26-06-2014, 10:36 AM
Flash Introduction
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Abstract:
This document introduces the major features of Macromedia Flash Version 5, explains how to create graphics and vector animations, and demonstrates basic design and animation techniques. Also, online sources for additional information on Flash are listed.
Introduction
Macromedia Flash opens up an entirely new dimension within the realms of the Internet. No longer is one confined to the newspaper-like, flat nature of websites. Websites that were once stark, boring, and lifeless can now literally jump out and excite all of ones primary senses. This breakthrough in delivering dynamic multimedia over narrow bandwidths provides a new perspective on how we interact with websites, and ultimately, how we organize content and information itself. Flash, as an authoring tool, is limited only by our vast imaginations, and its mastery is within grasp of all those who wish to put in effort and practice.
Think back and try to remember which websites have intrigued you the most, or which websites left the best impression on you? Creative graphics, catchy color schemes, and flashy animation (pun intended) seem to stand out above the rest. After analyzing a multitude of Flash movies, you should begin to see a trend or a style that is consistent with most Flash moviesthey use text and text transitions along with an array of quick snapshots and sounds to keep you mesmerized. Many of us should be able to easily identify a Flash animation, and this identification skill is important because it will help establish what the scope and limits of Flash are.
Vector Graphics
As you practice drawing several shapes and pictures with the basic tools, notice how smooth everything seems to look, especially after you have tried to draw with the Pencil tool. Shapes and drawings are smooth in Flash because Flash is a vector-based drawing program. Vectors are mathematical representations of lines and shapes in the real world and are not the same as other images you see, such as digital photographs.
When you zoom into a photograph using a graphics editor program, you will eventually see blocks, or pixels, of color that make up the picture. A rounded shape will progressively look less rounded and more jagged as you zoom in closer. This is known as a bit-mapped image. Now, when you zoom in on a circle in Flash, you will never see the jagged edges because each progressive zoom redraws the circle using vectors. Vectors minimize storage space for images because the program does not have to store information on every block, just a vector equation to represent the shape.
Moreover, animations involving vectors are also drastically improved because there is less graphic information to process. However, there are still many mathematical computations to process. Thus, the simpler you create your Flash animation, the smoother it will run. With experience, you will be able to determine the optimal complexity of your Flash animation for it to run efficiently on most computers.
Because simplicity is optimum in Flash, strive to create vector images with minimal number of points, edges, and corners. There are some techniques that will help you achieve this. The Arrow tool, after you have made a selection, has options that allow you to smooth out or straighten out a vector drawing. The more you click on this option, the more smooth or straight your image becomes.
If you see a need to duplicate images or drawn sections, it is best to use the Selection tool and then go to Edit ! Copy (or Ctrl-C) and then Edit ! Paste (or Ctrl-V) to copy the selected area rather than trying to draw it again. You may also want to adjust the new shapes scale or rotation properties by selecting the appropriate option and then manipulating the handles on the selected area.
Symbols
Symbols in Flash are objects that you define and can be reused in your movie in order to save computer system resources and make your project more manageable. For instance, if you wanted to create 10 circles, it would be much easier to define one circle and then clone, or copy, that circle 9 times than to draw all ten circles from scratch. If you changed your mind and wanted to use squares instead, you would only need to update your symbol once to change the rest of the circles to squares.
Frame Adjustments
Now that you have created motion tweening and motion guide tweening, you may alter some properties in the way it progresses. Click on a beginning keyframe and look at the Frame property menu. Particularly useful are the Easing and Rotate properties:
• Easing reflects the acceleration of how your symbol movesset it to +100 to have it decelerate towards the end or set it to -100 to have it accelerate at the beginning.
• The Rotate parameter spins your symbol a specified number of times. Set it to different values and different directions to see what happens.
Now that youve seen how changing these parameters affect your movie playback, try and think about how you would create a realistic bouncing ball animation. You will need to understand the physics behind a bouncing ball, and be able to use various tools to help mimic reality. To accomplish this effect, you would make the ball start to drop slowly near the top and when it reaches the bottom at full speed, have it flatten a little bit before it decelerates again and reaches the top. For a more realistic touch, you could add a gradient fill to the ball and a dynamic black oval shadow underneath the
Conclusion
Learning Flash requires many steps, some of which can be very substantial but nonetheless rewarding. Flash developers continually find new methods to present information in a creative, dynamic way. Flash is a truly multimedia program, for it allows incorporation of all types of sounds and music, various movie files (such as QuickTime), and a high degree of interactivity. With the entire toolset and techniques mastered, Flash can become the imaginations playground.