By E. A. Vander Veer, Chris Grover
First Edition
May 2007
Pages: 527
Series: The Missing Manuals
ISBN 10: 0-596-51044-6 |
ISBN 13: 9780596510442
(Average of 2 Customer Reviews)
Flash CS3, the latest version of the premier tool for creating web animations and interactive web sites, can be intimidating to learn. This entertaining reference tutorial provides a reader-friendly animation primer and a guided tour of all the program's tools and capabilities. Beginners will learn to use the software in no time, and experienced users will quickly take their skills to the next level.
Full Description
- Special effects
- Morphing
- Adding audio and video
- Introducing interactivity
- And much more
This is the first new release of Flash since Adobe bought Macromedia, which means that it's the first version that will integrate easily with other Adobe products. It's a whole new ballgame when it comes to Flash, and Flash CS3: The Missing Manual offers you complete and objective coverage. It's the perfect companion to this powerful software.
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Book details
First Edition: May 2007
Series:
The Missing Manuals
ISBN: 0-596-51044-6
Pages: 527
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 2 Reviews)
Featured customer reviews
The Good, the Bad, and the Buggy, January 30 2008
I purchased this book looking for a simple, easy-explanation, hands-on approach to learning Flash. I found this volume to contain incredible strengths, and, frustrating weaknesses as well.
FIRST THE GOOD:
The book is very easy to read, and covers all of the basics you need to know in order to create animations in Flash. Lots of humor and easy-to-understand explanations. From the basics to many advanced features, it's all here - for ANIMATION, that is. And best of all, there are loads of practice exercises - again, for ANIMATION.
NOW THE BAD:
As I read through the first ten chapters of the book, I was on fire. "Wow, it's all so clear! This makes sense!" The authors took the time to explain and provide walkthroughs for EVERY detail I could think of concerning animation. I just kept thinking, "Ok, I'm getting this animation thing down...I can't wait to dive into interactivity!" - arguably the "sweet-spot" of Flash. Well, come chapter 11 (near the very end of the book), I got into interactivity...for all of a few dozen pages. Suddenly, I was left with short, concise explanations of what my interactivity options were...but with few and usually absolutely no walkthroughs or how-tos. In fact, the following paragraph appeared over and over again: "Components are outside the scope of this book," "bindings are outside the scope of this book," and even "Actionscript is outside the scope of this book." Concerning Actionscript, apparently it is essential for writing in interactivity.
THE BUGGY:
The sum result of this experience is that I feel frustrated and greatly let-down. Even the sources that the writers suggested for "further study" I found are not conclusive. If the 500-page book would take an additional 5,000 pages to deal with all aspects of Flash, then it's understandable that other sources need to be suggested. But in this case I recommend:
A) The writers offer substantial volumes that actually do cover everything not included in this Missing Manual, and not only O'Reilly books, and
B) Don't advertise on the back of the book that the book will cover "interactive features" if in fact they will be glossed over.
Funny enough, I'm still mostly in favor of this book due to the incredibly easy-to-understand first 10 chapters that deal with animation. However, if you are looking for a book that will help you create interactive features, such as tests, quizzes, and interactive learning modules, plan to be searching for another book after this one, because you will have learned little-to-nothing.
Mostly A Well Thought-Out Guide, June 08 2007
More than most other creative programs, Flash requires learning a vast amount of information in order to use. As a beginning- and intermediate-level instructor of Flash, I am constantly searching for new ways of organizing and presenting this information that are quick, simple, and effective. Flash CS3: The Missing Manual is written for beginners, especially creative beginners, and approaches the learning of Flash differently from other books I have seen by organizing its Parts and Chapters more by overlying concepts, rather than the specific technologies and techniques used in the program. The authors realize -- correctly, I think -- that people learning Flash tend to want to accomplish something with it, and instead of organizing this book around concepts like Motion/Shape Tweening or MovieClips, which mean little or nothing to a beginner, they have given us chapters like "Animating Your Drawings" and "Interacting with Your Audience."
