book

Flash® Professional CS5 Bible

Name: Flash® Professional CS5 Bible
Author: Todd Perkins
ISBN: 9780470602287

by Todd Perkins

July 2010

Intermediate to advanced

880 pages

22h 40m

English

Wiley

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Copyright
About the Author
Credits
Preface
How to Get the Most Out of This BookIcons: What Do They Mean?How This Book Is OrganizedPart I: An Introduction to Flash Web ProductionPart II: Mastering the Flash EnvironmentPart III: Creating Animation and EffectsPart IV: Integrating Media Files with FlashPart V: Adding Basic Interactivity to Flash MoviesPart VI: Distributing Flash MoviesGetting in TouchAdobe Wants to Help You
Acknowledgements
I. An Introduction to Flash Web Production
1. Understanding the Adobe Flash CS5 Blueprint
1.1. The Key Is Integration1.1.1. The topography of Flash CS51.1.2. File types in Flash CS51.1.2.1. Flash documents1.1.2.2. Flash movies1.1.2.3. Flash ActionScript files1.1.2.4. Flash video files1.1.2.5. Flash Component files1.2. The Many Worlds of Flash CS51.2.1. Bitmap handler1.2.2. Vector-based drawing program1.2.3. Vector-based animator1.2.4. Video engine1.2.5. Audio player1.2.6. Multimedia authoring program1.2.7. Animation sequencer1.2.8. Programming and database front end1.2.9. Desktop application authoring program1.2.10. iPhone application development program1.3. Summary
2. Exploring Web Technologies
2.1. Contextualizing Flash in the Internet Evolution2.1.1. High expectations for Web experiences2.1.2. To Flash or not to Flash?2.1.2.1. An effective use of Flash2.1.2.2. When not to use Flash2.1.3. Alternative methods of multimedia authoring2.1.3.1. Dynamic HTML2.1.3.2. XML and XSL2.1.3.3. Adobe Director2.1.3.4. Macromedia Authorware2.1.3.5. Scalable Vector Graphics2.1.3.6. Microsoft Silverlight2.1.3.7. Microsoft PowerPoint2.1.3.8. SMIL, Real Systems RealPlayer, and Apple QuickTime2.2. Exploring Companion Technologies2.2.1. HTML is here to stay2.2.2. Client-side scripting using JavaScript2.2.3. The world of Web services2.2.4. Adobe server technologies2.3. Recognizing Project Potential2.3.1. Linear presentations2.3.2. Interactive presentations2.3.3. Data-driven presentations2.3.4. Data-driven applications (or Rich Internet Applications)2.4. Summary
3. Planning Flash Projects
3.1. Workflow Basics3.1.1. Phase I: Establishing the concept and goals3.1.1.1. Determining the project's goals3.1.1.2. Creative exploration: Producing a solution3.1.1.3. Approving a final concept and budget3.1.2. Phase II: Producing, testing, and staging the presentation3.1.2.1. Assembling assets3.1.2.2. Making the Flash architecture3.1.2.3. Staging a local test environment3.1.2.4. HTML page production3.1.2.5. Staging a server test environment3.1.2.6. Quality assurance testing3.1.2.7. Maintenance and updates3.2. Using the Project Panel in Flash CS53.2.1. 1. Establishing a project structure3.2.2. 2. Creating the project in Flash CS53.2.3. 3. Changing project and panel preferences3.2.4. 4. Opening and editing files in the project3.2.5. 5. Publishing the entire project3.3. Summary
II. Mastering the Flash Environment

