book

Flash CS4 All-in-One For Dummies®

Name: Flash CS4 All-in-One For Dummies®
ISBN: 9780470385395

by Doug Sahlin, William B. Sanders

December 2008

Intermediate to advanced

674 pages

14h 8m

English

For Dummies

Read now

Unlock full access

Copyright
About the Authors
Authors' Acknowledgments
Publisher's Acknowledgments
Introduction
About This BookConventions Used in This BookWhat You Don't Have to ReadFoolish AssumptionsHow This Book Is OrganizedBook I: Introducing FlashBook II: Creating GraphicsBook III: Animating GraphicsBook IV: Adding ActionScript 3.0 MagicBook V: Working with Flash AudioBook VI: Working with Flash VideoBook VII: Getting InteractiveBook VIII: Finalizing a Flash ProjectCompanion Web siteIcons Used in This BookWhere to Go from Here
I. Introducing Flash
1. Exploring Flash
1.1. Finding Out What's New in Flash CS41.1.1. Discovering the new features1.1.2. Introducing the new tools1.1.3. Flash CS4 and you1.2. Exploring the Flash Workspace1.2.1. Getting to know the menu bar1.2.2. Examining the display bar1.2.3. Taking the stage1.2.4. Exploring the panels1.2.4.1. Property inspector1.2.4.2. Document library1.2.4.3. Timeline1.2.4.4. Motion Editor1.2.4.5. Other panels1.2.5. Getting chummy with the Tools panel1.3. Customizing the Workspace1.3.1. Customizing the Tools panel1.3.2. Rearranging the workspace1.3.3. Saving a custom workspace1.3.4. Managing workspaces1.3.5. Changing keyboard shortcuts1.3.6. Setting Flash preferences
2. Introducing Graphics, Symbols, and Animations
2.1. Working with Flash Graphics2.1.1. Creating graphics with drawing tools2.1.1.1. The Pencil and Brush tools2.1.1.2. The Pen tool2.1.2. Introducing the Text tool2.1.3. Getting colorful2.2. Finding Out about Symbols and Instances2.2.1. Understanding graphic symbols2.2.2. Buttons, buttons, and more buttons2.2.3. Changing movie clip properties2.2.4. Checking out symbols from the library2.3. Introducing Flash Animation2.3.1. Frame-by-frame animation (the old school)2.3.2. Motion tweening will move ya2.3.3. Shape tweening will morph ya2.3.4. Inverse kinematics is bad to the bone
3. The Engine Beneath Flash: ActionScript 3
3.1. Understanding What ActionScript 3 Can Do for You3.1.1. Controlling the Timeline3.1.2. Working with the Timeline3.2. Creating Timeline Functions with ActionScript3.2.1. Creating two buttons3.2.2. Formatting the buttons3.2.3. Adding the ActionScript3.2.4. The ActionScript's actions3.3. Bringing in New Objects3.3.1. Providing information just in time3.3.2. Organizing tasks3.4. Looking at the Many Levels of ActionScript3.4.1. The Timeline code3.4.2. ActionScript files and classes3.4.2.1. From Timeline to ActionScript file3.4.2.2. Taking it in a little at a time
4. Creating Your First Flash Project
4.1. Planning Your Project4.1.1. Mapping out the project4.1.2. Determining the scope of your project4.1.3. Making a list and checking it twice4.1.4. Covering your assets4.2. Creating Your First Flash Document4.2.1. Ye olde Welcome screen4.2.2. Creating a document from a template4.2.3. Creating a document from scratch4.2.4. Setting the document size, background color, and frame rate4.2.5. Creating your first animation

