Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX in 24 Hours (Sams Teach Yourself...in 24 Hours) [Paperback]

Phillip Kerman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0672323710 | ISBN-13: 978-0672323713 | Publication Date: March 22, 2002

Since its introduction in 1996, Macromedia Flash has become the standard for delivering high impact, vector-based graphics to the Web. Flash is deceptively simple at first, yet has great depth and flexibility.

Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash 5 in 24 Hours offers a clearly written, well-organized introduction to this powerful product, and gives the beginner an overview of the entire package, without becoming too overwhelming.

A new version of Flash is expected to be released in the 1st quarter of 2002. It will have user interface improvements, several new features, and extensive improvements to existing features.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Since its introduction in 1996, Macromedia Flash has become the standard for delivering high impact, vector-based graphics to the Web. Flash is deceptively simple at first, yet has great depth and flexibility.Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash 5 in 24 Hours offers a clearly written, well-organized introduction to this powerful product, and gives the beginner an overview of the entire package, without becoming too overwhelming.

A new version of Flash is expected to be released in the 1st quarter of 2002. It will have user interface improvements, several new features, and extensive improvements to existing features.

About the Author

Phillip Kerman is an independent programmer, teacher, and writer specializing in Macromedia products. His degree in Imaging and Photographic Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology was earned back when "multimedia" had a different meaning from today. One of Phillip's internships, for example, involved programming multiple slide projector presentations with dissolves synchronized to a sound track;the multimedia of the 1980s. In 1993, he found Macromedia Authorware a natural fit for his interest and skills. After getting his start at The Human Element, Inc., he moved back to Portland, Oregon, to work on his own.

Phillip has transitioned his expertise from Authorware to Director and, now, to Flash. Over eight years, he has had to adapt to a total of 16 version upgrades; Flash MX being the most significant of them all! In addition to retooling and building his own skills, Phillip finds teaching the biggest challenge. He has trained and made presentations around the world, in such exotic locations as Reykjavik, Iceland; Melbourne, Australia; Amsterdam, Holland; and McAlester, Oklahoma. His writing has appeared in such publications as Macworld, Macromedia User Journal, and his self-published The Phillip Newsletter (http://www.phillipkerman.com/newsletter).

Phillip is also the author of ActionScripting in Flash MX from New Riders Publishing.

Feel free to e-mail Phillip at [e-mail].

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Sams (March 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672323710
• ISBN-13: 978-0672323713
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,749,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been teaching Flash since version 3 and writing books since version 5. I also do contract development (programming).

My early experiences in photography have a direct correlation to my job today. The feeling I get when I see a project that I assemble come to life is the same I'd get watching a photograph develop in the darkroom.

While I understand that great projects involve the work of many dedicated
people, I'm not shy to point out that I was the primary programmer for the following projects:
. the original Millennium Three site (archived at
http://www.deepplay.com/sites/m399/),
. a real-time Flash auction that consistently sells over $5
million in cattle during a typical 90-minute sale (http://www.stampedecattle.com),
. the site for the "other" cool office chair (http://www.allsteeloffice.com/number19/movie.asp),
. the Witness to History kiosk featured in the Communication Arts 11th Annual Interactive Exhibition (http://www.commarts.com/ca/interactive/cai05/36_ia05.html).

The short story of my rise from mere mortal to being in charge of everything at
phillipkerman.com LLC goes like this:
. I was a student photographer for Sunset High School's newspaper and yearbook
. I rode my bicycle from Portland, Oregon, to go to college in Rochester, New York
(and got all 2 years' worth of physical education credits waived in the process)
. I graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science in imaging and photographic technology
. I worked for Sinar Bron, Inc., selling premier professional photographic equipment
. I worked for The Human Element, Inc., doing Authorware (version 1) development
. Finally, I drove back to Portland, Oregon, where I've been doing contract work and teaching for more than 10 years.

