1. Introducing Macromedia Flash 8
Tutorial 1
Introducing Macromedia Flash 8

2. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Objectives
Discover the types of Web media you can create using Flash
Compare vector graphics and bitmap graphics
Start Flash and explore its main program window elements
Display grid lines, guides, and rulers
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

3. Objectives (continued)
Set a document’s properties
Learn about strokes, fills, and colors
Select and modify objects
Use Flash Help
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

4. What is Macromedia Flash 8?
Program developed by Macromedia, Inc.
Originally use: making fast-loading Web animations
Has evolved into a full Web site production tool
Interactive media created with Flash
Animated logos
Web site navigational controls
Entire Web sites
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

5. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Types of Web Media
Web pages communicate using various media
Types: text, graphics, animations, sounds, videos
HTML: used to integrate media into Web pages
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

6. Bitmap and Vector Graphics
Pixel: smallest element making up a picture
Bitmap graphic: matrix of colored pixels
Examples: files with .jpg and .gif extensions
Vector graphics are specified with formulas
Image shapes are defined by color, outline, and position
Images are resolution independent and scale well
Images created in Flash are in the vector format
Bitmap files may be imported into Flash
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

7. Bitmap Graphic Compared to Vector Graphic
Figure 1-1
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

8. Bitmap and Vector Animation
Animation: virtual motion due to sequencing stills
Bitmap animation
Puts bitmap still images into motion for Web viewing
Implemented using a sequence of bitmap frames
High overhead involved in changing screen colors
Vector animation
Consists of a listing of shapes and their transformations
Produced with less overhead and resolution independence
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

9. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Web Media in Flash
Documents: Web media created in Flash
Include static images as well as animations
Documents must be referenced in an HTML file
Types of Flash documents
FLA (.fla) file: used to author Flash content
SWF (.swf) file: viewed by end-user in a Web browser
SWF files require a Flash Player plug-in
ActionScript: code used to enhance interactivity
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

10. Flash Player Plug-in Context Menu
Figure 1-2
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

11. Viewing Examples of Flash Documents
Admiral Web Design Web site: showcase for Flash
Objective: view animations at showcase Web site
Make sure Flash Player plug-in is installed
Video stream plays while file is downloaded
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

12. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Sample Flash Graphics
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

13. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Starting Flash
Two ways to start Flash
Click Start  All Programs  Macromedia  Macromedia Flash 8
Double-click Flash program icon (if on desktop)
Actions you can perform from the Start page
Open recently used files or create a new document
Take a quick tour of Flash
Flash program window has various components
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

14. Main Components Of The Flash Program Window
Figure 1-4
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

15. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Previewing Documents
Preview Flash document to review changes made
Several ways to preview your document in Flash
Preview or play animation within Flash program window
Publish file to play in a separate Flash Player window
Publish file to play in your default Web browser
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

16. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Simplekite Document
Figure 1-6
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

17. Simplekite Document Playing In Flash Player Window
Figure 1-7
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

18. Flash Program Window Elements
Stage
Site for creating, importing, assembling graphic objects
Work Area
Gray area surrounding the stage
Timeline
Controls and coordinates frames and layers in document
Frame: container representing a unit of time
Playhead: marker indicating currently selected frame
Layers: organize images, animations, and other objects
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

19. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Flash Timeline
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

20. Flash Program Window Elements (continued)
Tools panel
Provides tools for manipulating Flash graphics
Operations: draw, paint, select, modify graphics
Four areas: Tools, View, Colors, Options
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

21. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Tools Panel Tools
Figure 1-11
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

22. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Panels
Actions performed with controls in Flash panels
Viewing properties of objects
Changing the properties of objects
Panel set: several panels grouped together
Figure 1-15
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

