1. Dm 11 – Intro. To Flash Macromedia Flash MX GETTING STARTED WITH

2. Chapter A Understand the Macromedia Flash environment Understand the Macromedia Flash environment Open a document and play a movie Open a document and play a movie Create and save a movie Create and save a movie Work with layers and the timeline Work with layers and the timeline Plan a Web site Plan a Web site Distribute a Macromedia Flash movie Distribute a Macromedia Flash movie Chapter Lessons

3. Chapter A What is Flash MX? What is Flash MX? –A animation and interactive authoring program –Has tools for complex animation, as well as excellent drawing tools Using Flash MX

4. Chapter A What can Flash MX be used for? What can Flash MX be used for? –Web sites –Web-based applications –CD-Rom and interactive applications –Video Using Flash

5. Chapter A Optimized for the Web Flash’s Native format is vector images, which reduce the size of graphic files. Flash’s Native format is vector images, which reduce the size of graphic files. –Vectors are scalable Flash provides streaming content over the internet Flash provides streaming content over the internet –instead of waiting for the entire contents of a web page to load

6. Chapter A The Development Environment You can customize your workspace You can customize your workspace Flash works on a movie metaphor Flash works on a movie metaphor –Create Scenes on a Stage –Scenes run in frames on a timeline –You create a movie by arranging objects on the stage –You can play the movie on the stage using VCR-like controls

7. Chapter A Playback of Flash content Movies are viewable through a browser Movies are viewable through a browser Macromedia Flash Player is required (free download available on Macromedia’s Web site) Macromedia Flash Player is required (free download available on Macromedia’s Web site) Movies can be played through the browser, the player, or as a stand-alone “projector” Movies can be played through the browser, the player, or as a stand-alone “projector”

8. Chapter A How Flash Starts up Three parts to the Development Environment Three parts to the Development Environment –Stage –Timeline –Workspace You can display other parts of the program You can display other parts of the program –The toolbox –The properties panel

9. Chapter A toolbox stage timeline panels stage

10. Chapter A The Stage Contains all objects that are seen by the viewer in the final movie Contains all objects that are seen by the viewer in the final movie You can draw objects on, or import objects to the stage You can draw objects on, or import objects to the stage

11. Chapter A The Timeline Used to organize and control the movie’s content by specifying when each object appears on the stage Used to organize and control the movie’s content by specifying when each object appears on the stage Images are contained within frames, which are units of the timeline Images are contained within frames, which are units of the timeline The timeline has separate layers The timeline has separate layers The timeline has a playback head The timeline has a playback head

12. Chapter A The Toolbox Contains a set of tools used to draw and edit graphics and text Contains a set of tools used to draw and edit graphics and text Divided into four sections: Tools, View,Colors, Option Divided into four sections: Tools, View,Colors, Option Panels, such as the Properties Panel are used to organize and modify objects and features in a movie Panels, such as the Properties Panel are used to organize and modify objects and features in a movie

13. Chapter A Opening a movie in Flash The.fla extension is native, and can only be opened in Flash The.fla extension is native, and can only be opened in Flash Flash exports web-ready files as.swf Flash exports web-ready files as.swf.swf files should be tested before being published.swf files should be tested before being published Always keep the original.fla file Always keep the original.fla file

14. Chapter A Previewing a movie Flash movies can be previewed in the development environment Flash movies can be previewed in the development environment Control menu commands: Control menu commands: –Play, rewind, step forward, step backward. The Controller acts similar to a VCR Controller The Controller acts similar to a VCR Controller

15. Chapter A Testing a movie When previewing a movie, some interactive functions do not work unless the movie is played using the Flash Player. 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 Use Control > Test Movie to test using the Flash player

16. Chapter A Creating a Macromedia Flash Movie Movies are created by placing objects on the stage, editing these objects, animating them and adding interactivity 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 You can create graphics in Flash,or import them from another program such as Photoshop

