Flash CS4 Professional Bible E-Book

Robert Reinhardt

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Bible
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 1976

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2009

Beschreibung

A completely revised and updated edition of the all-timebestselling Flash title* Written by two of the world's leading Flash experts, thiscomprehensive reference provides you with undocumented techniques,tips, and tricks on the CS4 release of Flash, the popular tool thatallows you to create animations and build interactive Websites* In-depth coverage on more than one thousand pages includessomething for everyone--whether you're a Web novice oran accomplished Web professional--this resource will be yourguide to the inner workings and capabilities of Flash CS4* Two of the world's leading Flash experts offer morecoverage than any other book on the market* The accompanying CD-ROM includes trial software, addons,plugins, shareware, templates, and examplesNote: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials arenot included as part of eBook file.

Leseprobe

Adobe® Flash® CS4 Professional Bible

Table of Contents

Part I: An Introduction to Flash Web Production

Chapter 1: Understanding the Adobe Flash CS4 Blueprint

The Key Is Integration

The topography of Flash CS4

File types in Flash CS4

The Many Worlds of Flash CS4

Bitmap handler

Vector-based drawing program

Vector-based animator

Video engine

Audio player

Multimedia authoring program

Animation sequencer

Programming and database front end

Desktop application authoring program

Summary

Chapter 2: Exploring Web Technologies

Contextualizing Flash in the Internet Evolution

High expectations for Web experiences

To Flash or not to Flash?

Alternative methods of multimedia authoring

Exploring Companion Technologies

HTML is here to stay

Client-side scripting using JavaScript

The world of Web services

Adobe server technologies

Recognizing Project Potential

Linear presentations

Interactive presentations

Data-driven presentations

Data-driven applications (or Rich Internet Applications)