For details about all the projects I've worked on, see archives of my newsletter at www.phillipkerman.com/newsletter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best MX book I've used...and I've tried lots., August 1, 2002

By 

M. Reeves "picky" (Philly, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX in 24 Hours (Sams Teach Yourself...in 24 Hours) (Paperback)

I started to get interested in Flash, not because of its vector art angle for the web, but for its ability to produce high quality web presentations for any platform: think Java as art. I'm very comfortable with CorelDraw and Illustrator, so picking up the drawing tools of Flash was second nature. However, it's the programming side of Flash that has me beat. I admit it, I'm a visual/word guy, not a logical programming nerd. But, to do Flash right you have to learn the nuts and bolts as well as the Action Scripting (Flash's programming language). I'm hear to say that one Phillip Kerman has done himself proud. He's produced the best Flash MX intro tutorial I've found. I tried lots of books from the library before I actually bought this one, thank goodness. This book will guide you through the introductory steps as well the later Action Scripting with a gentle hand. The only complaint I have is that he doesn't quite explain in sufficient detail why you're performing a certain task. For example, I stumbled over why you had to create a symbol within a symbol to achieve a rotating wheel until I pondered on it for a while. It's not obvious why, but eventually you'll find it is accessible. So, do yourself a favor if you're a Flash wannabe, get this book.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the BEST Flash MX Book! Period!, June 1, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX in 24 Hours (Sams Teach Yourself...in 24 Hours) (Paperback)

Mr. Kerman has done a wonderful job with this book. I recently bought the Flash MX software and first tried learning it using Macromedia's dismal user's manual and useless tutorials. After countless wasted hours I decided to look on Amazon for a book that would teach me the fundamentals of Flash MX.

I made the mistake of ordering another book first, Bonnie Blake's "How to Do Everything with FLash MX". That book turned out to be the biggest waste of money and time. It was so poorly written, most of the practice samples were filled with stupid errors and impossible to complete. I was so frustrated I didn't even bother returning it, I tore the pages out and used it to start my fireplace during cold nights.

I then went to a local book store to checked out the other Flash books on the market and came upon this book. I started reading it in the store and couldn't put it down. So I ran home and ordered a copy from Amazon. I can tell you, this is the only book that you should get to get acclimated with FLash MX. Mr. Kerman is an amazing teacher with tremendous knowledge in this subject matter. The book is fun to read, the examples are easy to follow along and a joy to practice with. This book provides such clarity to a complex software, it is beyond amazing. Trust me, buy this book and you will be up and running with Flash in no time. Take my advice and AVOID THE BONNIE BLAKE BOOK LIKE A PLAGUE!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to Flash MX, June 21, 2003

By 

George Hartas (Chester, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash MX in 24 Hours (Sams Teach Yourself...in 24 Hours) (Paperback)

I just finished reading this book and I definitely recommend it. This book gives you an intro to using Flash MX. If you don't have a lot of time (or patience) to read one of the thick books, this one will do the job to get you up and running in Flash MX.

In the next edition (which is apparently coming up), I hope the author goes into a bit more detail on components. I was hoping that he would have the reader create an application utilizing ALL of the installed components (Microsoft calls them controls). But only a couple of the components are covered. I know this is an intro book, but if you're 40% there, why not go all the way?

One thing about the book that NEEDS to be fixed is errors. It looks like some of the errors are simply text carried over from the previous edition of the book where Flash 5 is the topic, but doesn't apply to Flash MX. Luckily, most of the errors are self-evident.

Now that I finished this book and being interested in Flash MX DEVELOPMENT rather than DESIGN, I have "Flash MX ActionScript Bible" (thick book) waiting to read next which I'm pretty excited about. If you want to focus on Flash MX development, the path is clear after reading this book: you need to buy an ActionScript book. If you're interested in DESIGN however, you have to determine if this book is all you need or if you need to buy another (advanced) Flash MX book (not ActionScript).

Take one step at a time though and buy this book first and worry about further reading later. At least when you finish this book, you will have a good grounding in Flash MX so when you're ready for the advanced Flash MX book(s), you will be able to make an informed decision on which book is best for you. Meanwhile, browse in the bookstores for your next book while reading this one and buy at Amazon (of course) when ready.

Good luck,
George