5. Pushing the Panic Button — Help!
5.1. Getting By with a Little Help from Flash5.1.1. Using Flash Help5.1.2. Getting ActionScript help5.2. Updating Flash5.3. Extending Flash5.3.1. Finding Flash extensions5.3.2. Installing Flash extensions5.3.3. Managing Flash extensions5.4. Flash Online Resources
II. Creating Graphics
1. Creating Flashy Graphics
1.1. A Tale of Two Graphic Types1.1.1. Understanding vector graphics1.1.2. Understanding bitmap (raster) graphics1.2. Creating Shapes1.2.1. Using the Primitive Oval and Rectangle tools1.2.1.1. Creating a Primitive Oval shape1.2.1.2. Creating a Primitive Rectangle shape1.2.1.3. Modifying Primitive Ovals and Rectangles1.2.2. Creating shapes with the Oval and Rectangle tools1.2.2.1. The Oval tool1.2.2.2. The Rectangle tool1.2.3. Mastering the Polystar tool1.2.4. Creating unique shapes with the Oval Rectangle and Polystar tools1.2.5. Creating lines — the straight and narrow1.2.6. Using the basic shape tools in Object Drawing mode1.2.7. Modifying basic shapes1.3. Using the Drawing Tools1.3.1. Drawing with the Pencil tool1.3.2. Painting with the Brush tool1.3.3. Using the Spray Brush tool1.3.4. Creating paths with the Pen tool1.3.5. The Eraser tool — the quicker picker-upper1.4. Modifying Objects1.4.1. Selecting objects1.4.2. Modifying shapes point by point1.4.3. Modifying objects with the Pen tool and friends1.4.4. Modifying objects with the Property inspector1.4.5. Using the Free Transform tool1.4.6. The Transform panel — a geek's best friend1.4.7. The Info panel — read all about it1.4.8. The Align panel — when precision counts1.4.9. Creating groups
2. A Splash of Color, S'il Vous Plaît
2.1. Getting to Know Color: The Skinny on RGB, HSB, and Hexadecimal2.2. Stroked and Filled, but Not Punched2.2.1. Defining the stroke color2.2.2. Defining the fill color2.3. Finding Your Way around the Swatches Panel2.3.1. Understanding Web-safe colors2.3.2. Getting to know the Swatches panel2.3.3. Creating a custom color set2.4. Mixing a Color2.4.1. Getting up close and personal with the Color panel2.4.2. Mixing a swatch of color2.4.3. Creating a gradient2.4.4. Using the Transform Gradient tool2.5. Changing Colors2.5.1. Using the Ink Bottle tool2.5.2. Using the Paint Bucket tool2.6. Using the Kuler Extension
3. Getting the Word Out with Text
3.1. Using the Text Tool3.1.1. Creating static text3.1.2. Adding a hyperlink to text3.1.3. Creating input text3.1.4. Creating dynamic text3.2. Formatting Text3.2.1. Specifying text character parameters3.2.2. Working with paragraph text3.3. Creating Text3.3.1. Font considerations3.3.1.1. Choosing fonts for static text fields3.3.1.2. Choosing fonts for input and dynamic text fields3.3.2. Converting text to graphics3.4. Editing Text Fields3.4.1. Resizing a text field3.4.2. Editing text3.4.3. Spell-checking text fields3.4.4. Setting up the Flash spell check3.4.5. Running the Flash spell checker3.5. Using the Find and Replace Command
4. Creating Graphic Symbols for Fun and Profit
4.1. Understanding Symbols and Instances4.2. Creating Symbols4.2.1. Understanding symbol types4.2.2. Converting an object to a symbol4.2.3. Creating a new symbol4.2.4. Spraying symbols4.3. Editing Symbols4.3.1. Editing symbols in place4.3.2. Using symbol-editing mode4.3.3. Editing symbols in another window4.3.4. Swapping symbols4.3.5. Modifying symbol instance properties4.4. Using the Document Library4.4.1. Creating library folders4.4.2. Duplicating symbols4.4.3. Understanding that default names are not your friends4.4.4. Keeping the document library neat and tidy: The Felix Unger factor4.4.5. Importing symbols from another Flash document
5. Organizing Your Work
5.1. Organizing a Project with Layers5.1.1. Creating a new layer5.1.2. Creating layer folders5.1.3. Editing layers5.1.4. Editing layer properties5.2. Being Precise with Rulers and Guides and the Grid5.2.1. Using rulers5.2.2. Creating guides5.2.3. Using the grid
6. Working with Images (Or, Bumpin' with Bitmaps)
6.1. Knowing Your File Formats6.2. Preparing Images for Flash6.3. Importing Image Sequences6.4. Importing a Photoshop Document with Layers6.5. Tracing Bitmaps6.6. Editing Images6.6.1. Editing images in an external editor6.6.2. Editing image properties6.7. Creating a Bitmap Fill6.8. Swapping Bitmaps — It's Legal in All 50 States
III. Animating Graphics
1. Working with the Flash Timeline
1.1. Getting to Know the Timeline1.2. Frames and Keyframes and Blank Keyframes1.3. Creating Frames, Keyframes, and Blank Keyframes1.3.1. Adding a frame1.3.2. Adding multiple frames1.3.3. Adding a keyframe1.3.4. Adding multiple keyframes1.3.5. Adding a blank keyframe1.4. Editing Frames1.4.1. Selecting a frame1.4.2. Copying a frame1.5. Managing a Timeline
2. Creating a Flash Animation
2.1. Creating an Animated Background2.2. Creating a Frame-by-Frame Animation2.3. Making a Motion Tween Animation2.4. Building a Shape Tween Animation2.5. Reversing an Animation2.6. Simulating 3D Animation2.6.1. Using the 3D Rotation tool2.6.2. Using the 3D Translation tool2.7. Animating with the Spray Brush Tool2.8. Creating an Inverse Kinematics (IK) Animation2.8.1. Creating the IK chain minus the daisies2.8.2. Constraining the bones2.8.3. Creating the animation2.8.4. Using the Bind tool
3. Animating Text
3.1. Creating Typewriter Text3.2. Creating Flying Text
