1 / 38

Chapter Lessons

Learn how to use Macromedia Flash MX to create and save movies, work with layers and timelines, plan a web site, and distribute Flash movies.

garyd
Download Presentation

Chapter Lessons

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. OVERVIEW Chapter Lessons • 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  2. INTRODUCTION Using Flash MX • What is Flash MX? • A animation and interactive authoring program • Has tools for complex animation, as well as excellent drawing tools Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  3. INTRODUCTION Using Flash • What can Flash MX be used for? • Web sites • Web-based applications • CD-Rom and interactive applications • Video Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  4. INTRODUCTION Optimized for the Web • Flash’s Native format is vector images, which reduce the size of graphic files. • Vectors are scalable • Flash provides streaming content over the internet • instead of waiting for the entire contents of a web page to load Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  5. LESSON 1 The Development Environment • You can customize your workspace • 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 Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  6. LESSON 1 Playback of Flash content • Movies are viewable through a browser • 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” Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  7. LESSON 1 How Flash Starts up • Three parts to the Development Environment • Stage • Timeline • Workspace • You can display other parts of the program • The toolbox • The properties panel Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  8. LESSON 1 timeline toolbox stage stage panels Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  9. 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  10. LESSON 1 The Timeline • 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 • The timeline has separate layers • The timeline has a playback head Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  11. LESSON 1 The Toolbox • Contains a set of tools used to draw and edit graphics and text • 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 Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  12. LESSON 2 Opening a movie in Flash • 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 Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  13. LESSON 2 Previewing a movie • Flash movies can be previewed in the development environment • Control menu commands: • Play, rewind, step forward, step backward. • The Controller acts similar to a VCR Controller Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  14. 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  15. LESSON 3 Creating a Macromedia Flash 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  16. LESSON 3 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 • A keyframe represents a frame which contains an object • Always the first frame of every animation Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  17. LESSON 3 An object in a keyframe Keyframe representing object Object on the stage Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  18. 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  19. LESSON 3 Motion animation Arrow between keyframes indicates motion animation Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  20. LESSON 3 Adding an Effect to an Object • In addition to animating an objects location, you can also animate an objects appearance • Shape • Color • Brightness • Transparency • Rotation Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  21. LESSON 4 Understanding the Timeline • Understanding how to read the timeline can help you determine what’s happening in your movie frame by frame Frame View Icon Playhead Frames Status Bar Layers Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  22. LESSON 4 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  23. 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  24. 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  25. LESSON 4 Understanding Scenes • A section of the timeline designated for a specific part of the movie • You can create and name scenes as you wish • Great way to manage your Flash movie production Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  26. LESSON 4 Adjusting the Timeline view Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  27. LESSON 4 Modifying the frame rate Change movie dimensions Adjust the Background color Adjust the frame rate Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  28. LESSON 5 Plan a Web site • First step in any site production • Step 1: State the Purpose(Goals) • Step 2: Identify the Target Audience • Who will use the Web site? Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  29. LESSON 5 Plan a Web site • Step 3: Determining the Treatment • What is the look and feel? • Tone • Approach • Emphasis Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  30. LESSON 5 Plan a Web site • Step 4: Develop the Specifications • Playback System • Elements to Include • Functionality • User Interface Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  31. LESSON 5 Create a Storyboard Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  32. LESSON 5 Using Screen Design guidelines • Balance • Unity • Movement • User Interface Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  33. 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 Macromedia Flash MX

  34. LESSON 6 Distributing Flash Movies • File > Publish to export movies out of Flash • Export to .swf format • Generate the HTML code that references the Macromedia Shockwave file Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  35. LESSON 6 HTML code .swf extension indicates aMacromedia Shockwave file Code specifying the Macromedia Shockwave Movie that the browser will play Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  36. LESSON 6 Other Publish options • Stand-alone Projector Files • Quicktime .mov files Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

  37. SUMMARY Chapter A 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 Macromedia Flash MX

More Related