Flash Macromedia Flash Introduction

Bitmap vs. Vector based  Bitmap –Bitmaps are made up of single pixels  Vector based –Vector graphics are made up of mathematical equations

Advantages of Vector-based Drawing Programs  Easy to resize without loss of quality  Small file size  Faster display and download

Animation  Graphics with added motion  Motion is illusion of motion  Single image is called a frame

Animation (cont.)  24 frames per second are the threshold for the human eye to perceive single frames showing in sequence as continous motion

Frames  Frame –Single image displaying the object or character  Keyframe –Single Image where a significant change to the object or character is defined

Frames (cont.)  In-between Frames –Incorporate the incremental changes necessary to simulate movement  Tweening –Process of automatically creating in-between frames

Symbols  Symbols are reusable objects  Are stored in the library  Library is a container for reusable objects  Convert to symbol creates symbol and places it in Flash library

Symbol Instances  Instance of a symbol is usage of a symbol in your movie  Help to keep the file size small

Layers  Layers are like transparencies  Have a stacking order  Easy to make changes  Avoid unwanted object interaction

Usage of Layers  Layers avoid unwanted object interaction  Each object that you may want to animate should be placed on a separate layer  Rule of thumb: If in doubt, place the object on a separate layer