Flash Studio Secrets [Paperback]

Glenn Thomas (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076453548X | ISBN-13: 978-0764535482 | Publication Date: February 15, 2001 | Edition: 1

This stunning, four-color book is built around specific projects with underlying themes that introduce specific points about using Flash. Each project features a world-class Flash designer or organization, and includes a real-world case study detailing the objectives of the project. Each case study includes a description of the techniques and skills used in the project. Also integrated into these chapters would be specific notes on how doing these projects might differ slightly with Flash 5.

Editorial Reviews

Review

What a pleasure to see such a remarkable book on Macromedia Flash! -- Michelle Welsh, Cofounder of FutureWave Software, Inc.

From the Author

Glenn Thomas, co-founder of Smashing Ideas, Inc., in association with Hungry Minds Publishing (formerly IDG Books Worldwide), has published Flash Studio Secrets, a readable, comprehensive, instructional book about Macromedia Flash, the leading tool for the creation of vector-based digital media. The book is the latest installment of the popular Studio Secrets series and offers the reader insights into the world of creating award-winning, rich media websites, animation, games and advertising using Flash.

Flash Studio Secrets includes chapter contributions from various Smashing Ideas' studio experts on animation, programming and motion graphics, as well as notable guest authors such as Phillip Torrone on Generator, Heather Perkins on sound for Flash, and Manuel Clement on 3D in Flash. The book offers the reader an all-inclusive look at the ins and outs of developing real projects in Flash, and includes inspirational interviews with such renowned web professionals as: Todd Purgason, Natalie Zee, Jason Snyder, Josh Ulm and Shannon Rankin.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076453548X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764535482
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,904,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intermediate-Level Variety, May 22, 2001

By 

Jessica S Barnes (Boulder CO, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash Studio Secrets (Paperback)

The book is a bit spendy, but a solid piece best suited for intermediate users. While it doesn't start at beginner learning-level Flash or go into deep advanced depths, it does do a good job of covering the wide range of possibilities with Flash. Flash Studio Secrets is similar in structure to other books in the Studio Secrets series, but with a focus on the diverse projects within one studio, namely Smashing Ideas. The book touches a range of topics including motion graphics, flash interactivity and gaming, action script, some stuff on simulating 3-D and video, optimizing files, rich media and viral advertising, some Generator, a bit on sound and "broadcast quality animation." Each chapter is on a different subject, so it doesn't really build in complexity, but looks at a different application of Flash created content. That is a lot different from a tutorial book, so I would not expect to start at square one and have it teach you everything there is about action script. The advantage of this resource is broad coverage: cartoons, gaming experiences, rich media, immersive ads, entertainment players, and personal expression ideas. While there is no CD, there is a packed companion web site that allows you to view virtually all the projects and download the files. This was very helpful for going through the book, but something that isn't made real obvious at all in the text or on the cover. I found Flash Studio Secrets to be a good overall look at possibilities with Flash, showing the variety, and taking you through some tips, tricks and insights.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smaller File Sizes Don't Lie, Very Informative, July 17, 2001

By 

J. Alexander (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flash Studio Secrets (Paperback)

The best thing about this book is Chapter 2, "Optimizing, Loading, and Playback". The other books that I have read about flash don't even touch on this issue. It was worth the price of the book. Learning how to use the movie report option in flash, and how to properly bring in images for use from Illustrator has DRASTICALLY reduced my file sizes. My bitmap files look 20 times better, and are WAAAAaY smaller.

The animation chapter was also good. That chapter also had cool optimization techniques, like the modify>optimize pallate that I had never used before. Using it on all my drawn symbols reduced my file size by about 30 percent, and the drawings didn't look any different.

This book has a lot of information in it, I think it definately has something for everyone, especially if you are new to flash. I think this book gave me the basics on just about everything. It was a decent read,and the book is really nice to look at with TONS of color pictures, and I like that Smashing Ideas Robot Guy.

The Sound chapter is also really good, especially for non-sound people like myself. I picked up a lot of new techniques here that I had no clue about.

I have definately referred to the optimization techniques in this book in every flash project I've done since. I do recommend picking up this book if only for the drastic reduction in file sizes you will experience after reading it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take your Flash development to the next level., May 18, 2001

By 

Mike Chambers (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flash Studio Secrets (Paperback)

I just finished reading through this book and all I can say is Wow!!. I know Flash very well, but this book taught me so much more.

It is especially strong if you are interested in creating animation and sound using Flash. In particular, I loved the chapters on animation, and although I can't draw or animate, this book walked me through step by step on how to get started.

It also includes all of the small tips and tricks that you can normally only pick up after working with Flash for a long time.

There are also very good chapters on using Video with Flash, 3D in Flash, Flash as a learning tool, Branding and Advertising, Using Sound in Flash, creating dynamic content with Flash, middleware and also Generator, etc...

Of course, this shouldn't be a surprise, just look at the main authors and the authors who contributed to the book

Glenn Thomas : smashing ideas - one of the leaders in flash development and animation.

Phillip Torrone Phil Scott Manuael Clement

Andreas Heim

to just name a few.

This is one book that stays on my desk. Highly recommended. I know that this sounds like a marketing blurb, but the book is that good.