4. Advanced Animation Techniques
4.1. Using Motion Presets4.1.1. Creating a motion preset4.1.2. Managing motion presets4.2. Manually Editing a Motion Path4.3. Editing Motion Tween Animations4.3.1. Fine-tuning the animation4.3.1.1. Changing the timing of an animation4.3.1.2. Editing an animation in the Property inspector4.3.2. Introducing the Motion Editor4.3.3. Understanding nonroving and roving keyframes4.4. Copying Motion4.4.1. Using the Copy Motion command4.4.2. Copying motion using ActionScript4.5. Editing a Shape Tween Animation4.6. Editing Multiple Frames and Other Delights4.6.1. Using onion skins4.6.2. Editing multiple frames
IV. Adding ActionScript 3.0 Magic
1. Who's Afraid of the Big Bad ActionScript 3.0?
1.1. Vive la Différence: New versus Old ActionScript1.1.1. Button scripts1.1.1.1. Mouse events1.1.1.2. Listen up! Adding event listeners to buttons1.1.1.3. Functions for buttons1.1.2. Bossing around movie clip scripts1.2. Movin' On the Timeline1.3. Controlling Movie Clip Timelines
2. Working Off the Timeline with Symbol and Component Classes
2.1. Breaking the Timeline Habit2.1.1. Forming a tag team with ActionScript and a Flash file2.1.2. Comments and clip code2.1.3. The world's simplest class2.1.3.1. Making a MovieClip class in Flash2.1.3.2. Buttons and text fields: A tale of two objects2.2. Code and Design Made Easy2.2.1. Going back to instance names2.2.2. Easy application and easy objects2.3. The Simple Power of User Interface (UI) Component Classes2.3.1. Choosing from a list2.3.1.1. List events2.3.1.2. List data2.3.2. Don't quote me!
3. Formal Features and Structures
3.1. Checkin' Out the Basics: "My, My, I Declare!"3.1.1. You are soooo not my type!3.1.1.1. Typing on the Stage3.1.1.2. Using components in the Library3.1.1.3. Variables, constants, and objects3.1.1.4. Types that need importing3.1.2. Access denied! Setting access3.2. Operators: Assign, Compare, and Do the Math3.2.1. Operator? Operator?3.2.2. Elementary logic, my dear Watson
4. Making Decisions ... and Repeating Yourself
4.1. On One Condition! (Or, Maybe More than One): Conditional Statements4.1.1. The if statement4.1.2. The else clause4.1.3. Let's do the switch!4.2. Let the Looping Computer Do the Work4.2.1. The for loop4.2.2. The foreign ...er, for..in loop4.2.3. The for each..in loop4.2.4. The while and do..while loops
5. Harnessing the Power of ActionScript 3.0
5.1. Meet the Gang: Arrays5.1.1. Creating an array5.1.2. Getting pushy: Adding data to an array5.1.3. pop() goes the element! Retrieving data from an array5.1.4. Sorting with an array5.1.5. Array practice5.2. New in Flash CS4: Vectors5.2.1. Checking out non-numeric ID for vector elements5.2.2. Using the forEach() method5.2.3. Look what the cat dragged in!5.3. An Introduction to ActionScript Graphic Programming5.3.1. Get in Shape!5.3.1.1. Simple rectangle5.3.1.2. The image maker5.3.2. The triangle and the vector
V. Working with Flash Audio
1. Understanding Web Audio
1.1. Exploring Flash-Sanctioned Audio Formats1.2. Understanding Bit Depths, Data Rates, and Sample Rates1.3. Recording Hardware1.3.1. Zoom H21.3.2. Blue Snowball1.3.3. Blue Snowflake1.4. Sound-Editing Software1.4.1. Adobe Audition1.4.2. Sony Sound Forge1.4.3. Sony ACID Music Studio (Windows only)
2. Adding Sound to a Flash Production
2.1. Importing Audio2.2. Using Sound in a Project2.2.1. Adding a sound from the document library2.2.2. Synching sound2.2.3. Adding sound effects2.3. Adding Sound to Buttons2.4. Using the Flash Sounds Library2.5. Use ActionScript to Load an External Sound File2.6. Using ActionScript to Load a Soundtrack
3. Editing Sound Files
3.1. Optimizing Sound for Your Project3.2. Editing Your Sound Files3.2.1. Editing sound in Flash3.2.2. Editing in an external editor
VI. Working with Flash Video
1. Playing Video with Flash: The Producer's Chair
1.1. What Is Web Video?1.2. Embedded Video in Flash: Old School1.2.1. Converting a video file for use in Flash1.2.2. Embedding the video in a Flash file1.3. Progressive Downloading: Almost Streaming from a Web Server1.3.1. Understanding progressive downloading1.3.2. Creating a progressive download1.3.2.1. Preparing the folder and files1.3.2.2. Importing and customizing your video1.3.2.3. Resizing the video1.3.2.4. Experimenting with the play controls1.3.2.5. Storing your files1.3.3. Changing videos1.3.4. Changing the appearance of the play controls1.4. Streaming Video: Leaving the Socket Wide Open1.4.1. HTTP and RTMP: A tale of two protocols1.4.2. Enter Flash Media Server
2. From Camera to Desktop: Getting Video Ready for Prime Time
2.1. Whatcha Gonna Do? Video Camera or Webcam2.1.1. Choosing a Webcam2.1.2. Choosing a video camera2.2. Free Resources for Creating Videos2.2.1. Windows Movie Maker2.2.2. Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder (Windows)2.2.3. Webcam software2.2.4. iMovie (Macintosh)2.2.4.1. Recording a video2.2.4.2. Testing your video
3. Getting Video Files Ready for Flash
3.1. Managing Postproduction before Conversion3.2. Choosing File Types for Conversion3.3. Converting Files with Default Options3.4. Customizing Conversions3.4.1. Choosing a compression codec3.4.2. Managing bandwidth3.5. Trimming Your Video: A Little Nip and Tuck3.6. Fine-Tuning Your Settings3.6.1. Filters3.6.2. Format3.6.3. Video3.6.3.1. Resize Video3.6.3.2. Bitrate Settings3.6.3.3. Advanced Settings3.6.4. Audio3.6.5. Others3.7. Adding Cue Points