4. Interface Fundamentals
4.1. Getting Started4.1.1. Welcome to Flash CS54.1.2. Start Page4.1.3. Help menu options4.1.4. The Flash CS5 interface on Macintosh and Windows4.1.5. What to expect from the Properties panel4.2. Managing Windows and Panels4.2.1. Contextual menus4.2.2. Floating and docking panels4.2.3. Focus: Making panels or windows active4.2.4. Creating custom workspace layouts4.2.5. Keyboard shortcuts4.3. The Tools Panel4.3.1. Controlling the Tools panel4.3.2. Reading the Tools panel4.3.3. Using Tool options4.3.4. Customizing the Tools panel4.4. The Document Window4.4.1. Controlling the Document window4.4.2. Reading the Document window4.4.2.1. Stage view control4.4.2.2. Edit options4.4.3. Using scenes4.4.4. Using Document window menu options4.4.5. Working with Flash templates4.5. The Timeline Window4.5.1. Controlling the Timeline window4.5.2. Using the Timeline Controller toolbar4.5.3. Reading the Timeline4.5.3.1. Visual display of time4.5.3.2. Visual display of depth4.5.3.3. Timeline window features4.5.4. Editing frames and layers4.5.4.1. Frame specifics4.5.4.2. Layer specifics4.5.4.3. The Layers contextual menu4.5.5. Using Frame View options4.6. Printing4.7. Summary
5. Drawing in Flash
5.1. Using Geometric Shape Tools5.1.1. The Oval tool5.1.2. The Oval Primitive tool5.1.3. The Rectangle tool and Rectangle Primitive tool5.1.4. Join and Miter settings5.1.5. The PolyStar tool5.1.6. The Line tool5.2. Using Drawing Tools5.2.1. The Pencil tool5.2.2. The Brush tool5.2.2.1. The Brush mode menu5.2.2.2. Brush size and shape options5.2.2.3. Additional Brush options for drawing tablets5.2.3. The Eraser tool5.3. Creating Precise Lines and Bezier Curves with the Pen Tool5.4. Using Fill and Stroke Controls5.4.1. Choosing colors5.4.2. Choosing line styles5.4.3. Controlling stroke Scale behavior5.5. Optimizing Drawings5.6. Putting Selection Tools to Work5.6.1. The Selection tool5.6.1.1. Moving multiple elements with the Selection tool5.6.1.2. Modifying Selection preferences5.6.1.3. Using Selection tool arrow states to adjust or move drawings5.6.1.4. Knowing your Selection tool options5.6.2. The Lasso tool5.6.2.1. Polygon mode5.6.2.2. The Magic Wand option and Magic Wand properties5.6.3. The Subselection tool5.7. Designing and Aligning Elements5.7.1. Simplifying snapping settings5.7.1.1. Snap Align5.7.1.2. Snap to Objects5.7.1.3. Snap to Grid5.7.1.4. Snap to Guides5.7.1.5. Snap to Pixels5.7.2. Design panels5.7.2.1. The Align panel5.7.2.2. The Info panel5.7.2.3. The Transform panel5.8. The Edit Menu5.9. Creating Patterns with Symbols Using the Spray Brush Tool and the Deco Tool5.9.1. Applying random "ink" with the Spray Brush tool5.9.2. Creating order and pattern with the Deco tool5.9.2.1. Growing patterns with the Vine Fill drawing effect5.9.2.2. Tiling patterns with the Grid Fill drawing effect5.9.2.3. Creating reflected patterns with the Symmetry Brush drawing effect5.10. Summary
6. Symbols, Instances, and the Library
6.1. Understanding the Document Library6.1.1. Working with Common Libraries and External Libraries6.1.2. Working with multiple Document Libraries6.1.3. Reading the Library panel6.1.4. Organizing Library panels6.2. Defining Content Types6.2.1. Raw data6.2.2. Drawing objects and shape primitives6.2.3. Groups6.2.4. Native symbols6.2.4.1. Graphic symbols6.2.4.2. Movie Clip symbols6.2.4.3. Button symbols6.2.4.4. Components6.2.5. Imported media elements6.2.5.1. Bitmaps6.2.5.2. Vector graphics6.2.5.3. Sounds6.2.5.4. Video assets6.2.5.5. Font symbols6.3. Editing Symbols6.3.1. Modifying a symbol in Edit mode6.3.2. Editing a symbol in a new window6.3.3. Editing a symbol in place6.3.4. Editing symbols from the Library6.3.5. Returning to the Main Timeline or scene6.4. Modifying Instance Properties6.4.1. Applying basic color effects to symbol instances6.4.2. Changing the symbol type of an instance6.4.3. Swapping symbols6.5. Building Nested Symbol Structures6.5.1. Converting a raw shape into a Graphic symbol6.5.2. Using Graphic symbols in a button6.5.3. Animating Graphic symbols in a Movie Clip6.5.4. Adding a Movie Clip to a Button symbol6.5.5. Modifying a MovieClip instance6.6. 