The Web Wizard's Guide to Flash
Michael Kay

ISBN-10: 0201764342
ISBN-13: 9780201764345

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2003
Format: Paper; 224 pp
Status: Out of stock Indefinitely

Suggested retail price: $36.67
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The Web Wizard's Guide to Flash teaches readers with no programming experience how to quickly create interactive content for the Web. From creating graphics and animation to incorporating actions and sound, this quick and easy-to-understand introduction to Flash will show readers how to create well-designed, exciting Web sites in no time!

The Web Wizard Series from Addison-Wesley is a series of brief, introductory books on Internet and Web programming topics of interest to anyone who wants to create Web pages. Each book includes an easy-to-read, full-color design, and is written in a concise and practical manner to get readers quickly using the technologies.

  • Focuses on the essentials for gaining a solid foundation in Flash.
  • Shows how to create original artwork within Flash and how to work with media from other sources.
  • Gives readers an opportunity to create animations from the start, and then add sound and actions.
  • Demonstrates how to apply simple actions, free of scripting; but later introduces the basics of writing ActionScript code by hand.
  • Takes readers through the process of optimizing a Flash movie and publishing a SWF file for the Web.
  • Provides professional insight into how to apply Flash more effectively.
  • Written in accessible, step-by-step writing style.
  • Provides full color screenshots and code examples.
  • This text is also available as a SafariX WebBook. SafariXTextbooks Online is an exciting new choice for students looking to save money. As an alternative to purchasing the print textbook, students can subscribe to the same content online and save up to 50% off the suggested list price of the print text. Students can search the text, make notes online, print out reading assignments that incorporate lecture notes, and bookmark important passages for later review. For more information, or to subscribe to the SafariX WebBook, visit www.safarix.com.



1. Getting Started with Flash.

What is Flash?

When (and When Not) to Use Flash.

Working with Flash.

A Tour of the Program.

Changing the View.

Setting Preferences.



2. Creating Graphics.

Creating and Saving Work Files.

Setting Movie Properties.

Overview of the Tools Panel.

Drawing New Objects.

Selecting and Transforming Artwork.

Applying Color.

Working with Multiple Objects.

Organizing Artwork with Layers.

Importing Bitmap Images.

Working with Other Vector Programs.

Adding and Formatting Text.



3. Flash Animation.

Working with Frames in the Timeline.

Creating Frame-by-Frame Animation.

Introducing Symbols.

Animating with a Motion Tween.

Constructing Animated Symbols.

Nesting Symbols.

Motion Tween Is Not Just for Motion.

Animating with a Shape Tween.

Viewing Multiple Frames with Onion Skin.

Applying Guide Layers.

Masking with Layers.

Managing Assets in the Library.

Adding Scenes to the Movie.



4. Basic Actions.

Using Interactivity in Flash.

Getting Familiar with the Actions Panel.

Applying Frame Actions.

Checking Your Actions.

Assigning Actions to Buttons.

Applying Basic Actions that Play a Movie.

Controlling Movie Clips with Tell Target.

Defining a Path.

Building a Pull Down Menu.



5. Enriching Movies with Sound.

When to Use Sound.

Importing Sounds Into Flash.

Placing a Sound in a Flash Movie.

An Overview of Sound Settings.

Maximizing Sound Compression.

Adding Sound to a Button.

Controlling Sounds with Actions.

Sound Strategy.



6. Optimizing and Publishing.

Optimizing Flash Content.

Navigating with The Movie Explorer.

Testing Movies with the Bandwidth Profiler.

Creating a Loading Sequence.

Publishing Flash Content for the Web.

Testing in a Web Browser.

Accommodating Older Plug-ins.

Posting Your Files on the Web.



7. Easing into ActionScript.

From Basic Actions to ActionScript.

The Anatomy of ActionScript.

Applying Built-in Functions.

Applying Dot Syntax to Methods and Properties.

Setting Requirements with Conditionals.

Using Variables and Operators to Change Properties.

Combining Variables, Operators, and Properties.

Building a Custom Function.

Writing Good Code.

What Else you Can Do with ActionScript.



8. The Flash Experience.

When is Flash the Answer?

Designing for the User.

Step-by-Step Design.

Good Flash Practices.

The Road to Flash Mastery.

Beyond Flash.

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