Besides its intelligent organization, Flash CS3: TMM contains all of the features I expect of a good-quality educational book: clear and concise language, screenshots (both Mac and Windows), tips and tricks, workarounds to common problems, and example source files (accessible from a Web site, rather than an enclosed CD-ROM). Perhaps the biggest strength of this book is the discussion of the "intangibles" behind any successful Flash project: planning, storyboarding, research, and critical thinking. The authors periodically take a step back from the hands-on, computer-program-using tutorials to ask us to stop and think about what we are trying to accomplish with our animation (or whatever we are working on). While not directly related to the learning of Flash, these insights are crucial to learning how to create quality Flash projects.
In terms of learning how to create quality Flash, the book could be greatly improved by not urging of the use of Scenes and teaching the placement of ActionScript code directly on objects (Buttons and MovieClips). Both practices have been discouraged for years by the Flash Industry and run contrary to the official Adobe Flash Best Practices (http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/flash8_bestpractices.html). These methods may be the quickest and easiest ways to get things done in the short run, but ultimately set people up for confusion and trouble later on as they progress in learning Flash. Better to take the time teaching the "proper" methods from the outset.
If you adhere to Adobe Flash Best Practices, you should be able to benefit from reading Flash CS3: The Missing Manual. Most of all, its unique organization of information and its discussion of the conceptual and planning foundation required before starting any Flash project. Its "Menu by Menu" appendix alone -- which defines each and every menu item in Flash and reveals their Mac and Windows keyboard shortcuts -- is priceless to any beginning or intermediate Flash user.
Media reviews
"One of the beauties of the Missing Manuals is that there is always something new to discover and the research is quite thorough...I kept finding snippets of information, in the way of Tips or Notes, that would give just that bit extra."
-- Graham K. Rogers, Bangkok Post
"What Flash CS3: The Missing Manual tries to do is create a manual that should have been included with the product, something lively and engaging that encourages you to learn Flash CS3. It shows you step-by-step instruction, but also it tries to explain why you want to do each step...As with all Missing Manual series, Flash CS3: The Missing Manual is not dry; in fact it can be quite entertaining at times. It contains all of the items that one would expect from educational material; clear and concise language, tips, tricks, workarounds and plenty of screen shots to make sure that you are doing things correctly. Flash CS3: The Missing Manual provides a clear, concise, and entertaining way to learn Flash."
-- T. Michael Testi, Blogcritics Magazine
"In this clear and concise guide, you will have hand-on instructions to help you master animations basics, creating movement between images, adding interactive features like clickable hotspots, how to liven things up with audio and video, creating useable and professional elements and templates, and so much more...Once again, both O’Reilly and the authors do not disappoint. The sections flowed in the same educational yet entertaining manner that has been the success of the Missing Manual series. Filled with useful and wonderfully clear language, packed with examples and detailed charts, and easy indexing, I found this book to be a dream. For every user out there, can I just thank the authors for making our search for the best guidebook easy in giving us such a useful tool!"
-- Alain B. Renaud, TCM Reviews
"This book should've come in the box with Flash. Since it didn't, it's essential for any Flash programmer and any library catering to them."
-- James Cox, The Bookwatch - Computer Shelf
"Though not a reference publication, this missing manual is well organized such that you can jump in on areas that you find interesting or need help with; reading from start to finish is not required. The book is obviously written with the beginner in mind but can be useful for an intermediate like me that hasn't taken the time to learn the differences in the new version."
-- Jeremy Hall, Amazon.com
"Here in a single volume is the key to the complete Flash CS3 workflow, from the basics of animation to the process of publishing Flash files on-line. Like other books in the series this one is written to serve as the easy-to-follow product manual that every software user of a particular title would want to have at hand."
-- Michael Kleper, The Kleper Report
"I have reviewed quite a number of Missing Manual books and I am always impressed with them. David Pogue is a Mac master and the depth of his knowledge shines through."
-- Roger Bernau, ACT Apple User Group Incorporated