4. Getting Fancy with Video
4.1. Making Your Own Video Player4.1.1. Understanding the process4.1.2. Creating a video player4.2. Getting to the Cue Points4.2.1. Extracting and displaying cue points4.2.2. Working with cue point properties4.3. Managing Metadata4.4. Putting on a Show with ActionScript Cue Points4.5. Captioning a Video4.5.1. Using timed text in an XML file4.5.2. Launching the captions
5. Live! From Your Desktop!
5.1. Understanding Streaming versus Broadcasting5.1.1. Streaming media5.1.2. Open socket technology5.2. Streaming Media with Flash Media Server5.2.1. Installing the server5.2.2. Connecting to the server5.2.3. Configuring your connection5.3. Making a Live Audio/Video Receiver5.3.1. Making an inventory5.3.2. Creating the receiver5.3.2.1. Setting up the application5.3.2.2. Creating the constructor function5.3.2.3. Adding the worker methods5.3.2.4. Catching the connection and metadata5.3.2.5. Adding the player controls5.3.3. Testing the player5.4. Creating a Universal Chat Application5.4.1. Sending video and audio5.4.1.1. Creating the camera object5.4.1.2. Changing basic camera settings5.4.1.2.1. Mode5.4.1.2.2. Quality5.4.1.2.3. Keyframe interval5.4.2. Making the server-side application5.4.3. Creating the chat application5.4.4. Testing the application
6. Shooting a Video That Looks Good on the Web
6.1. Getting It Right in the Camera6.2. Panning, Zooming, and Other Delights6.2.1. To zoom or not to zoom?6.2.2. Panning smoothly and at the right speed6.2.3. Using a tripod6.3. Composing a Scene6.4. Lights, Camera, Action!6.4.1. Being a director6.4.2. Telling a story6.4.3. Conducting an interview6.5. Editing DV for the Web6.5.1. The cutting-room floor6.5.2. Transitions, transitions6.5.3. Beginning and ending credits6.5.4. Rendering for the Web
VII. Getting Interactive
1. Adding Buttons to a Flash Project
1.1. Creating Buttons1.1.1. Creating a multistate button1.1.2. Creating an invisible button1.1.3. Creating an animated button1.1.4. Creating a navigation menu with buttons1.2. Using the Button Library1.3. Making Buttons Functional with ActionScript1.4. Creating the ActionScript Code to Make a Button Interactive
2. Using Flash Components
2.1. Working with Flash Components2.2. Using the List and Label Components2.2.1. Creating a calculator application2.2.2. Adding a CHANGE choice2.2.3. Extending visible selections without scrolling2.3. The Check Box and Radio Button: Making Life Easier for the User2.3.1. Reading results2.3.2. Creating a swinging shop2.3.2.1. Adding the CheckBox components2.3.2.2. Adding the RadioButton components2.3.2.3. Finishing the application2.4. Creating an Interface with Flash Components2.4.1. Setting up the components2.4.2. Tracking the elements2.5. Loading As You Go: Why You'll Love the UILoader2.5.1. Graphic versus SWF files2.5.1.1. Using graphics in the example application2.5.1.2. Converting bitmaps to vector graphics2.5.2. What about loading text and XML files?2.6. Creating the Bottom Feeder Travel Agency Web Site2.6.1. Adding the site's components2.6.2. Adding text2.6.3. Adding maps2.6.4. Finishing the application
3. The Art and Science of Creating a Flash Application
3.1. Organizing a Flash Page3.1.1. Separating static and dynamic elements3.1.2. Laying out the parts3.1.2.1. UILoader components3.1.2.2. List component3.1.2.3. TextArea component3.1.2.4. Header TextField3.1.2.5. Button components3.1.2.6. Text labels3.1.2.7. Graphic elements and the grid3.1.3. Organizing the layout for ActionScript3.1.3.1. Finding the coordinates3.1.3.2. Placing the objects on the Stage3.2. Styling Code3.2.1. Formatting the TextField class with the TextFormat class3.2.2. Applying dynamic text style to UI components3.2.2.1. Styling the Button components3.2.2.2. Adding selections to the List component3.2.2.3. Adding text to the TextArea component
4. Up in the AIR
4.1. The AIR on Your Desktop4.2. Making a Simple AIR Application4.2.1. Creating the Flash file4.2.2. Creating the ActionScript file4.2.3. Publishing the AIR file4.2.4. Installing and testing the application4.3. Converting Standard Flash Applications to AIR4.4. Made for AIR: Using ActionScript Exclusively for AIR4.5. Making a Desktop AIR Browser4.5.1. Using the File class4.5.2. Creating the AIR application4.5.2.1. Setting up the AIR file4.5.2.2. Entering the ActionScript4.5.2.3. Completing the application4.5.3. Modifying the AIR application
VIII. Finalizing a Flash Project
1. Testing and Debugging a Flash Project
1.1. Testing a Movie1.2. Testing a Movie in Another Window1.3. Previewing a Movie1.4. Debugging a Movie1.4.1. Setting breakpoints1.4.2. Using the debugger
2. Fine-Tuning and Optimizing Your Flash Project
2.1. Using the Movie Explorer2.2. Optimizing a Flash Movie
3. Dealing with Bandwidth
3.1. Using the Bandwidth Profiler3.2. Creating a Preloader3.2.1. Adding ActionScript to the preloader3.2.2. Displaying the percentage of a file that's been loaded
4. Publishing Your Flash Project
4.1. Publishing a Flash File4.1.1. Specifying publish settings4.1.1.1. Specifying SWF settings4.1.1.2. Specifying HTML settings4.1.2. Publishing Flash documents in other formats4.2. Integrating Flash Movies with HTML Documents