Summary

Chapter 3: Planning Flash Projects

Workflow Basics

Phase I: Establishing the concept and goals

Phase II: Producing, testing, and staging the presentation

Using the Project Panel in Flash CS4

1. Establishing a project structure

2. Creating the project in Flash CS4

3. Changing project and panel preferences

4. Opening and editing files in the project

5. Publishing the entire project

Summary

Part II: Mastering the Flash Environment

Chapter 4: Interface Fundamentals

Getting Started

Welcome to Flash CS4

Start Page

Help menu options

The Flash CS4 interface on Macintosh and Windows

What to expect from the Properties panel

Managing Windows and Panels

Contextual menus

Floating and docking panels

Focus: Making panels or windows active

Creating custom workspace layouts

Keyboard shortcuts

The Tools Panel

Controlling the Tools panel

Reading the Tools panel

Using Tool options

Customizing the Tools panel

The Document Window

Controlling the Document window

Reading the Document window

Using scenes

Using Document window menu options

Working with Flash templates

The Timeline Window

Controlling the Timeline window

Using the Timeline Controller toolbar

Reading the Timeline

Editing frames and layers

Using Frame View options

Printing

Summary

Chapter 5: Drawing in Flash

Using Geometric Shape Tools

The Oval tool

The Oval Primitive tool

The Rectangle tool and Rectangle Primitive tool

Join and Miter settings

The PolyStar tool

The Line tool

Using Drawing Tools

The Pencil tool

The Brush tool

The Eraser tool

Creating Precise Lines and Bezier Curveswith the Pen Tool

Using Fill and Stroke Controls

Choosing colors

Choosing line styles

Controlling Stroke Scale behavior

Optimizing Drawings

Putting Selection Tools to Work

The Selection tool

The Lasso tool

The Subselection tool

Designing and Aligning Elements

Simplifying snapping settings

Design panels

The Edit menu

Creating Patterns with Symbols Using the Spray Brush Tool and the Deco Tool

Applying random “ink” with the Spray Brush tool

Creating order and pattern with the Deco tool

Summary

Chapter 6: Symbols, Instances, and the Library

Understanding the Document Library

Working with Common Libraries and External Libraries

Working with multiple Document Libraries

Reading the Library panel

Organizing Library panels

Defining Content Types

Raw data

Drawing objects and shape primitives

Groups

Native symbols

Imported media elements

Editing Symbols

Modifying a symbol in Edit mode

Editing a symbol in a new window

Editing a symbol in place

Editing symbols from the Library

Returning to the Main Timeline or scene

Modifying Instance Properties

Applying basic color effects to symbol instances

Changing the symbol type of an instance

Swapping symbols

Building Nested Symbol Structures

Converting a raw shape into a Graphic symbol

Using Graphic symbols in a button

Animating Graphic symbols in a Movie Clip

Adding a Movie Clip to a Button symbol

Modifying a MovieClip instance

9-Slice Scaling for Movie Clip Backgrounds

Using the Movie Explorer

Filtering buttons

The display list

The Movie Explorer Options menu

The contextual menu

Using Authortime Shared Libraries

Summary

Chapter 7: Applying Color

Introducing Color Basics

Discussing Web-safe color issues

Using hexadecimal values

Using color effectively

Working in the Swatches Panel

Swatches panel options

Importing custom palettes

Using the Color Panel

Adjusting fill and stroke transparency

Working with gradient fills

Controlling gradient fill colors

Using alpha settings with gradients

Selecting bitmap fills

Working with Droppers, Paint Buckets, and Ink Bottles

Summary

Chapter 8: Working with Text

Considering Typography

Text Field Types in Flash

Static text boxes

Editable text fields: Dynamic and input

The Text Tool and the Properties Panel

Working with the Text tool

Setting text attributes in the Properties panel

Font Export and Display

Smoothing text with anti-alias settings

Rendering outlines with the Bitmap text setting

Understanding device fonts

Working with the Use Device Fonts setting

Troubleshooting font display

Controlling font substitution

Font Symbols and Shared Font Libraries

Creating a font symbol

Updating font symbols at authortime

Using font symbols in runtime shared libraries

Modifying Text

Editing text manually

Moving beyond the box with live filter effects

Summary

Chapter 9: Modifying Graphics

Sampling and Switching Fills and Strokes

The Eyedropper tool

The Ink Bottle tool

The Paint Bucket tool

Using the Paint Bucket Gap size option

Using the Paint Bucket Lock Fill option

Transforming Gradients and Bitmap Fills

Adjusting the center point with the Gradient Transform tool

Rotating a fill with the Gradient Transform tool

Adjusting scale with the Gradient Transform tool

Setting gradient fill overflow styles

Skewing a bitmap fill with the Gradient Transform tool

Gradient Transform Used for Lighting Effects

Applying Modify Shape Menu Commands

Convert Lines to Fills

Creating scalable artwork

Expand Fill

Soften Fill Edges

Free Transform Commands and Options

The Transform panel

The Modify Transform menu

The Free Transform tool

Transforming shapes, symbols, text, and groups

Manipulating Symbols in 3D Space

Controlling the camera view: Perspective and vanishing point

Transforming symbols with the 3D Rotation tool

Moving symbols with the 3D Translation tool

Modifying Item Types

Stacking order

Grouping

Applying Break apart

About the Magic Wand option

Tracing bitmaps

Working with Drawing Objects and Combine Object Commands

Working with Compound Shapes

Editing with Find and Replace

Using the History Panel

Replay Steps

Copy Steps

Clear History

History View

Save As Command

Summary

Part III: Creating Animation and Effects

