Chapter Lessons Understand the Macromedia Flash workspace OVERVIEW Chapter Lessons Understand the Macromedia Flash workspace Open a document and play a movie Create and save a movie Work with the timeline Plan a Web site Distribute a Macromedia Flash movie Getting Started with Flash 8

Using Flash 8 What is Flash 8? INTRODUCTION Using Flash 8 What is Flash 8? An animation and interactive authoring program Has tools for complex animation, as well as excellent drawing tools Getting Started with Flash 8

Using Flash 8 What can Flash 8 be used for? Web sites INTRODUCTION Using Flash 8 What can Flash 8 be used for? Web sites Web-based applications CD-Rom and interactive applications Video Getting Started with Flash 8

Optimized for the Web Flash uses vector images INTRODUCTION Optimized for the Web Flash uses vector images Vectors are scalable Reduces the size of graphic files Flash provides for streaming content over the Internet Does not need to wait for entire contents of Web page to load to start playing Getting Started with Flash 8

Understanding the Flash Environment LESSON 1 Understanding the Flash Environment You can customize your workspace Flash works on a movie metaphor Create scenes on a stage Scenes run in frames on a timeline Create a movie by arranging objects on the stage Play the movie on the stage using VCR-like controls Getting Started with Flash 8

Understanding the Flash Environment LESSON 1 Understanding the Flash Environment Three parts to the development environment Stage Timeline Workspace Other parts of the program The toolbox The properties panel Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 1 Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 1 The Stage Contains all objects that are seen by the viewer in the final movie You can draw objects on, or import objects to the stage Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 1 The Timeline Used to organize and control the movie’s content by specifying when each object appears on the stage Contains images within frames Units of the timeline Has separate layers Has a playback head Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 1 The Tools Panel Contains a set of tools used to draw and edit graphics and text Divided into four sections: Tools, View, Colors, Options Panels, i.e., Properties panel Used to organize and modify objects and features in a movie Getting Started with Flash 8

Open a Document and Play a Movie LESSON 2 Open a Document and Play a Movie The .fla extension is native, and can only be opened in Flash Flash exports Web-ready files as .swf .swf files should be tested before being published Always keep the original .fla file for modifications Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 2 Previewing a Movie Flash movies can be previewed in the development environment Use control menu commands Play, rewind, step forward, step backward Use the Controller Toolbar command on the Window menu Getting Started with Flash 8

Keyboard Shortcuts Play: [Enter] (Win) and [Return] (Mac) LESSON 2 Keyboard Shortcuts Play: [Enter] (Win) and [Return] (Mac) Rewind: ([Ctrl] [Alt] [R] (Win)) and ([Option] [R] (Mac)) Step Forward (.) moves the play head forward progressively Step Backward (,) moves the play head backward progressively Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 2 Testing a Movie When previewing a movie, some interactive functions do not work unless the movie is played using the Flash Player Use Control > Test Movie to test using the Flash player Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 3 Create and Save a Movie Movies are created by placing objects on the stage, editing these objects, animating them and adding interactivity You can create graphics in Flash,or import them from another program such as Photoshop Getting Started with Flash 8

Creating an Animation A basic animation requires two keyframes LESSON 3 Creating an Animation A basic animation requires two keyframes The first keyframe sets the starting position The second keyframe sets the ending position The number of frames between two keyframes determines the length of the animation Getting Started with Flash 8

FIGURE 9 Oval object in Frame 1 LESSON 3 An Object in a Keyframe Object on the stage is in Frame 1 on the timeline FIGURE 9 Oval object in Frame 1 Getting Started with Flash 8

FIGURE 10 Motion animation LESSON 3 Motion Animation Arrow indicates motion animation FIGURE 10 Motion animation Getting Started with Flash 8

Adding an Effect to an Object LESSON 3 Adding an Effect to an Object In addition to animating an object’s location, you can also animate an object’s appearance Shape Color Brightness Transparency Rotation Getting Started with Flash 8

Determine and modify what is happening in a movie frame by frame LESSON 4 Work with the Timeline Determine and modify what is happening in a movie frame by frame Which objects are animated What types of animation to use Which objects will appear on top of others How fast movie will play Getting Started with Flash 8

FIGURE 15 Elements of the Timeline LESSON 4 Work with the Timeline Playhead Frames Frame View Icon Status Bar Layers FIGURE 15 Elements of the Timeline Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 4 Using Layers Layers: like transparent acetate sheets of content stacked on top of one another Adding a layer causes it to be placed on top of the other layers Can be re-ordered by dragging up or down Getting Started with Flash 8

Using Frames The timeline is made up of individual units called frames LESSON 4 Using Frames The timeline is made up of individual units called frames Content is displayed in frames as the playhead moves over them when the movie plays The status bar indicates current frame the playhead is on Getting Started with Flash 8

Using the Playhead The playhead indicates which frame is playing LESSON 4 Using the Playhead The playhead indicates which frame is playing Can be dragged left or right Dragging back and forth allows you to check some animations in Flash without exporting to .swf Getting Started with Flash 8

LESSON 4 Understanding Scenes A section of the timeline designated for a specific part of the movie Create a number of scenes to organize movie Give scenes descriptive names for faster editing Manage your flash movie production Getting Started with Flash 8

Working with the Timeline LESSON 4 Working with the Timeline By studying a timeline you can determine If different objects are on different layers If there is motion in any of the layers by looking for the motion arrow The length of the animation The frame rate Where the animation is in its sequence Getting Started with Flash 8

Plan a Web Site Step 1: State the purpose of your site LESSON 5 Plan a Web Site Step 1: State the purpose of your site What do we want to accomplish? Step 2: Identify the target audience Who will use this Web site? Getting Started with Flash 8

Plan a Web Site Step 3: Determining the Treatment LESSON 5 Plan a Web Site Step 3: Determining the Treatment What is the look and feel? Tone Approach Emphasis Getting Started with Flash 8

Plan a Web Site Step 4: Develop the Specifications Playback System LESSON 5 Plan a Web Site Step 4: Develop the Specifications Playback System Elements to Include Functionality User Interface Getting Started with Flash 8

Using Screen Design Guidelines LESSON 5 Using Screen Design Guidelines FIGURE 23 Sample Storyboard Getting Started with Flash 8

Using Screen Design Guidelines LESSON 5 Using Screen Design Guidelines Balance Unity Movement Getting Started with Flash 8

Using Interactive Design Guidelines LESSON 5 Using Interactive Design Guidelines Make it simple, easy to understand Build in consistency in the navigation scheme Provide feedback Give the user control Getting Started with Flash 8

Distributing a Macromedia Flash Movie LESSON 6 Distributing a Macromedia Flash Movie Export out of Flash as: .html (The HTML document) .swf (The Macromedia Flash Player file) Getting Started with Flash 8

FIGURE 24 Sample HTML code LESSON 6 .swf extension indicates a Macromedia Flash Player file Code specifying the Macromedia Flash Player Movie that the browser will play FIGURE 24 Sample HTML code Getting Started with Flash 8

Other Publishing Options LESSON 6 Other Publishing Options Stand-alone Projector Files Quicktime .mov files Getting Started with Flash 8

Chapter 1 Tasks Understand the Macromedia Flash environment SUMMARY Chapter 1 Tasks Understand the Macromedia Flash environment Open a document and play a movie Create and save a movie Work with layers and the timeline Plan a Web site Distribute a Macromedia Flash movie Getting Started with Flash 8