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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