Chapter 10: Animation Strategies

Establishing Ground Rules

Defining Variables

The environment

The materials

The motion

Adding Personality

Manipulating Perception and Illusion

Viewpoint, framing, and depth

Anticipation

Secondary motion

Understanding the Laws of Nature

Law #1: Inertia

Law #2: Acceleration

Law #3: Action/reaction force pairs

Summary

Chapter 11: Timeline Animation and the Motion Editor

Basic Methods of Flash Animation

Frame-by-Frame Animation

Adding keyframes

Creating frame-by-frame animation

Modifying Multiframe Sequences

Onion skinning

Editing multiple frames

Using Tweens for Animation

Shape tweening

Adding shape hints

Motion tweening

Modifying motion tween properties

Working with motion tween spans and layers

Editing motion paths

Adding control to animation along a motion path

Working with motion presets

Adjusting Easing and Tween Properties with the Motion Editor

Controlling property views in the Motion Editor

Editing tween curves and property key frames

Eases and custom eases

Animating 3D properties

Integrating Multiple Animation Sequences

Moving tweens onto symbol timelines

Organizing symbol instances on the Main Timeline

Reusing and Modifying Tweened Symbol Instances

Controlling symbol instances with ActionScript

Make Flash work for you

Summary

Chapter 12: Applying Filters, Blends, Guides, and Masks

Applying Filters in Flash

Adding and adjusting filters

Creating dimensional shadows

Combining filters and saving custom presets

Animating filters with motion tweens

Using the Motion Editor to control filter interpolation

Controlling Color: Properties versus Filters

Adjust Color filter

Color properties

Using advanced color effects: Understanding relative and absolute color settings

Layering Graphics with Blend Modes

Understanding blend modes

Applying basic blends

Applying compound blend modes: Alpha and Erase

Creating an animated Alpha blend

Working with Special Layer Types: Guides and Masks

Using guide layers

Adding masks

Masking with a filled shape

Masking with a group

Masking with a symbol instance

Masking text

Using Distribute to Layers

Summary

Chapter 13: Character Animation Techniques

Working with Large File Sizes

Storyboarding scenes and shots

Flash scenes and project files

Voices, sound effects, and ambient sound

Some Cartoon Animation Basics

Expressing motion and emotion

Anticipation

Weight

Overlapping actions

Blurring to simulate motion

Animator's Keys and Inbetweening

Walk cycles (or walk loops)

Repeaters

Types of walks

Coloring the Art

The model sheet

Gap problems

Speed coloring

Temporary backgrounds

Flash Tweening

Panning

Instance swapping

Motion guides

Lip-Syncing

Shape morphing is not for lip-syncing

Expression and lip-syncing

Lip-sync tricks

Syncing with music and sound effects

Backgrounds and Scenery

Runtime bitmap caching

Bitmaps

QuickTime limitations

Building layered backgrounds in Photoshop

Flash mask layers

Long pans

Multiplane pans

Blurring to simulate depth

Creating IK Armatures with the Bone Tool and Bind Tool

Finishing Up

Final output

Post production

Summary

Part IV: Integrating Media Files with Flash

Chapter 14: Adding Sound

Identifying Sound File Import and Export Formats

Import formats

Export formats

Importing Sounds into Flash

Assigning a Sound to a Button

Adding Sound to the Timeline

Organizing Sounds on the Timeline

Enhanced viewing of sound layers

Organizing sound layers with a layer folder

Synchronizing Audio to Animations

Event

Start

Stop

Stream

Stopping Sounds

Stopping an event sound

Stopping a single instance of a stream sound

Stopping all sounds

Editing Audio in Flash

Sound-editing controls

Applying effects from the Effect menu of the Properties panel

Sound Optimization Overview

Publish Settings for Audio

The Set options

Supporting audio and MP3 playback

Fine-Tuning Sound Settings in the Library

Settings for audio in the library

Combining methods for controlling sounds

Final Sound Advice and Pointers

VBR (Variable Bit Rate) MP3

Optimizing sounds for bandwidth usage

Extracting a sound from a Flash document

Summary

Chapter 15: Importing Artwork

Defining Vectors and Bitmaps

Knowing the File Formats for Import to Flash

Preparing Bitmaps

Preserving Bitmap Quality

Importing and Copying Bitmaps

Importing sequences

Working with layered bitmap files

Copying and pasting a bitmap into Flash

Applying color effects, alpha, and filters to bitmaps

Setting Bitmap Properties

Being prepared for common problems

Cross-browser consistency

Using the Bitmap Buttons in the Properties Panel

Swap

Edit

Making Sense of Bitmap Compression

24-bit or 32-bit lossless source files

8-bit lossless source files

Source files with lossy compression

Converting Rasters to Vectors

Using External Vector Graphics

Importing Vector Artwork

Copying and pasting a vector image into Flash

Importing Adobe Illustrator files

Optimizing Vectors

Interpreting complex vector artwork

Converting text to outlines

Optimizing curves

Runtime bitmap caching

Working with XFL: The Flash Format of the Future

Summary

Chapter 16: Displaying Video

Integrating Video: The Solutions

Loading a Flash Video file at runtime

Real-time streaming a Flash Video file at runtime

Embedding video into a Flash movie

Importing the Video

An overview of codec options

Compressing video with Adobe Media Encoder CS4

Using the Video Import wizard

Deploying video files with Flash CS4

Using the FLVPlayback Component (AS3)

Working with the Component parameters

Using FLVPlayback Custom UI components

Working with Cue Points

Working with Video Alpha Channels

Live action footage

Summary

Part V: Adding Basic Interactivity to Flash Movies

Chapter 17: Understanding Actions and Event Handlers

Actions and Event Handlers

What is ActionScript?