9-Slice Scaling for Movie Clip Backgrounds6.7. Using the Movie Explorer6.7.1. Filtering buttons6.7.2. The display list6.7.3. The Movie Explorer Options menu6.7.4. The contextual menu6.8. Using Authortime Shared Libraries6.9. Summary
7. Applying Color
7.1. Introducing Color Basics7.1.1. Discussing Web-safe color issues7.1.2. Using hexadecimal values7.1.3. Using color effectively7.2. Working in the Swatches Panel7.2.1. Swatches panel options7.2.2. Importing custom palettes7.2.2.1. Loading a custom color theme from the Kuler panel7.2.2.2. Loading a custom GIF color palette7.2.2.3. Creating and loading a custom color table7.3. Using the Color Panel7.3.1. Adjusting fill and stroke transparency7.3.2. Working with gradient fills7.3.3. Controlling gradient fill colors7.3.4. Using alpha settings with gradients7.3.5. Selecting bitmap fills7.4. Working with Droppers, Paint Buckets, and Ink Bottles7.5. Summary
8. Working with Text
8.1. Considering Typography8.2. Text Field Types in Flash8.2.1. Editable text fields8.3. The Text Tool and the Properties Panel8.3.1. Working with the Text tool8.3.1.1. Creating TLF text boxes8.3.1.2. Modifying or deleting text8.3.2. Setting text attributes in the Properties panel8.3.2.1. Text options8.3.2.2. Font Embedding8.3.2.3. Application menu commands8.3.3. Controlling flow between multiple text fields8.4. Font Export and Display8.4.1. Smoothing text with anti-alias settings8.4.2. Understanding device fonts8.4.3. Working with the Use Device Fonts setting8.4.4. Troubleshooting font display8.4.5. Controlling font substitution8.5. Font Symbols and Shared Font Libraries8.5.1. Creating a font symbol8.5.2. Updating font symbols at authortime8.5.3. Using font symbols in runtime shared libraries8.6. Modifying Text8.6.1. Editing text manually8.6.1.1. Scaling text8.6.1.2. Sampling and sharing text attributes8.6.1.3. Converting text into vector shapes8.6.2. Moving beyond the box with live filter effects8.7. Summary
9. Modifying Graphics
9.1. Sampling and Switching Fills and Strokes9.1.1. The Eyedropper tool9.1.2. The Ink Bottle tool9.1.3. The Paint Bucket tool9.1.4. Using the Paint Bucket Gap size option9.1.5. Using the Paint Bucket Lock Fill option9.2. Transforming Gradients and Bitmap Fills9.2.1. Adjusting the center point with the Gradient Transform tool9.2.2. Rotating a fill with the Gradient Transform tool9.2.3. Adjusting scale with the Gradient Transform tool9.2.4. Setting gradient fill overflow styles9.2.5. Skewing a bitmap fill with the Gradient Transform tool9.3. Gradient Transform Used for Lighting Effects9.4. Applying Modify Shape Menu Commands9.4.1. Convert Lines to Fills9.4.2. Creating scalable artwork9.4.3. Expand Fill9.4.4. Soften Fill Edges9.5. Free Transform Commands and Options9.5.1. The Transform panel9.5.2. The Modify Transform menu9.5.3. The Free Transform tool9.5.4. Transforming shapes, symbols, text, and groups9.5.4.1. Free Transform limit options9.5.4.2. Free Transform special shape options9.6. Manipulating Symbols in 3D Space9.6.1. Controlling the camera view: Perspective and vanishing point9.6.2. Transforming symbols with the 3D