Flash CS4 All-in-One For Dummies®

Chapter 4. Creating Your First Flash Project

In This Chapter

• Planning your project

• Creating your first Flash document

• Creating your first animation

Every project has a beginning and an end, which is the point where you breathe a sigh of relief and then sit back and bask in the glow of accomplishment of a job well done. But the beginning isn't where you think it might be. If you begin a project without planning, it's like trying to go somewhere you've never been without using a road map. If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. So, the first step when you're creating a Flash project, whether it's for fun or for hire, is to plan.

The amount of planning you do is directly proportionate to the scale of your project, and whether you're creating the project for a client. If you're planning the project for a client, the 90/10 rule takes effect: The first 90 percent of any phase of a project takes 90 percent of the allotted time. The final 10 percent of any phase of a project is equal in duration to the first 90 percent of the project. When the planning phase is over, you can roll up your sleeves and launch Flash.

In this chapter, we discuss some things you should consider when planning your project, and we show you how to create your first Flash document and animation. Let's delve into the wonderful world of Flash.

Planning Your Project

The loftiest goal in the world isn't ...