Flash 5! Creative Web Animation (With CD-ROM) [Paperback]

Derek Franklin (Author), Brooks Patton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Productivity Kit | Publication Date: December 22, 2000

The latest update to one of our best-selling Macromedia Flash titles, Flash 5! Creative Web Animation covers all the newest software enhancements, including a brand new interface, Smart Clips, Movie Explorer, Keyboard Shortcuts, and the fundamentals of programming with ActionScript. The book contains new or revised chapters on everything you need to know to get the most out of the program--drawing, sound, the library, animation, interactivity, and finally, testing and publishing your work.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned Flash user, authors Derek Franklin and Brooks Patton lead you step-by-step through the basics of the software's many features and tools, and then move on to interactive tutorials, sample demos and a training tour of Web animation. You'll also find tips for making the development process flow more efficiently, plus a content-rich CD containing all the files for the practice exercises, a trial version of Flash 5, and demos of other Macromedia products.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Flash 5! Creative Web Animation helps any new user get up to speed with Macromedia's powerful Web-design tool. Rich with information and examples, the lessons are designed to help the beginning through intermediate user climb the learning curve toward becoming a proficient designer.

The book devotes over 500 pages to every aspect of the application--from the very beginning ("Why Flash?"); through the basics of the interface, graphics, text, sound, and layers; on to advanced interactivity by using ActionScript and tools like the Library and Movie Explorer for managing large projects; and final project testing.

If there is a drawback to the book, it is the ratio of information to images. Densely packed and rich with data, the book has a noticeable lack of screen shots and illustrations. Many sections could have been made clearer with more accompanying graphics, although this would have inflated the already large page count. Don't let this weak spot deter you from buying this book--it is still a valuable and handy resource, and, at under $40, a good value.

Included on the CD--and worth the cost of the book alone--are over 40 QuickTime videos that parallel the lessons in the book. Each video is large, clear, and concise, and teaches visually how to perform specific tasks. These video clips are a great example of how to use the technology (in this case, Flash, QuickTime, and the CD format) to enhance an educational book and give each lesson greater impact. Some people have no difficulty in learning from a book, while others learn better in a kind of "sit-back-and-watch" state. This combination of book and CD offers both.

Flash 5! Creative Web Animation succeeds on many levels, and should be on the desk of any beginning or intermediate Flash user. --Mike Caputo

Review

"It isn't just an excellent reference manual, but also a good learning tool for beginners who prefer manuals with more of an academic feel to them." Computer Arts - Flash Special, Issue 18 With a CD that enables you to watch techniques for over 40 of the tuturials as QuickTime movies, this is an excellent resource."Computer Arts - Animation Special, issue 19

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Product Details

• Paperback: 568 pages
• Publisher: Pearson Education (December 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 020171969X
• ISBN-13: 978-0201719697
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,595,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you dont know Flash... You will, January 11, 2001

By 

karine (san francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash 5! Creative Web Animation (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

I read the first edition, fell in love and got my first contract. This book is another grand slam! I recommend it to all my students. It is not for advanced Flashers. It is the best choice for beginners and is a great reference book. The CD-ROM only is worth every stars. I challenge every beginners to pick up this title and tell me they couldn't create and troubleshoot a Flash site! This book will leave you thirsty for more. You will then be frustrated to realize that there isn't yet a great advanced Flash5 book out there that will match and follow up the quality of this book. If you dont know Flash... buy this one!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent "hands on" step by step guide, January 11, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Flash 5! Creative Web Animation (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

This book would be very appropriate as a text for a class teaching Flash 5. It is VERY complete in its coverage and very easy to read. It is unusual for me to be able to read a technical book without stopping several times but this book was the exception. It was hard to put down.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you only buy one more book THEN buy this one!!!!, March 15, 2001

By 

Darren Mason (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash 5! Creative Web Animation (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

I have read Flash 5 Creative Web Animation book and it is excellent.

I am in my 3rd year at University and now begrudge paying money (stopped buying books after my second year).

I had spent in my first and second year, about GBP 250 on books in releation to my course work.

But 9.8/10 are [bad], in my opinion, and the info is available on the Internet any way.

This book has restored my faith in the book industry. Although there is a lot of Flash stuff out there nothing compares to this book..

What makes it is the CD-ROM it is brilliant.

I look forward to the next.

If you want to get ahead in Flash get this book.