Navigating the Actions panel

A brief primer on code syntax

Your First Five Actions

gotoAndPlay() and gotoAndStop()

nextFrame() and prevFrame()

nextScene() and prevScene()

play() and stop()

navigateToURL()

Making Actions Happen with Event Handlers

Combining an action with an event handler to make a functioning button

The Flash event handlers

Creating Invisible Buttons and Using getURL

Summary

Chapter 18: Building Timelines and Interactions

A Brief History of Movie Clips: The Key to Self-Contained Playback

How Movie Clips interact within a Flash movie

One movie, several timelines

Targets and Paths Explained

Absolute paths

Relative paths

Targeting Movie Clips in Flash CS4

Summary

Chapter 19: Making Your First Flash CS4 Project

The Main Timeline as the Site Layout

Creating a plan

Setting up a local folder structure

Determining Flash movie properties

Mapping presentation areas to keyframes

Creating content for each area

Adding Navigation Elements to the Main Timeline

Creating text buttons for a menu

Browsing the video items

Text Scrolling with the TextArea Component

Using the Custom BlurFader Component

Making the Movie Accessible

Summary

Part VI: Distributing Flash Movies

Chapter 20: Publishing Flash Movies

Testing Flash Movies

Using the Test Scene or Test Movie command

Using the Bandwidth Profiler

Using the size report

Publishing Your Flash Movies

Publish Settings

Selecting formats

Using the Flash settings

Using the HTML settings

Using the GIF settings

Using the JPEG settings

Using the PNG settings

Creating Windows and Mac projectors

Publish Preview and Publish Commands

Using Publish Preview

Using Publish

Using Publish Profiles

Summary

Chapter 21: Integrating Flash Content with Web Pages

Writing Markup for Flash Movies

Using the <object> tag

Using the <embed> tag

Detecting the Flash Player

Plug-in versus ActiveX: Forcing content without a check

Detecting the Flash Player with Flash CS4

Detecting the Flash Player with SWFObject

Using Flash Movies with JavaScript and DHTML

A word of caution to Web developers

Understanding how Flash movies work with JavaScript

Changing HTML attributes

Adding a percentLoaded() method

Summary

Chapter 22: Using the Flash Player and Projector

Using the Stand-Alone Flash Player and Projector

Creating a projector

Distribution and licensing

Distribution on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM

Stand-Alone Limitations and Solutions

Using the Flash Player Plug-in for Web Browsers

Supported operating systems

Supported browsers

Plug-in and Flash movie distribution on the Web

Plug-in installation

Using the Settings in Flash Player 6 and Later

Privacy

Local Storage

Microphone

Camera

Player Utilities

Summary

Part VII: Approaching ActionScript

Chapter 23: Knowing the Nuts and Bolts of Code

Breaking Down the Interactive Process

Define your problems

Clarify the solution

Translate the solution into the interactive language

The Basic Context for Programming in Flash

Accessing ActionScript commands

Actions list organization in the Actions panel

The Help documentation

ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0

One Part of the Sum: ActionScript Variables

String literals

Expressions

Variables as declarations

Declaring Variables in ActionScript

Using actions to define variables

Loading variables from a predefined source

Establishing variables with HTML

Creating Expressions in ActionScript

Operators

Checking conditions: if . . . else actions

Branching conditions with switch() and case

Loops

Properties

Built-in functions

Creating and calling subroutines

Creating a Login Sequence with Variables

Summary

Chapter 24: Controlling Movie Clips

Movie Clips: The Object Overview

Movie Clip properties

Movie Clip methods

Event listener methods: The flexible Movie Clip handler

Other classes and functions that use the MovieClip object

Working with Movie Clip Properties

Positioning Movie Clips

Scaling Movie Clips

Rotating Movie Clip instances

Creating Draggable Movie Clips

Drag-and-drop basics

Detecting the drop position: Using dropTarget

Making alpha, scale, and blur sliders

Summary

Chapter 25: Using Functions and Arrays

What Are Data Types?

String

Number

Boolean

Object

Function

Undefined

Checking data types with typeof

Checking class type in ActionScript 3.0

Overview of Functions as Procedures

What functions do

When to create a function

How to define a function

How to execute a function

Managing Related Data: The Array Class

Creating a Dynamic Reusable Flash Menu

Summary

Chapter 26: Interacting with Movie Clips

Movie Clip Collision Detection

Using dropTarget

Collision detection with hitTestObject() and hitTestPoint()

