flash

Introduction to
Macromedia's Flash 4.0

Presented by Heidi N. Abbey, University of Connecticut Libraries
for the ACRL/NEC Information Technology Interest Group (ITIG)

Friday, September 22, 2000 n 11:00-12:00 n Electronic Classroom, Level 2

Introduction

What is Flash?

Vector vs. Bitmapped Graphics

Flash Editor and Player

Movies = Flash files in authoring or playback stages
File extensions = .fla (native format), .swf ("swif" Shockwave Flash format)

Is Flash Evil? The Great Debate, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Flash Interface Basics

Document = Stage, Timeline, and Work Area

Stage = Contains content that will be visible in final movie
Timeline = Record of movie’s frames, layers, and scenes over a period of time

Frames = Individual segments of a movie; fps = frames per second

Keyframes = Placemarkers for movie events and identifiers of new content

Layers = Collection of frames, stacked in 3-D, which compose a scene; analogous to a "Stack of Transparent Acetate"

Scenes = Collections of frames and layers

Symbols = Reusable graphics

Library = Houses the symbols

Instances = Repeated uses of a symbol

The Toolbar

Drawing, selecting, and painting tools
Modifiers, or options for the tools (e.g., color palette)

Exercise #1: Motion Tweening and Saving/Exporting Movies

Using keyframes, users define the beginning and the end of an animation or tween. Flash then interpolates everything in beTWEEN frames; hence, the name "tweening."

Create a new movie (File > New).
Select the oval drawing tool and choose a fill color in the modifier box.
Draw a circle in the first keyframe of your movie.
Select the circle (Edit > Select All), and turn it into a symbol (Insert > Convert to Symbol). Give your circle a name and then choose behavior "Graphic."
Insert a second keyframe in frame 10. Right click on the frame and select the option "Insert Keyframe" or press F6.
Select the arrow tool and move your circle somewhere else on the stage.
Right click on any frame between your first and second keyframes and select the option "Create Motion Tween."
Rewind and play your new movie on the stage (Control > Rewind > Control > Play). Or, use the Controller window as a shortcut (Window > Controller).
Test your new movie in the Flash Player (Control > Test Movie). Adjust frames per second if needed (Modify > Movie > Frame Rate).
Save and name movie in native .fla format (File > Save As).
Export movie to .swf format for delivery on the Web (File > Export Movie).

Exercise #2: Morphing

Merge or morph two objects, shapes, or text in this simple exercise.

Create a new movie (File > New).
Select the text tool, choose a font, font size/color, and type a word on the stage.
Insert a keyframe in frame 30. Right click on the frame and press F6.
Type a new word or words over the text on the stage.
Select frame 1 and break it apart (Modify > Break Apart) or Ctrl + B.
Select frame 30 and break it apart (Modify > Break Apart) or Ctrl + B.
Double click on frame 1. Select Tweening Tab > Shape > OK.
Play, test, save, and export your movie as in Exercise #1.

Exercise #3: Making 3-D Text

Create sophisticated dropshadows, glowing or blurred text in seconds.

Create a new movie (File > New).
Select the text tool, choose a font, font size/color, and type a word on the stage.
Select the text and break it apart (Modify > Break Apart) or Ctrl + B.
Select the text again and soften it (Modify > Curves > Soften Edges).
Type distance in pixels, number of steps or layers, and expand or inset.
Play, test, save, and export your movie as in Exercise #1.

For Future Reference

About.com’s "Getting Started with Flash"

http://graphicssoft.about.com/compute/graphicssoft/cs/flashbasics/index.htm

Download a free, fully-functional, 30-day trial version of Flash 5.0

http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/trial/

Virtual-FX's Flash Tutorials

http://www.virtual-fx.net/tutorials/index.asp

Compiled and written by Heidi N. Abbey, University of Connecticut Libraries

Email: heidi.abbey@uconn.edu · Office and Voicemail: 860.486.2993 · Last Revised 12/07/2000