17. Chapter A Creating a Macromedia Flash Movie Objects placed on the stage are automatically placed in a layer, and in the currently selected frame of the timeline Objects placed on the stage are automatically placed in a layer, and in the currently selected frame of the timeline A keyframe represents a frame which contains an object A keyframe represents a frame which contains an object –Always the first frame of every animation

18. Chapter A An object in a keyframe Object on the stage Keyframe representing object

19. Chapter A Creating an animation A basic animation requires two keyframes 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 The number of frames between two keyframes determines the length of the animation

20. Chapter A Motion animation Arrow between keyframes indicates motion animation

21. Chapter A Adding an Effect to an Object In addition to animating an objects location, you can also animate an objects appearance In addition to animating an objects location, you can also animate an objects appearance –Shape –Color –Brightness –Transparency –Rotation

22. Chapter A Understanding the Timeline Playhead Frames Frame View Icon Status Bar Layers Understanding how to read the timeline can help you determine what’s happening in your movie frame by frame Understanding how to read the timeline can help you determine what’s happening in your movie frame by frame

23. Chapter A Layers Like transparent acetate sheets of content stacked on top of one another 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 Adding a layer causes it to be placed on top of the other layers Can be re-ordered by dragging up or down Can be re-ordered by dragging up or down

24. Chapter A Using Frames The timeline is made up of individual units called 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 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 The status bar indicates current frame the playhead is on

25. Chapter A Using the Playhead The playhead indicates which frame is playing The playhead indicates which frame is playing Can be dragged left or right Can be dragged left or right Dragging back and forth allows you to check some animations in Flash without exporting to swf Dragging back and forth allows you to check some animations in Flash without exporting to swf

26. Chapter A Understanding Scenes A section of the timeline designated for a specific part of the movie A section of the timeline designated for a specific part of the movie You can create and name scenes as you wish You can create and name scenes as you wish Great way to manage your Flash movie production Great way to manage your Flash movie production

27. Chapter A Adjusting the Timeline view

28. Chapter A Modifying the frame rate Change movie dimensions Adjust the frame rate Adjust the Background color

29. Chapter A Plan a Web site First step in any site production First step in any site production Step 1: State the Purpose(Goals) Step 1: State the Purpose(Goals) Step 2: Identify the Target Audience Step 2: Identify the Target Audience –Who will use the Web site?

30. Chapter A Plan a Web site Step 3: Determining the Treatment Step 3: Determining the Treatment –What is the look and feel? –Tone –Approach –Emphasis

31. Chapter A Plan a Web site Step 4: Develop the Specifications Step 4: Develop the Specifications –Playback System –Elements to Include –Functionality –User Interface

32. Chapter A Create a Storyboard

33. Chapter A Using Screen Design guidelines Balance Balance Unity Unity Movement Movement User Interface User Interface

34. Chapter A Using Interactive Design guidelines Make it simple, easy to understand Make it simple, easy to understand Build in consistency in the navigation scheme Build in consistency in the navigation scheme Provide feedback Provide feedback Give the user control Give the user control

35. Chapter A Distributing Flash Movies File > Publish to export movies out of Flash File > Publish to export movies out of Flash Export to.swf format Export to.swf format Generate the HTML code that references the Macromedia Shockwave file Generate the HTML code that references the Macromedia Shockwave file

36. Chapter A HTML code Code specifying the Macromedia Shockwave Movie that the browser will play.swf extension indicates a Macromedia Shockwave file

37. Chapter A Other Publish options Stand-alone Projector Files Stand-alone Projector Files Quicktime.mov files Quicktime.mov files

38. Chapter A Chapter A Tasks Understand the Macromedia Flash environment Understand the Macromedia Flash environment Open a document and play a movie Open a document and play a movie Create and save a movie Create and save a movie Work with layers and the timeline Work with layers and the timeline Plan a Web site Plan a Web site Distribute a Macromedia Flash movie Distribute a Macromedia Flash movie