Rotation tool9.6.3. Moving symbols with the 3D Translation tool9.7. Modifying Item Types9.7.1. Stacking order9.7.2. Grouping9.7.3. Applying Break apart9.7.3.1. Breaking apart text9.7.3.2. Breaking apart bitmaps9.7.4. About the Magic Wand option9.7.4.1. Magic Wand Threshold setting9.7.4.2. Magic Wand Smoothing setting9.7.5. Tracing bitmaps9.8. Working with Drawing Objects and Combine Object Commands9.9. Working with Compound Shapes9.10. Editing with Find and Replace9.11. Using the History Panel9.11.1. Replay Steps9.11.2. Copy Steps9.11.3. Clear History9.11.4. History View9.11.5. Save As Command9.12. Summary
III. Creating Animation and Effects
10. Timeline Animation and the Motion Editor
10.1. Basic Methods of Flash Animation10.2. Frame-by-Frame Animation10.2.1. Adding keyframes10.2.2. Creating frame-by-frame animation10.3. Modifying Multiframe Sequences10.3.1. Onion skinning10.3.2. Editing multiple frames10.4. Using Tweens for Animation10.4.1. Shape tweening10.4.2. Adding shape hints10.4.3. Motion tweening10.4.4. Modifying motion tween properties10.4.5. Working with motion tween spans and layers10.4.6. Editing motion paths10.4.7. Adding control to animation along a motion path10.4.7.1. Using Orient to path10.4.7.2. Registration and center point alignment10.4.8. Working with motion presets10.5. Adjusting Easing and Tween Properties with the Motion Editor10.5.1. Controlling property views in the Motion Editor10.5.2. Editing tween curves and property key frames10.5.3. Eases and custom eases10.5.4. Animating 3-D properties10.6. Integrating Multiple Animation Sequences10.6.1. Moving tweens onto symbol timelines10.6.2. Organizing symbol instances on the Main Timeline10.7. Reusing and Modifying Tweened Symbol Instances10.8. Creating IK Armatures with the Bone Tool and Bind Tool10.8.1. Adding Spring to IK animations10.8.2. Animating shapes with IK10.8.3. Runtime bitmap caching10.8.4. Bitmaps10.8.5. Make Flash work for you10.9. Summary
11. Applying Filters, Blends, Guides, and Masks
11.1. Applying Filters in Flash11.1.1. Adding and adjusting filters11.1.2. Creating dimensional shadows11.1.3. Combining filters and saving custom presets11.1.4. Animating filters with motion tweens11.1.5. Using the Motion Editor to control filter interpolation11.2. Controlling Color: Properties versus Filters11.2.1. Adjust Color filter11.2.2. Color properties11.2.3. Using advanced color effects: Understanding relative and absolute color settings11.2.3.1. Relative color control11.2.3.2. Absolute color control11.3. Layering Graphics with Blend Modes11.3.1. Understanding blend modes11.3.2. Applying basic blends11.3.3. Applying compound blend modes: Alpha and Erase11.3.4. Creating an animated Alpha blend11.4. Working with Special Layer Types: Guides and Masks11.4.1. Using guide layers11.4.2. Adding masks11.4.3. Masking with a filled shape11.4.4. Masking with a group11.4.5. Masking with a symbol instance11.4.6. Masking text11.5. Using Distribute to Layers11.6. Summary
IV. Integrating Media Files with Flash
12. Adding Sound
12.1. Identifying Sound File Import and Export Formats12.1.1. Import formats12.1.2. Export formats12.2. Importing Sounds into Flash12.3. Assigning a Sound to a Button12.4. Adding Sound to the Timeline12.5. Organizing Sounds on the Timeline12.5.1. Enhanced viewing of sound layers12.5.2. Organizing sound layers with a layer folder12.6. Synchronizing Audio to Animations12.6.1. Event12.6.2. Start12.6.3. Stop12.6.4. Stream12.7. Stopping Sounds12.7.1. Stopping an event sound12.7.2. Stopping a single instance of a stream sound12.7.3. Stopping all sounds12.8. Editing Audio in Flash12.8.1. Sound-editing