Content preview from Flash CS4 All-in-One For Dummies®

Chapter 5. Pushing the Panic Button — Help!

In This Chapter

Summoning help
Updating Flash
Finding and installing Flash extensions
Joining the Flash online community

Flash is a multifaceted software application. You can use it to create animations, multimedia presentations, interactive applications, and much more. You might say that Flash is vast: If it had only 50 percent of its current features, it would be half-vast. But even a half-vast program can present stumbling blocks. Your first line of defense is this book. Suppose that you're working in a client's office, though. Faced with an insurmountable problem, you don't want to whip out a For Dummies desk reference, so you can always resort to using the Help information supplied with the Flash application. It doesn't have any traces of the authors' charm and wit, but it provides help, and fast.

In this chapter, we show you how to summon Flash Help. We also show you how to use the other goodies lurking on the Flash Help menu. And, if you're a communal kind of Flash designer or developer, we show you the way to the Adobe online forums. Something for everyone, a Forum tonight.

Getting By with a Little Help from Flash

Flash can stump you when you least expect it. You may be working away, merrily drawing vectors and shapes and symbols and adding interactive snippets of ActionScript when Murphy (the guy who wrote the law) rains on your parade. ...

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.

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Flash CS4 All-in-One For Dummies®

by Doug Sahlin, William B. Sanders

Chapter 5. Pushing the Panic Button — Help!

Getting By with a Little Help from Flash

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.