Flash MX Savvy (With CD-ROM) [Paperback]

Ethan Watrall (Author), Norbert Herber (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0782141080 | ISBN-13: 978-0782141085 | Publication Date: May 15, 2002

"A superb resource that budding Flash designers should not be without. This [Flash MX Savvy] is one of the best Flash MX tutorials yet produced. 5/5 stars"
--3D World Magazine

Savvy: practical know-how

Flash MX is so powerful and versatile that even experienced web designers require additional help to move up to the next level. Focusing on program features as well as results, Flash MX Savvy anticipates your goals and uses professional examples to show you the best ways to attain them. You can either work your way through the book or zero in on any topic or group of tasks, from content creation to media integration to interactivity and ActionScript.

Hands On tutorials allow you to apply different techniques to projects that will yield useful, real-world results. Web designers, animators, artists, and developers will discover what's new in Flash MX, learn the whys, not just the hows, and find a helpful ActionScript reference.

Coverage includes:
Content Creation: painting and drawing, text manipulation, reusable content.

ActionScript: understanding ActionScript as a language, Movie Clip management and parameter control, plus a reference section with essential ActionScript terms.

Interactivity: interface elements and controllers, new Flash components.

Audio Integration: synchronization, compression schemes, scripting of audio interactivity.

Media Integration: with audio applications, with Director, with CD-ROM content, with 3D animation.

Check out the author's website at www.vonflashenstein.com/index.html

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A superb resource that budding Flash designers should not be without. 5/5 stars." -- Computer Arts Magazine, October 2002

"I got rid of my Flash tutorial book because I won't need it again after this book." -- Tim Skyrme, Contributor to About.com Graphics Software Site

From the Publisher

This is the first book in our Savvy series, a new line of premium quality, in-depth guides covering topics like Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Maya. All Sybex Savvy books have coated paper for great image reproduction, plus stylish matte covers, an emphasis on professional quality examples, and a clean, clear interior design. Our goal with these books is to set a new standard for ourselves and for the industry. We hope you enjoy the results.

We're really excited about the outstanding job Norb and Ethan have done with Flash MX Savvy. Their book makes for a great launch to the series. It combines depth with accessibility, and works as both an excellent teaching tool and a reliable reference.

--Associate Publisher, Graphics, Sybex Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 784 pages
• Publisher: Sybex (May 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782141080
• ISBN-13: 978-0782141085
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,115,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a faculty member in the Department of Telecom, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State University. I teach interactive design, game design, and game studies. I've written 7 books on Flash, Director, and Fireworks. I like monkeys...and monkeys like me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flash MX Savvy is a Great Book for Students, June 24, 2002

By 

Elizabeth James (Austin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash MX Savvy (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

Ok, I'll admit it, I've been avoiding Flash for the last few years. I'm actually a student doing an undergraduate degree in digital media (working primarily in Director and digital video), and decided that it was high time I started learning Flash. So, I went and bought me a copy of Flash MX Savvy. The book was organized so well it was incredible. Not only did the authors take the reader through a ton of differnt subjects, they do so in a very concise and easy to understand step-by-step manner. Want to learn by doing? Well, Flash MX Savvy has that as well. As the end of every section, there is an extensive tutorial (called Hand On) that lets you work on a project using the skills you just learned. On top of all of this, the book has a handy appendix that features some great tutorials that teach you how to create preloaders, navigational widgets, and other cool flash things.

The topics that the authors cover are absolutely great. You've got your basic Flash skills chapters (drawing, animating, etc.). You've also got some really specialized chapters that delve into stuff that I don't think you would normally find in your run of the mill Flash Book. Being a Director person, I literally jumped up and down with joy to find out that there was an entire chapter dedicated to using Flash in Director...totally cool! Also, the chapter that coveres Flash and video was incredibly helpful to me (as someone who spends a lot of time working with DV).

To top everything off, the book looks great. The paper is really high quality and the layout is efficient and well done. The book has some serious heft. We're not taking about some book that uses such cheap paper and printing here. When you hold Flash MX Savvy in your hands, you *really* feel like you own something substantial.

How about the CD? Well, now a days, most books have CDs. Flash MX Savvy's CD is full of really cool stuff. Not only do you have the requisite demo of the program itself, but you also have a ton of other demos for Macromedia stuff. But wait, it doesn't stop there, the CD also has a whole bunch of other demos for programs that were used througout the book. It gets even better! The CD also has all of the stuff you'll need to do the tutorials and exercises throughout the book. To top this off, you'll find an entire bonus chapter that deals with Dreamweaver and Flash.

The bottom line is that Flash MX Savvy is an incredible deal. I particularily recommend it for other students. The authors are both instructors, and really take the time to explain everything in easy to learn language that is great for someone just getting started in Flash.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive Flash MX Book, May 30, 2002

By 

Tom Birch (Springfield, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash MX Savvy (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

I gotta admit, I was totally impressed by his book. Its written great. Its an easy read. The topics/chapters are well planned out to gently ease you into beginner topics, and then onto more intermediate stuff. I loved the extra chapters that went beyond the program to deal with working with Flash and other programs (such as audio software, Macromedia Director, Macromedia Freehand, etc.) I also loved the entire section dealing with Flash and audio. The CD had a ton of extra stuff: lots of demo programs, all the example files used in the book, and even a bonus Dreamweaver/Flash chapter.

It was really clear to me that these authors not only know what they are talking about, but also love teaching.

If you buy this book, you won't be sorry

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Flash MX Book, May 23, 2002

By 

Ted Rankin (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash MX Savvy (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

There are so many Flash books out there, its sometimes pretty scary trying to pick the right one. With Flash MX on the scene, not there are even more.

I've found with most Flash books out there that they either expect you know everything or they treat you like a child. Flash MX Savvy fills the gap inbetween. The authors treat you like an intelligent adult. They don't talk down to the reader and they don't talk over the reader's head.

Flash MX Savvy's content is great! It starts out by teaching you all of the basic Flash skills. From there, it goes on to cover more intermediate topics. I was especially impressed with the Actionscript coverage which wasn't too complicated or too simple. By the time I had gone though all the Actionscript chapters, I was suprised how easy it had been to get a leg up on some stuff that I had been really intimidated by before I bought the book.

So, if you are looking for a great Flash MX book that will stick with you as you progress in Flash, Flash MX Savvy is definitely the one to buy.