Using the Mouse Class

Manipulating Color Attributes

Creating a ColorTransform object

Setting multiplier and offset values

Enabling Sound with ActionScript

Creating sounds with ActionScript

Creating a SoundTransform object

Creating volume and balance sliders for sounds

Printing with ActionScript

Summary

Part VIII: Applying ActionScript

Chapter 27: Animating with ActionScript

Reviewing the Tween Parameters

Making an Object Move Back and Forth

Animating 3D Properties

Following the Mouse Cursor

Summary

Chapter 28: Sharing and Loading Assets

Managing Smooth Movie Download and Display

Preloading a Flash Movie

Loading Flash Movies

Basic overview of Flash site architecture

Loading an external .swf file into a movie

How Flash handles loaded movies of differing dimensions

Placing, scaling, and rotating externally loaded Flash movies

Loading Images into Flash Movies

Loading MP3 Audio into Flash Movies

Loading a Flash Video into a Flash Movie

Displaying a Flash Video at Its Native Size

Adjusting video size with metadata

Setting the video size without metadata

Accessing Items in Shared Libraries

Setting up a shared library file

Specifying the shared library's location

Publishing the shared library movie file

Linking to assets from other movies

Updating shared assets

Summary

Chapter 29: Sending Data In and Out of Flash

Using Text Fields to Store and Display Data

Input text fields

Dynamic text fields

Defining a Data Process with States

Input state

Send state

Wait state

Output state

Creating a User Comment Form

Using XML Data in Flash Movies

Understanding XML

Loading an XML document into a Flash movie

Summary

Chapter 30: Applying HTML and Text Field Formatting

Exploring HTML Usage in Text Fields

Supported HTML tags

Formatting text with the Properties panel

Inserting HTML tags into text fields with ActionScript

Formatting fields with the TextFormat object

Applying style sheets to text fields

Inserting images into text fields

Using the TextEvent.LINK event with anchor tags

Controlling Text Field Properties

Scroll properties

Text rendering properties

Pixel-based Text Scrolling with Movie Clips

Summary

Chapter 31: Creating a Game in Flash

The Game Plan: Four Phases of Game Design

Game design

Interaction design

Visual and sound design

Scripting

Building the Project

Scripting the Game

Initializing the Game

Main Timeline and Document Class overview

The Hangman.as document class

The shared font layer

The placeholder GameView instance

Building the Interface

Creating text fields

Creating the alphabet

Starting the Game

Display the letters of the alphabet

Choose a random word

Create the letters of the displayed word

The User Input

Interpreting the User Input

Was the letter selected before?

Is the letter part of the word?

Checking the Status of the Game

Is the word complete?

Is the hangman complete?

Are there more words to guess?

How do you end the round?

Removing the hangman

Reset the game or just the round?

Added Feature: Storing User and Game Information

Summary

Chapter 32: Using Components

What Are Components?

Why Use Components?

Compiled Clips: A Specific Component Format

How to Add a Component

Where to Find Components, Assets, and Parameters

Components panel

Component Inspector panel

Library panel

Actions panel and ActionScript

Modifying Component Color Properties and Parameters

Removing Components from Your Movie

Components in Flash CS4

Button component

CheckBox component

ComboBox component

List component

RadioButton component

ScrollPane component

TextArea component

UIScrollBar component

Understanding the Listener Event Model for Components

What a typical listener looks like

Letting the component know who its listeners are

Using Components in Your Movie

Modifying Components

Global style formats

Changing styles for a component class

Changing styles for individual instances

Using Embedded Fonts with Components

Modifying AS3 Component Skins

Using the UILoader and ProgressBar Components

Adding a UILoader component to your Flash movie

Applying the ProgressBar component

Custom Components

Live preview

Exchanging and acquiring components

Summary

Chapter 33: Building an Image Gallery Component

Creating a Plan

Describing the feature set

Determining the server-side scripting requirements

Phase 1: Setting Up the Gallery Class

Reviewing the starter files

Constructing the Gallery component

Phase 2: Loading Thumbnails into the ScrollPane

Uploading scripts and images to your Web server

Building data properties for the Gallery class

Architecting the Thumbnail class

Creating thumbnail holders in the Gallery class

Phase 3: Displaying the Full-Size JPEG Image

Loading the full-size image

Updating the scroll bar and auto-loading the first image

Phase 4: Enhancing the Thumbnail and Image States

Tracking the selected thumbnail

Framing the selected thumbnail with the BevelFilter class

Creating a loading transition with the BitmapData and BlurFilter classes

Transitioning thumbnail states with the Tween and ColorMatrixFilter classes

Setting the image caption

Completing the thumbnail button handlers

Building a right-click download menu item for the full-size JPEG

Phase 5: Finalizing the Component

Copying existing component class files

Adding the component definition

Changing script paths for final deployment

Summary

Part IX: Appendixes

Appendix A: Using the CD-ROM

Appendix B: Guest Experts' Information

Appendix C: Digital Audio Basics

What is sound?

