Description:
I am fonder of Macromedia Flash than just about any tool, and I feel much the same way about Peachpit's Visual QuickStart Guides; so, the idea of a Visual QuickStart Guide about Flash 5 makes me weak in the knees. Well, maybe that's overstating it; but, in truth, Flash 5 for Windows & Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide combines a successful book style with a talented and experienced writer to deliver a nearly painless learning experience. Over the course of 16 chapters, we have started at ground zero--understanding Flash basics, using the Flash editor, getting around the interface--and quickly worked our way up through simple graphics, complex graphics on one layer, complex graphics on multiple layers, using object libraries, and on through using different kinds of animation (motion tweening vs. shape tweening) and the animation of whole scenes. Both this book and Flash 5 really start to shine in chapters 12 and up, when we begin learning how to use Flash 5 to create interactive actions. Adding sound is a big part of that, and this topic gets its own chapter (chapter 14, "Adding Sound to Movies"). Finally, chapter 16 is all about delivery and covers subjects like optimizing the Flash movie, creating the necessary HTML code, and exporting a Flash movie to other formats. Flash 5 for Windows & Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide is a vital learning tool for anyone who wants to create content using by Flash 5. Honestly, no other title can get you up the learning curve more quickly. --Mike Caputo
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