Flash CS4: Introduction
Flash CS5: Introduction will begin in September. Click here for course description.
Course length: 3 days
Prerequisite: None
You don't need prior Flash experience to take this class! We start from scratch, providing you with the knowledge and hands-on practice needed to create rich media. You'll learn how to create Flash movies containing animation, sound, and even video. We teach you how to add simple user interactions using Actionscript. You'll leave this class understanding Flash's interface, design tools, timelines, and symbols. Flash development best practices are emphasized throught the course.
Flash topics covered include:
- The Flash Interface - Panels, Tools, and Inspectors
- Using Flash's drawing tools
- Importing Bitmap and Vector Graphics into Flash
- Creating, selecting, and reshaping lines and fills
- Creating Custom Gradients
- Working with Layers and Layer Folders
- Understanding Frames and Keyframes
- Using Text Effectively
- Creating Frame-by-Frame and Tweened Animation
- Masking
- Working with Symbols
- Using Timeline Effects
- Creating Buttons
- Using Script Assist to add interactivity
- Adding Actions to Buttons and Frames
- Adding Sound and Video
- Changing Sound Properties
- Flash Video
- Publishing a Flash movie
- Factors to consider before publishing a Flash movie
- Techniques for optimizing Flash movies
- Using the Bandwidth Profiler
Cyndy Cashman is the instructor for this class. Read her Flash tips and software revies in Layers Magazine.
Flash CS5: Introduction
Course length: 3 days
Prerequisite: None
This course introduces you to creating interactive websites, rich media advertisements, and engaging presentations. Over this three day course you will build a Flash CS5 based website with interactivity, video, components, and minimal ActionScript.You will learn the fundamentals of Adobe Flash CS5 and best practices for creating Flash movies. This is an introductory course and no prior knowledge of Adobe Flash is necessary.
Topics:
Getting Acquainted with Flash CS5
- The Flash interface
- Working with graphics and managing sssets
- Using basic drawing tools
- Using text
- Understanding TLF text
- Adding multiple columns
Working with Symbols in Flash
- Understanding and using symbols
- Importing Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop files
Adding Animation
- Frame by frame
- Shape tween
- Motion tween
- Easing along a path
- 3D motion
- Articulated motion and morphing
- Inverse kinematics
- Armeture options
- Simulating physics with inverse kinematics
Creating Interface Navigation with ActionScript 3.
Controlling a timeline or movieclip with ActionScript enabled buttons
Working with Sound and Video
- Importing and editing sound files
- Using Adobe Media Encoder
- Understandstanding video and audio encoding options
- Using cue points
Publishing Flash Documents
- Testing a Flash document
- Using the Bandwidth Profiler
- Publishing a movie for the Web
Flash: Animation and Timeline Techniques
Course length: 2 days
Prerequisite: Previous Flash experience
Discover how to create special effects and animation that will set your Flash movies apart! This class is for designers, educators, and web developers who are interested in using Flash as an animation tool. You'll learn how Flash can be used to create high-quality, compact, movies.
Animation techniques for creating character animations and environmental effects such as rain, lightening, fire, flowing water, and wind will be explored. You'll learn how to "fool the viewer's perception" using timing and sound effects. Throughout the course we'll share Flash tricks and tips that will help you kick out your projects in record time.
Topics:
- Design Styles
- Transformation and Distortion
- Masking
- Motion Tricks and Tips
- Motion Editor
- Shadows: Basic, Drop, Perspective
- Filters
- Selective Blurring
- Combining Effects
- Character Animation
- Sound
Flash: ActionScript 3 Foundation
Course length: 2 days
Prerequisite: Introduction to Flash
If you have experience with Flash, try this ActionScripting class to learn how to create event-driven animation and interactive games. This course covers fundamental programming techniques for ActionScript 3.0. It is targeted to beginning and intermediate level Web designers who need to create interactive content for the Web.
Topics:
- ActionScript 3 elements
- Controlling objects with ActionScript
- Using Methods
- Writing Functions
- Responding to Events
- Understanding Classes: Writing a Class, Extending a Class, Defining a Document Class
- Writing Conditional Statements and Loops
- Using the Math Class
- Using Text and Arrays to Create a Game
- Animating Filters with ActionScript
- Loading External Images and SWFs
- Loading and Controlling Sound
- Loading and Controlling Video