What affects the quality and size of sound files?

Appendix D: Digital Video Basics

Source format

Image quality

Sound quality

Subject matter

Adobe® Flash® CS4 Professional Bible

Robert Reinhardt and Snow Dowd

Adobe® Flash® CS4 Professional Bible

Published by:Wiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken NJ 07030-5774

www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

ISBN: 978-0-470-37918-9

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, IndianaPublished simultaneously in Canada

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About the Authors

After discovering Flash while working on an art project, Robert soon realized that there was a need for more comprehensive documentation of its capabilities. In 1998 not many people had even heard of Flash and publishers were wary of the limited market, but IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. (now Wiley Publishing, Inc.) committed to doing the Flash 4 Bible. The rest, as they say, is history. After studying and working together in Toronto for five years, Robert Reinhardt and Snow Dowd established a multimedia consulting and design company in Los Angeles in 1999 called [the MAKERS]. Five years in the Hollywood Hills saw them through the dotcom boom and bust and gave them the chance to work on a wide range of projects — without ever having to wear wool socks. Now based in Portland, Oregon, [the MAKERS] continue to do work for entertainment companies, educational institutions, entrepreneurs, independent artists, and nonprofit organizations — and enjoy wearing stylish rain boots. Snow and Robert have expanded their services by working with DesignProVideo.com to produce Flash training videos.

Robert Reinhardt — With a degree in photographic arts, Robert takes a holistic approach to the creation of compelling multimedia. For five years, Robert oversaw the growth of the Multimedia Platforms Group at Schematic, a worldwide interactive agency. There, he led various assignments including multimedia data analysis applications for Nielsen's Media and Entertainment division and created interactive applications for The Weather Channel's WeatherClassroom.com, DC Comics, and Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition spotlights for major cable networks. Robert now consults and trains a wide range of clients, from Adobe Systems to the Walt Disney Internet Group to UCLA's Center for International Emergency Medicine.

When he isn't building or consulting on Flash projects, Robert loves to teach and write about Flash and rich media technologies. In addition to this book, he is the coauthor of Flash MX 2004 ActionScript Bible (Wiley, 2004). He has developed and taught Flash workshops for Lynda.com, Art Center College of Design, and Portland State University, as well as conducted on-site training and seminars for clients in the United States and Canada such as LodgeNet, Wieden+Kennedy, and Scripps Networks. Robert has been a regular featured speaker at the Flashforward, FITC, Flashbelt, and SIGGRAPH conferences. Robert is also a writing partner for CommunityMX.com.

Snow Dowd — Snow initially collaborated with Robert Reinhardt on multimedia, film, and photography-based installation projects while earning a BFA in Image Arts and New Media at Ryerson University. During this time, she was also the production manager for Design Archive, one of Canada's preeminent architectural photography studios. Working with renowned photographers and an exacting international client base of architects and designers helped her gain a deeper appreciation for images, architecture, and industrial design.

Fully immersed in digital production since 1998, Snow is able to synthesize her background in visual arts and communication theory with an ever-evolving software toolkit. Focusing on content architecture and interface design, Snow strives to create print and Web projects that are beautiful, functional, and memorable. Snow was honored to be featured in the June 2005 spotlight on FlashGoddess.com — a great place to go if you've been wondering where all the women are in the Flash world.

About the Technical Editor

Jeremy Petty — Jeremy is a design engineer based in Portland, Oregon. His work has ranged from developing electro-mechanical systems used in a miniature TOF-mass spectrometer to designing tools sets for the sports apparel industry. For fun, he enjoys bicycling around the Portland area, searching for the prefect surface to longboard on, and spending time with his family.

Credits

Acquisitions Editors

Laura SiniseAaron Black

Project Editor

Katharine Dvorak

Technical Editor

Jeremy Petty

Copy Editor

Scott Tullis

Editorial Manager

Robyn Siesky

Business Manager

Amy Knies

Senior Marketing Manager

Sandy Smith

Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President and Executive Publisher

Barry Pruett

Project Coordinator

Patrick Redmond

Graphics and Production Specialists

Stacie BrooksAndrea HornbergerJennifer MayberrySarah Philippart

Quality Control Technicians

Amanda Graham

Jessica Kramer

Proofreader

Bonnie Mikkelson

Indexer

Christine Spina Karpeles

Media Development Project Manager

Laura Moss

Media Development Assistant Project Manager

Jenny Swisher

Media Development Associate Producer

Kit Malone

In 1997, Macromedia acquired a small Web graphics program, FutureSplash, from a company named FutureWave. FutureSplash was a quirky little program with the astounding capability to generate compact, vector-based graphics and animations for delivery over the Web. With Macromedia's embrace, Flash blossomed. In 2005, Adobe Systems, Inc. acquired Macromedia and, in three short years, has successfully integrated Flash into their family of powerhouse graphics, video, and design software. Not only has the Flash platform obtained ubiquity, but Flash content is now more easily created across a wide range of professional software applications. The Flash Player plug-in ships with most major browsers and operating systems. Flash graphics appear not only all over the Web, but also on television and movie screens, on phones, on kiosks, and even in art galleries.

