1. Flash Week 5 Presentation by Mindy McAdams

2. Post-mortem: Flash 3 exercise Sliding panel functionality Use of big, beautiful pictures (vs. tiny pictures) Choices for layout of buttons, text, etc.

3. Sliding panel functionality Let’s look at some excellent solutions to the button puzzle … Two solutions, each quite different

4. This button is not inside the movie clip (and notice the instance name of the button)

5. There is a second button underneath the first one

6. Notice the instance name of the second button

7. Inside the movie clip timeline, the script addresses the button instance up on the main Timeline (with _parent)

8. The script inside the movie clip timeline is different for each position (out, in) of the sliding panel

9. Sliding panel functionality Now look at a very different solution that is equally as good …

10. Here is the sliding panel on the main Timeline

11. On the timeline of the sliding panel movie clip, the whole panel is a button symbol

12. The script on the button in frame 1 of the movie clip

13. Here’s the button after “slideout”

14. The script on the button in frame 11 of the movie clip

15. Sliding panel functionality Both of these solutions are very good because the sliding panel can only slide down when it is up, and vice versa Buttons that work the way you would expect them to work enhance the professional quality of a Flash package

16. Now let’s discuss design Use of images in Flash Placement of images (not the same as on a regular Web page) Use the full Stage whenever you can Small is not beautiful

17. Which looks better? (1)

18. Which looks better? (2)

19. Which looks better? (3)

20. Again: Which is better? (1)

21. Again: Which is better? (2)

22. Placement of buttons, panels Functionality first Alignment with other items on the Stage Avoid centering in most cases “Don’t make me think” What will the user expect? What does the user want to do?

23. B

24. Balance & alignment A different alignment changes everything

25. Placement of sliding panel Where would you put the sliding panel?

26. Placement of sliding panel Appearance is similar to buttons, but not identical

27. Placement of sliding panel Enough space for panel to look okay when it is visible

28. Positioning text & pictures What can be improved?

29. Positioning text & pictures Photo size & alignment; text alignment

30. Positioning text & pictures Placement of both text and photos

31. Positioning text & pictures Alignment guides the eye; proximity shows relationships. Use of space: Avoid “crowding”

32. The End Presentation by Mindy McAdams