Terms would have been nice...I would like to see Policano's spin on some of the definitions.

Bottom Line: No fluff, just solid stuff. There is a lot more substance than style in this book, but that's okay: the style becomes evident after you use the book to learn Flash 5. This book is good for beginners, but is not just for beginners: it gets into intermediate territory quickly. This is not the first book that a complete Flash novice should buy, but it should probably be the second. It is a great first book for multimedia professionals who are new to Flash or Flash 5. PeeCee and Mac users are treated equally, with keyboard commands and software recommendations for both platforms. Beginners will spend 20 - 25 hours digesting this book; intermediate and advanced users will need 8 - 15 hours.

5.0 out of 5 stars Master Flash 5 in Days!, November 24, 2004

By 

Jessica "Buck II" (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash 5 Primer (Paperback)

Flash 5 Primer delivers content as promised--without all the unnecessary fluff and instead provides hands-on, solid examples to work on. You'll learn to use the basic tools and menu, creating text effects, write ActionScripts, create Flash games, animation, making preloaders, audio tricks, and much more! This book could be used with Flash 5 or any newer version. I had the book for only a few days and I eagerly digested four chapters--96 pages--and I saw major improvements with my work in Flash.