The Flash Webisode Production Handbook (With CD-ROM) [Paperback]

John Moore (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1584500875 | ISBN-13: 978-1584500872 | Publication Date: October 15, 2001 | Edition: 1st

With over 500,000 users, Flash is one of the most popular animation and streaming tools available for the Web today. It is used to create "webisodes" which are streaming productions used in advertising, entertainment, education, contests, and interactive television. With The Flash Webisode Production Handbook, developers, producers, and animators learn how to maximize all of Flash's animation and production power. Each chapter focuses on a specific part of the development process of an actual cartoon webisode that will be completed by the end of the book. Within each chapter there are examples and exercises that help designers acquire problem-solving skills, fundamental knowledge of how to use Flash in movies, and solid animation abilities. "Broken webisodes" are also included to challenge the designers newly acquired problem-solving skills.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Learning to animate with Macromedia's Flash is one thing. Learning to use it in a real-world production environment is something else. The Flash Webisode Production Handbook looks at the production of episodic animation using Flash as the central authoring tool. This book is useful to anyone interested in the animated production process.

While there are countless animation methods and visual styles, the basics of production remain the same. This handbook presents this process from the viewpoint of today's Flash animator, but opens with a discussion of the devices common to all animation productions: the storyboard, script, characters, and soundtrack. Without a compelling story, even the best animation falls short.

Other important chapters include discussions of bitmap versus vector art, and the difference in visual style and creation process between the two, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Many books in this genre feature countless pages on animation but little on the importance of audio and soundtracks. This book, however, presents over 50 pages on audio: audio compression; using sound in Flash; creating looping music tracks; and synchronizing audio (as in sound effects and dialogue) to the animation. One section is all about using ACID, an excellent Windows audio program, to create looping soundtracks. A demo version of ACID and a music library are among the goodies on the CD-ROM, too.

Animating using Flash doesn't end with the movement onscreen, however. Flash movies are often interactive, and the underlying engine for interactivity is Flash's ActionScript. The last third of this book covers ActionScript techniques and tricks in depth, with countless examples. Well illustrated, with several real-world projects, the Flash Webisode Production Handbook is a must-have for any serious Flash animator interested in doing more than basic animation. --Mike Caputo

From Library Journal

Interest in Flash remains high. Aspiring animators will find here both how-to information and a discussion of the imaginative/creative process, from storyboarding to lip synchronization, necessary for successful animations. The accompanying CD-ROM contains examples and lesson materials from the book, sound files, Flash games, and demo versions of popular software such as GoldWave and Macromedia Fireworks, but it is less interactive than the tutorials on the accompanying CD to Flash 5 Virtual Classroom (Computer Media, LJ 5/1/01). For public libraries.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 407 pages
• Publisher: Charles River Media; 1st edition (October 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584500875
• ISBN-13: 978-1584500872
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,622,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gives you the whole picture..., December 27, 2001

By 

Sanura S. (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Flash Webisode Production Handbook (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

I really liked this book/cd-rom. This book not only gives you the nuts and bolts of how to make flash content, it also gives you some basic internet trend information ( how many narrowband users vs. broadband users...). This information helped me pitch my flash content to my department head! The cd-rom has some good samples and software. The loop section is very cool.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Different, but still good., January 26, 2002

By 

D. Cicala (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Flash Webisode Production Handbook (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

50 bucks for this, I wouldn't have paid 50 bucks for this if I would have known half the book isn't about Flash. I guess that's ok, because it teaches you to build a webisode from all aspects: graphics, sounds, distribution, and gif links. However, I don't have Acid, Fireworks, or the other programs mentioned. I liked the fact that the author gives you fast loading games (actionscrit) to play as your epic webisode is loading. Some nice touches. The cd is good, but for 50 dollars, I wish there were more about Flash.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good animation book for Flash users..., December 20, 2001

By 

JT Watson (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Flash Webisode Production Handbook (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

Nice book for anyone wanting to create/develop animation.
This book covers everything using step by step tutorials.
This is not a beginner book because it hits the ground running! Covers Fireworks and ACID also. The CD samples are great. The only thing I did not like about this book was the first two chapters. These chapters are not really needed ( just basic info on what a webisode is and fact and figureson internet usage...). The rest of the book is very useful. The CD is worth the purchase alone!