Essentials of Flash Basic 8

Flash is a program that allows you to add animation and interactivity to your Web pages. There are two versions of Flash 8: Basic and Professional. The main difference between the two is that Professional includes additional features and functionality for higher-level application. For instance, you can create database-driven content and extend the functionality of video and animation. This book covers Flash Basic, which will allow you to create highly interactive projects, also known as movies.

While the lessons in this book will focus on the use of Flash for the creation of Web sites, Flash can also be used to create presentations, slide shows and applications for mobile devices such as cell phones and PDA’s.

This book has been designed to quickly teach you all of the essential skills necessary to work with this fantastic web page animation tool.

Here's what you'll learn:.

Module 1: Introduction to Flash Basic

View a Web Page with Flash Objects | View a SWF File | Start Flash and Show/Hide Panels | Create a Simple Animation with Keyframes

Module 2: Graphics and Text Formatting

Check Frame Rates and Change the Movie Color | Use Strokes and Fills | Use the Ink Bottle and Paint Bucket Tools | Work with Shapes | Work with Groups | Edit Colors | Use the Rectangle Tool | Create Custom Colors | Use the Pen Tool to Draw Shapes with Straight Lines | Use the Pen Tool for Shapes with Curved Lines | Use the Subselect Tool | Use the Brush Tool | Use the Pencil Tool | Format Text with the Character Panel | Convert Text to Paths | Format a Text Block | Work with Artwork | Use Images from the Library | Convert an Image to Vector Art | Import Vector Art

Module 3: Symbols and Buttons

Create a Graphic Symbol | Edit and Nest Symbols | Move the Registration Point | Change the Registration Point | Create a Button | Set up a Button's Rollover, Down and Hit States

Module 4: Tweening, Layers and Scenes

Create a Motion Tween | Modify a Motion Tween | Make Changes Over Time | Create an Animated Movie Clip | Add, Delete, Move and Name Layers | Copy and Paste Between Layers | Edit in Place | Work with Scenes

Module 5: More Animation

Create a Fade Animation | Create a Motion Guide | Create Shape Tween Animation | Create an Animated Mask | Create a Static Mask

Module 6: Actions

Add a Frame Action | Add Actions to Buttons | Add a Get URL Action

Module 7: Sound and Publishing

Add Sound to a Button | Add Sound to an Animation Sequence | Create an Audio Player | Publish a Movie

All this, and most people will be able to finish within 2 short days (or less).