As the Web-surfing public and the development community have continued to demand more of Flash, Adobe has delivered. After Creative Suite 3 was released, Adobe went out into the world and sat with people using its programs to see what they used, what they needed, and how the next generation of Creative Suite tools could support daily workflow and specialize tasks more effectively. The result is a release that promotes expressiveness and enhances efficiency while encouraging best practices in development — a functional and an inspiring combination that has earned rave reviews from visual designers and code-oriented developers at all levels.

The Flash CS4 Professional interface is consistent with other Creative Suite 4 (CS4) products; it has tool options and other editing features contained in streamlined panels and lots of important changes to the authoring environment. The Mac interface is nearly 100 percent identical to the Windows interface, with support for docked panels, tabbed panels, and enhancements to the coding environments in Flash CS4 and Dreamweaver CS4.

Flash movies can communicate directly with server-side scripts and programs, using standard URL-encoded variables, XML-formatted structures, Web services, or powerhouse data transfers from Flash Remoting–enabled servers. Sounds can be imported and exported as MP3 audio for high-quality music on the Web at the smallest file sizes. Flash Player 10 supports nearly every Web file format you'll ever come across. Loading of JPEG, PNG, GIF, MP3, FLV, AAC, and H.264 video content streamlines production and maintenance of dynamic high-volume media sites. The updated FLVPlayback component and the addition of custom tools, custom effects, and behaviors offer Flash users of all skill levels some exciting possibilities. Evidence of the dominance of the Flash format can be found in the wide range of third-party developers creating applications that output to the Flash movie format (.swf files). Flash has fulfilled its promise of becoming the central application for generating interactive content for delivery on the Web; the potential only seems to expand as more developers tap into the data-handling power of Flash and its increasingly sophisticated graphics capabilities as it continues to grow beyond the computer screen.

Is there any other Flash book for you?

Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Bible is the most comprehensive and exhaustive reference on Flash. It helps you get started on your first day with the program and will still be a valuable resource when you've attained mastery of the program. When you're looking for clues on how to integrate Flash with other programs so that you can deliver unique and compelling content in the Flash format, you'll know where to turn. We've put significant effort into this edition, updating all ActionScript content to use ActionScript 3.0, the most recent version of the ActionScript language available in Flash Player 9 or higher.

Flash is not just a single tool. You can think of Flash as a multitasking application. It's an illustration program, an image/sound/video editor, an animation machine, and a scripting engine, all rolled into one. In this book, we look at each of these uses of Flash and explain how all the features work together.

To address advanced scripting topics and more server-side development issues, Robert coauthored the Flash ActionScript Bible series with Joey Lott (Wiley), which has been updated and expanded with the past three releases of Flash. Roger Braunstein, Mims Wright, Josh Noble, and Joey have written the new ActionScript 3 Bible (Wiley, 2007) to fully address advanced use of the ActionScript 3.0 scripting language. If you're already adept at creating animation and basic interactive interfaces in Flash and you want to expand your knowledge of more complex coding techniques, you may want to compare the table of contents in this book with that of ActionScript Bible to determine which book covers the topics you're most interested in.

How to Get the Most out of This Book

Here are some things to know so you can get the most out of this book:

First, to indicate that you need to select a command from a menu, the menu and command are separated by an arrow symbol. For example, if we tell you to select the default workspace layout from the Flash application menu, the instructions will say to choose Window ➪ Workspace ➪ Essentials.

Parts I and II of the book are entirely dedicated to project planning and getting familiar with the Flash interface. Parts III and IV explain how to generate animation and integrate other media files into your Flash movies. Parts V through VIII gradually introduce you to the power of ActionScript and show you how to take advantage of Flash components to quickly create dynamic applications that support live data. Although this book was written to take a beginner by the hand, starting from page one, you can also use it as a reference. Use the index and the table of contents to find what you're looking for, and just go there, or jump in anywhere. If you already know Flash and want to get some details on sound, for example, just go to any of the chapters in Part IV, “Integrating Media Files with Flash.”

