In this book you'll be taken step-by-step through a variety of exercises that will show you how to animate: motion and shape tweening (the basis for animation), drawing, interactivity, buttons, symbols, movie clips, sound, loading messages, and introductory ActionScript. We focus on ActionScript 2, the designer-friendly programming language, but also provide exercises in ActionScript 3 for those who are interested in more hardcore programming.
Includes Downloadable Class Files (works on Mac & PC)
ISBN: 978-1-934624-85-2
Section 1
Symbols & Instances
- Creating Graphic Symbols
- Editing Symbols
- Editing Instances
Simple Animation
- Animating Symbols
- Transformations
Animating with a Motion Guide
- Animation along a Path
- Motion Guide
Custom Easing
- Custom Motion Easing
Section 2
Animation & Transformation
- Multiple Simultaneous Animations
- Reverse Frames
- Seamless Looping Movies
Shape Tweening & Shape Hints
- Morphing Shapes (Shape Tween)
- Guiding Shape Tweens (Shape Hints)
Zooming Type with Echo Animation
- Animating Text
- Zoom Effect
- Echo Effect
Intro to Actions: Timeline Control
- Using ActionScript to Control the Timeline
- Frame Labels
Section 3
Letter by Letter Animation
- Envelope Transform
- Letter by Letter Text Animation
Intro to Movie Clip Symbols: Filtertastic
- Movie Clip Symbols
- Filters
- Tweening Filters
Drawing & Painting I: Toolbar Basics
- Drawing Tools
- Object Drawing Mode
Drawing & Painting II: Custom Colors
- Creating Color Swatches
- Gradients
- Editing Applied Gradients
Section 4
Masking with Binoculars
- Masks
- Importing Bitmaps
Intro to Button Symbols
- Button Symbol
- Gradient Colors
- Importing Artwork from Illustrator
- The Hit State
Nesting Symbols: Better Buttons
- Symbols inside Symbols
Adding Sound to Buttons
- Adding Sound
- External Libraries
Section 5
Animation Inside Movie Clips
- Movie Clips with Timelines
- Animated Buttons
Button Actions
- Adding Interactivity to Flash
- Controlling the Timeline with ActionScript
Noble Ad Banner: Importing & Organizing Assets
- Importing Bitmaps
- Creating Library Folders
- Working With Multiple Libraries
- Creating a Gradient Stage Background
Noble Ad Banner: Setting Up the Timeline
- Adding & Organizing Layers
- Positioning Symbols with the Properties Panel
- Using Filters for Drop Shadows
Section 6
Noble Ad Banner: Tweening Titles
- Simple Workflow for Classic Tweens
- Quickly Staggering Tweens for Cinematic Flair
Noble Ad Banner: Seminar Image Transitions
- Effectively Incorporating Bitmaps
- Artfully Staggering Transitions
- Tweening Color Effects: Brightness and Tint
Noble Ad Banner: Register Now & Using clickTAG
- Masking Content
- Creating Invisible Buttons
- Using clickTAG to Track Effectiveness of Ad
- Setting the Destination URL
Preflight and Optimization
- Bandwidth Profiler
- Using Publish Settings
- Modifying JPEG Quality
- Generating a Size Report
- Exporting an Image Fallback
Bonus Exercises
Draggable Mask with Behaviors
- Adding Behaviors to Movie Clips
- Draggable Movie Clips
Invisible Buttons
- on (Rollover) ActionScript
Flash Video
- Encoding Flash Video (.flv)
- Adding Flash Video
- Customizing Player Skins
Creating a Toggle Button
- Toggling Music On/Off
- Common Button Libraries
Reference Material
Flash Banner Ad Tips & Guidelines
Useful Keyboard Shortcuts: Windows
Useful Keyboard Shortcuts: Mac
Examples of What You Learn
Why Our Books Are Unique
Our books are packed with step-by-step exercises that walk you through projects. You’ll learn by doing exercises, not reading long explanations. The goal is to give you hands-on practice with the program, getting you started quickly with the things that are most important for real life work.