23. Panels In Their Default Layout
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

24. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Organizing Panels
Using the panel title bar
View panel name on the title bar
Options menu control is located on right side of title bar
Expand or collapse panel by clicking title bar
Right click title bar and use Group With to create a group
Moving a panel
Position pointer on left edge of the title bar
Ensure that pointer changes to crossed double arrows
Drag title bar to new location
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

25. The Property Inspector
Panel located at the bottom of the Flash program window
Provides easy access to common object attributes
Adapting Property inspector to an item
Simply select a tool or other graphical object
Attributes of currently selected tool or object are reflected
Figure 1-19
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

26. Property Inspector with an Object Selected
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

27. Changing the View of the Stage
Zoom tool: used to enlarge or reduce Stage size
Using active Zoom tool against the Stage
Click a part of the Stage to enlarge or reduce it
Alternative: use rectangular selection marquee
Some commands on the View menu
Zoom In or Zoom Out commands
Magnification command
Hand tool: moves Stage without magnification change
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

28. Displaying the Grid, Rulers, and Guides
Appears as a set of lines on the Stage behind all objects
Grid lines do not become part of your document
Rulers
Vertically displayed on left edge of Stage window
Horizontally displayed on the top edge of Stage Window
Guide
Line used in conjunction with rulers to align objects
Can be moved to a specific part of the Stage
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

29. Grid Displayed on the Stage
Figure 1-26
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

30. Changing the Document Properties
Properties common to all Flash documents
Title, Description, Stage size, background color, frame rate
Document Properties dialog box
Used to change a document’s properties
Opening the Document Properties dialog box
Click Modify on the menu bar
Next click Document
Changes in Document Properties reflect on Stage
Figure 1-28
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

31. Document Properties Dialog Box
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

32. Working with Objects in Flash Strokes and Fills
Drawing and painting tools
Line, Pen, Pencil, Oval, Rectangle, and Brush
Places where colors may be selected
Tools panel, Property inspector, Color Mixer panel
Strokes: lines that you draw
Fills: areas you paint with color
Figure 1-30
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

33. Sample Shapes with Fills and Strokes
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

34. Drawing and Grouping Objects
Merge Drawing model
Objects in a layer occupy the same plane
Object laid over another merges with or segments other
Object Drawing model
Shapes drawn on a layer are independent
Activated by clicking Object Drawing in Tools panel
Preventing objects from impacting each other
Group objects together or place objects in separate layers
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

35. How Objects Interact with Each Other
Figure 1-31
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

36. Color Controls and the Color Mixer
Strokes and fills can be drawn with different colors
Select color swatch using the eyedropper tool
Swatch: color square in the color palette
216 Web-safe colors based on RGB (red, green, blue)
Two types of gradient: linear and radial
Places where colors may be selected
Colors are of Tools panel, Property inspector, Color Mixer
Figure 1-34
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

37. Color Palette For The Fill Color Control
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

38. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Selecting Objects
Selection tool
Used to select strokes or fills
Can also be used to select groups of objects
Features of the Selection tool
Snap to Objects, Smooth, and Straighten modifiers
Figure 1-37
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

39. Selection Tool Modifiers
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

40. Selecting Objects (continued)
Anchor points: reference points on strokes, outlines
Subselection tool reveals anchor points
Applying the Subselection tool to an object
Select Subselection tool in Tools panel
Click a stroke or outline of a fill
Creating tangent handles near an anchor point
Click an anchor point on a curved line
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

41. Changing a Curve’s Anchor Point
Figure 1-40
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

42. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Lasso Tool
Two ways to use the Lasso tool
Select several objects at one time
Select an irregularly shaped area of an object
Draw a free-form selection marquee around the area
Tasks performed on a lassoed object
Move the selection
Apply other effects; e.g., change color of selected fills
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

43. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Getting Help in Flash
Flash Help system is a great resource
Two ways to access Flash Help system
Click Help  Flash Help
Click Help on a panel’s option menu
Flash Help displays in two-panel window
Figure 1-45
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8

44. New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8
Help Panel
New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8