After Effects for Flash / Flash for After Effects: Dynamic Animation and Video with Adobe After Effects CS4 and Adobe Flash CS4 Professional (Perfect Paperback)

~ Richard Harrington (Author), Marcus Geduld (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Adobe® Creative Suite® 4 brings together two powerful animation tools, each of which has its own specialized features and workflow. Learning to integrate Adobe After Effects and Adobe Flash Professional gives you more options for your animations and effects and the power to integrate video and motion graphics into a richer user experience. In this book, authors Richard Harrington and Marcus Geduld lead both types of users, those who are more familiar with either Flash or with After Effects, on using the programs together for maximum efficiency and creativity.

After walking you through the core features of both programs, the authors then explore advanced uses for each application. Each chapter focuses on a particular function of the program, teaching you how to create content for Flash with After Effects, enhance your projects using 3D environments, create professional-looking video with Adobe Media Encoder, and add interactivity, accessibility, and searchability to your video. You’ll also get hands-on experience using the project files on the accompanying DVD.

Within these easy-to-follow, step-by-step lessons, you'll learn to:

• Seamlessly exchange projects and assets between After Effects and Flash
• Shoot green screen material correctly, work with Keylight, and utilize embedded alpha channels
• Create dynamic text, vector-based animations, and “animated” video using the tools in Adobe Creative Suite 4
• Work with 3D cameras and lights and create 3D environments
• Convert Flash to broadcast and DVD standards with After Effects
• Use Adobe Media Encoder for professional results
• Create interactive controls and use cue points in your video
• Optimize video for accessibility and use Adobe® Soundbooth® for video transcription
• Use ActionScript in your projects for more innovative animations

 
Richard Harrington is a certified instructor for Adobe, Apple, and Avid, and an expert in motion graphic design and digital video. He is a regular contributor to Creative Cow, ProVideo Coalition, and numerous industry blogs and magazines. He also owns the visual communications company, RHED Pixel (www.rhedpixel.com) in Washington, DC. Rich is a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals Instructor Dream Team, chairs conferences for the National Association of Broadcasters, and has written numerous titles including Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS4, Photoshop for Video, and Broadcast Graphics on the Spot.

Marcus Geduld is a freelance programmer who teaches programming, design, animation, compositing, and video editing in New York City. He is the author of Premiere Pro Editing Workshop and After Effects Expressions and is the co-author of After Effects On the Spot. Marcus speaks on technical and artistic topics at numerous conferences and is an Adobe Certified Expert, a Macromedia Certified Developer, and an Avid Certified Instructor. He is artistic director of Folding Chair Classical Theatre, a New-York based company which he runs with his wife, actress Lisa Blankenship.

 

About the Author

A certified instructor for Adobe, Apple, and Avid, Rich Harrington is an expert in motion graphic design and digital video. His producing skills have been recognized by AV Video Multimedia Producer Magazine who named him as one of the Top Producers of 2004. Rich is a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals Instructor Dream Team, and a popular speaker on the digital video circuit. He has chaired conferences since 2003 for the National Association of Broadcasters.  Rich’s book, Photoshop for Video, was the first of its kind to focus on Photoshop’s use in the world of video. He is also a contributing author for After Effects On the Spot, After Effects at Work, and Producing Video Podcasts. Rich is also the author of Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS4: The Essential Techniques for Imaging Professionals.

Marcus Geduld works as a freelance (programmer and designer. He also teaches programming, design, animation, compositing and video editing at Future Media Concepts (www.fmctraining.com). He is the author of Premiere Pro Editing Workshop and After Effects Expressions and is the co-author of After Effects On the Spot. Marcus regularly speaks about technical and artistic topics at conferences around the country, including NAB and Macworld. He is an Adobe Certified Expert, a Macromedia Certified Developer, and an Avid Certified Instructor.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Adobe Press; 1 Pap/DVD edition (April 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321606078
• ISBN-13: 978-0321606075
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #286,475 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars powerful commonality of integration, May 17, 2009

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Adobe seems to be doing a comprehensive job of tying together its tool portfolio. This book describes the integration of After Effects and Flash. Each is treated separately, at first. So if you wish, you can just focus on learning each tool in standalone mode. At this level, there is plenty to keep you busy. But it should be said that if you just want to deal with each in separation, try consulting the books in this Adobe series that deal just with each, Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Classroom in a Book and Adobe After Effects CS4 Classroom in a Book.

The current book has several projects (aka. case studies) that demonstrate how to tie together both tools. The topics covered are broad, and range from handling analog film clips (and converting these into digital form) to vector drawing and raster animation. Much thought appears to have gone into designing projects that emphasise a powerful commonality of integration.

The final product can also have a high degree of interactivity. This involves actual programming, using ActionScript code, and may appeal to those readers coming from a computing background, as opposed to a graphics background. Here, too, if you need a definitive ActionScript text, try this other book, ActionScript 3.0 for Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Classroom in a Book.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book I've been waiting for, June 1, 2009

By	K. Landey "Indie Arts DVD" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have have been a video editor for many years and recently bought CS4 Production Premium. The books I have found for the creative suite didn't quite meet my needs for an integrated approach. This book covered Flash and advanced features in After Effects as well as how to develop a work flow with the other programs. I would like to see another book in the same vein covering more great ways to use all the tools in this great toolbox.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dynamic interactive guide (with DVD) perfect for any Flash user, July 18, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Any seeking to learn Adobe Creative Suite 4 will find it holds powerful animation tools which offers specialized features and make for integration challenges and options. Basic and advanced uses for each application in the suite are covered in chapters which teach how to create content, manage projects, and create professional-looking videos with polished results. From creating 3D environments to converting Flash to broadcast and creating interactive controls, this is a dynamic interactive guide (with DVD) perfect for any Flash user.