Flash® CS4 for Dummies®

Introduction

Welcome to Flash CS4 For Dummies, your friendly Web animation companion. In this book, we explain in plain English how to make the most of Flash to create stunning, animated Web sites. We aim to give you all the information you need to start using Flash right away — with no hassle.

About This Book

As though you hadn't guessed, Flash CS4 For Dummies covers the powerful animation product Flash CS4, from Adobe. (The preceding version was Adobe Flash CS3. You're holding the 6th edition of this book.) Flash CS4 is the latest version of the popular software used on some of the coolest Web sites on the planet.

We comprehensively explain the Flash features, including

• Working with the Flash screen, toolbars, and menus

• Creating graphics and text in Flash

• Adding sound and video

• Using layers to organize your animation

• Creating symbols, which are objects that you save for repeated use and animation

• Animating graphics (the key to Flash)

• Creating interactive Web sites

• Publishing Flash movies to your Web site

How to Use This Book

You don't have to read this book from cover to cover. We provide just the information you need, when you need it. Start with the first three chapters. Then play around with graphics until you create what you need for your Web site. You might want to check out Chapter 6, on layers, to help you organize it all, and Chapter 7, which covers symbols. Then feel free to jump right to Chapter 9, on animation, to create your first real Flash movie. Chapter 13 tells you how to get ...