controls12.8.2. Applying effects from the Effect menu of the Properties panel12.8.2.1. Creating a custom Fade-In or Fade-Out12.8.2.2. Other controls in the Edit Envelope control12.8.2.3. The Repeat/Loop option12.9. Sound Optimization Overview12.10. Publish Settings for Audio12.10.1. The Set options12.10.2. Supporting audio and MP3 playback12.11. Fine-Tuning Sound Settings in the Library12.11.1. Settings for audio in the library12.11.2. Combining methods for controlling sounds12.12. Final Sound Advice and Pointers12.12.1. VBR (Variable Bit Rate) MP312.12.2. Optimizing sounds for bandwidth usage12.12.3. Extracting a sound from a Flash document12.13. Summary
13. Importing Artwork
13.1. Defining Vectors and Bitmaps13.2. Knowing the File Formats for Import to Flash13.3. Preparing Bitmaps13.4. Preserving Bitmap Quality13.5. Importing and Copying Bitmaps13.5.1. Importing sequences13.5.2. Working with layered bitmap files13.5.2.1. Importing Photoshop (PSD) files13.5.2.2. Importing Fireworks (PNG) files13.5.3. Copying and pasting a bitmap into Flash13.5.4. Applying color effects, alpha, and filters to bitmaps13.6. Setting Bitmap Properties13.6.1. Being prepared for common problems13.6.2. Cross-browser consistency13.7. Using the Bitmap Buttons in the Properties Panel13.7.1. Swap13.7.2. Edit13.8. Making Sense of Bitmap Compression13.8.1. 24-bit or 32-bit lossless source files13.8.2. 8-bit lossless source files13.8.3. Source files with lossy compression13.9. Converting Rasters to Vectors13.10. Using External Vector Graphics13.11. Importing Vector Artwork13.11.1. Copying and pasting a vector image into Flash13.11.2. Importing Adobe Illustrator files13.12. Optimizing Vectors13.12.1. Interpreting complex vector artwork13.12.2. Converting text to outlines13.12.3. Optimizing curves13.12.4. Runtime bitmap caching13.13. Working with XFL: The New Flash Format13.14. Summary
14. Displaying Video
14.1. Integrating Video: The Solutions14.1.1. Loading a Flash Video file at runtime14.1.2. Real-time streaming a Flash Video file at runtime14.1.3. Embedding video into a Flash movie14.2. Importing the Video14.2.1. An overview of codec options14.2.2. Compressing video with Adobe Media Encoder CS514.2.2.1. General export settings14.2.2.2. Video tab14.2.2.3. Audio tab14.2.2.4. Cue Points section14.2.2.5. Crop tool14.2.3. Using the Video Import wizard14.2.3.1. Choosing a target Flash Player version14.2.3.2. Choosing a source clip: The Select Video screen14.2.3.3. Formatting the embedded video content: The Embedding screen14.2.3.4. Controlling the video content: The Skinning screen14.2.3.5. Reviewing your settings: The Finish Video Import screen14.2.4. Deploying video files with Flash CS514.2.5. Working with the Component parameters14.2.6. Using FLVPlayback Custom UI components14.3. Adding Cue Points14.4. Working with Video Alpha Channels14.4.1. Live action footage14.5. Summary
V. Adding Basic Interactivity to Flash Movies
15. Understanding Actions and Event Handlers
15.1. Actions and Event Handlers15.1.1. What is ActionScript?15.1.2. Navigating the Actions panel15.1.3. A brief primer on code syntax15.1.3.1. White space15.1.3.2. Parentheses15.1.3.3. Semicolons and curly braces15.2. Your First Five Actions15.2.1. gotoAndPlay() and gotoAndStop()15.2.2. nextFrame() and prevFrame()15.2.3. nextScene() and prevScene()15.2.4. play() and stop()15.2.5. navigateToURL()15.3. Making Actions Happen with Event Handlers15.3.1. Using the Code Snippets panel15.3.2. Combining an action with an event handler to make a functioning button15.3.3. The Flash event handlers15.3.3.1. Working with mouse events and buttons15.3.3.1.1. MouseEvent.MOUSE_DOWN15.3.3.1.2. MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP and MouseEvent.CLICK15.3.3.1.3. MouseEvent.ROLL_OVER15.3.3.1.4. MouseEvent.ROLL_OUT15.3.3.2. Capturing time events with keyframes15.4. Creating Invisible Buttons and Using navigateToURL15.5. Summary
16. Building Timelines and Interactions
16.1. A Brief History of Movie Clips: The Key to Self-Contained Playback16.1.1. How Movie Clips interact within a Flash movie16.1.2. One movie, several timelines16.2. Targets and Paths Explained16.2.1. Absolute paths16.2.2. Relative paths16.3. Targeting Movie Clips in Flash CS516.4. Summary
17. Making Your First Flash CS5 Project
17.1. The Main Timeline As the Site Layout17.1.1. Creating a plan17.1.2. Setting up a local folder structure17.1.3. Determining Flash movie properties17.1.4. Mapping presentation areas to keyframes17.1.5. Creating content for each area17.2. Adding Navigation Elements to the Main Timeline17.2.1. Creating text buttons for a menu17.2.2. Browsing the video items17.3. Text Scrolling with the TextArea Component17.4. Using the Custom BlurFader Component17.5. Making the Movie Accessible17.6. Summary
VI. Distributing Flash Movies
18. Publishing Flash Movies
18.1. Testing Flash Movies18.1.1. Using the Test Scene or Test Movie command18.1.1.1. Test Movie18.1.1.2. Test Scene18.1.2. Using the Bandwidth Profiler18.1.2.1. View menu18.1.2.2. Control menu18.1.2.3. Debug menu18.1.3. Using the size report18.2. Publishing Your Flash Movies18.3. Publish Settings18.3.1. Selecting formats18.3.2. Using the Flash settings18.3.3. Using the HTML settings18.3.4. Using the GIF settings18.3.5. Using the JPEG settings18.3.6. Using the PNG settings18.3.7. Creating Windows and Mac projectors18.4. Publish Preview and Publish Commands18.4.1. Using Publish Preview18.4.2. Using Publish18.5. Using Publish Profiles18.6. Summary
19. Integrating Flash Content with Web Pages
19.1. Writing Markup for Flash Movies19.1.1. Using the <object> tag19.1.2. Using the <embed> tag19.2. Detecting the Flash Player19.2.1. Plug-in versus ActiveX: Forcing content without a check19.2.2. Detecting the Flash Player with Flash CS519.2.3. Detecting the Flash Player with SWFObject19.2.3.1. Reviewing the content19.2.3.2. Creating the HTML document19.3. Using Flash Movies with JavaScript and DHTML19.3.1. A word of caution to Web developers19.3.2. Understanding how Flash movies work with JavaScript19.3.3. Changing HTML attributes19.3.3.1. Adding ExternalInterface actions to a Flash movie19.3.3.2. Enabling JavaScript for Flash movies19.3.4. Adding a percentLoaded() method19.4. Summary
20. Using the Flash Player and Projector
20.1. Using the Stand-Alone Flash Player and Projector20.1.1. Creating a projector20.1.1.1. Method 1: Using the Publish command20.1.1.2. Method 2: Using the stand-alone Flash Player20.1.2. Distribution and licensing20.1.3. Distribution on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM20.2. Stand-Alone Limitations and Solutions20.3. Using the Flash Player Plug-In for Web Browsers20.3.1. Supported operating systems20.3.2. Supported browsers20.3.3. Plug-in and Flash movie distribution on the Web20.3.4. Plug-in installation20.4. Using the Settings in Flash Player 6 and Later20.4.1. Privacy20.4.2. Local Storage20.4.3. Microphone20.4.4. Camera20.5. Player Utilities20.6. Summary
21. Creating Adobe AIR Applications Using Flash CS5
21.1. Understanding Adobe AIR21.1.1. Learning security differences between standard Flash Player and AIR21.1.2. Creating a simple AIR application21.1.3. Understanding additional AIR APIs21.2. Publishing and Sharing AIR Applications21.2.1. Preparing to publish an AIR app21.2.1.1. General settings21.2.1.2. Signature settings21.2.1.3. Advanced settings21.2.1.4. Icons21.2.2. Publishing an AIR application21.2.3. Distributing an AIR Application21.3. Summary
22. Using Flash to Create iPhone Applications
22.1. Understanding Flash on the iPhone22.1.1. Learning how it works22.1.2. Differences when working with Flash for iPhone development22.2. Preparing to Develop iPhone Apps22.2.1. Joining the Developer Program22.2.2. Obtaining your device's ID22.2.3. Requesting a development certificate22.2.3.1. Requesting a development certificate on a Mac22.2.3.2. Requesting a development certificate on Windows22.2.4. Downloading your development certificate22.2.5. Creating a provisioning profile for your device22.2.6. Creating a .p12 version of your certificate22.2.6.1. Creating a .p12 file on a Mac22.2.6.2. Creating a .p12 file on Windows22.2.7. Creating an application identifier22.2.8. Publishing a IPA file from Flash22.2.9. Using a default loading image22.2.10. Getting the IPA file on your iPhone22.3. Building a Flash iPhone Application22.3.1. Understanding performance in Flash iPhone applications22.3.1.1. Test on as many devices as possible22.3.1.2. Using methods to enhance performance22.4. Summary
VII. Appendixes
A. Using the CD-ROM
A.1. Reviewing Example .swf and .fla FilesA.2. Installing and Using Plug-Ins and ApplicationsA.3. Source Files and ApplicationsA.4. TroubleshootingA.5. Customer Care
B. Guest Experts' Information
C. Digital Audio Basics
C.1. Understanding the Basics of Sampling and QualityC.1.1. What is sound?C.1.2. What affects the quality and size of sound files?C.1.2.1. Sample rateC.1.2.2. Bit resolutionC.1.2.3. ChannelsC.2. Getting Tips on Production
D. Digital Video Basics
D.1. Garbage In, Garbage Out: Controlling Video QualityD.1.1. Source formatD.1.2. Image qualityD.1.3. Sound qualityD.1.4. Subject matterD.2. Editing FootageD.3. Choosing an Import Format

Content preview from Flash® Professional CS5 Bible

Chapter 6. Symbols, Instances, and the Library

IN THIS CHAPTER

Working with library panels in Flash: The Document Library and External Libraries
Organizing your Library and resolving conflicts
Defining content types and managing assets
Understanding basic symbol types: Graphic symbols, Button symbols, Movie Clips
Linking and updating symbols with authortime shared libraries

Symbols are the key to file size efficiency and interactive power in Flash. A symbol is a reusable element that resides in the current movie's document Library, which you access with Window

Using symbols helps reduce the file size of your finished movie because Flash needs to save the symbol only once. Each time a given symbol is used in the project, Flash refers to its original profile. To support the variations of an instance, Flash needs to save information about the differences only — such as size, position, proportions, and color effects. If a separate graphic was used for each change, Flash would have to store a complete profile of all the information about that graphic — not just the changes, but also all of the points that specify what the original graphic looks like.

Furthermore, symbols can save you a lot of time and trouble, particularly when it comes to editing your movie. That's because changes made to a symbol are reflected in each instance of that symbol throughout the movie. Let's say that your logo changes ...

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Flash® Professional CS5 Bible

by Todd Perkins

Chapter 6. Symbols, Instances, and the Library

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