This is a real-world production book: We've worked hard to ensure that our lessons, examples, and explanations are based on professional conventions. We've also continued the use of expert tutorials to bring you tips and techniques from talented people in the Flash industry, so that you can benefit from their specialized expertise. Tutorials that do not relate to Flash CS4 but still offer some valuable information on specific topics have been archived online: you can find them at www.flashsupportcom/archive.

The CD-ROM that accompanies this book contains many of the source Flash project files (.fla), with original artwork and ActionScript for the examples and lessons in the book. You can also find sample video files to encode with Flash video!

In order to create a forum for the delivery of updates, notes, and additional sample files, we have established an integrated Web site specifically for the Flash Bible series: www.flashsupportcom. At the Web site, you'll find new material and corrections that may be added after the book goes to print, and moderated forums where readers can share information or ask questions. We invite you to contribute your comments and suggestions for this edition so that we can continue to improve the material.

We have created a chapter-based evaluation system that makes it easy for you to let us know what parts of this book were most (or least) useful to you. Visit www.flashsupportcom/feedback and let us know what you think of the content as you progress through the book.

Icons: What Do They Mean?

Although the icons are pretty standard and self-explanatory (they have their names written on them!), here's a brief explanation of what they are and what they mean.

Tips offer you extra information that further explains a given topic or technique, often suggesting alternatives or workarounds to a listed procedure.

Notes provide supplementary information to the text, shedding light on background processes or miscellaneous options that aren't crucial to the basic understanding of the material.

When you see the Caution icon, make sure you're following along closely to the tips and techniques being discussed. Some external applications may not work exactly the same with Flash on different operating systems and some workflows have inherent risks or drawbacks.

If you want to find related information to a given topic in another chapter, look for the Cross-Reference icons.

The New Feature icons point out differences between Flash 8 and previous versions of Flash.

For related information, resources, or software available online, look for the Web Resource icons.

This icon indicates that the CD-ROM contains a related file and points you to the folder location.

How This Book Is Organized

This book has been written in a format that gives you access to need-to-know information very easily in every section (or part) of the book. If you are completely new to Flash, then you'll want to read Parts I through VI. After you have developed a familiarity with the Flash interface and the new drawing and effects tools, you can proceed to Parts VII and VIII. We've included step-by-step descriptions of real Flash projects to help you “leap” from the intro topics to the advanced topics. These sections of the book guide you through the production process, helping you apply ActionScript and production techniques that may be new to you.

If you've already used Flash, then you may want to review the changes to the Flash CS4 interface in Part I, and then jump right into other specific parts to learn more about character animation, ActionScript, creating artwork and content in other applications, and integrating Flash with HTML. There are many new features and workflow enhancements for new and experienced users alike in every section of the book, so even if you've done a lot of work in Flash, it's worth scanning each part for an introduction to new tools and techniques.

Part I: An Introduction to Flash Web Production

The first part of this book explores the Flash file format and how Flash CS4 fits into the evolution of the program (Chapter 1), explains the context in which Flash movies interact on the Web (Chapter 2), and gives an overview of multimedia planning and some specific techniques and suggestions that will make your Flash project development less painful and more productive (Chapter 3).

Part II: Mastering the Flash Environment

This part gives you all the information you need to feel comfortable in the Flash CS4 authoring environment. Get an introduction to, and some tips for, customizing the Flash UI (Chapter 4). Learn where to find your drawing tools and how to use them efficiently (Chapter 5), and then discover all the ways that Flash helps you to organize and optimize project assets (Chapter 6). Learn key color concepts relevant to multimedia production and find out why Flash has the best color tools yet (Chapter 7). Jump into using text-editing tools and see how to get the best-looking type and the smallest file sizes in your Flash projects (Chapter 8). Finally, learn how to modify text and graphics to get the most out of your Flash artwork (Chapter 9).

Part III: Creating Animation and Effects

After you've learned how to find your way around the Flash interface and how to create static graphics, you can get some perspective on animation strategies (Chapter 10). Learn to make things move and how to work with different symbol types to optimize your animation workflow (Chapter 11). Add polish and pizzazz with Flash filter effects and blend modes (Chapter 12). Finally, get special production tips for professional character animation and broadcast-quality graphics (Chapter 13).

Part IV: Integrating Media Files with Flash

Now that you're fluent in the Flash workspace, take your projects to the next level by adding sound, special graphics, and video assets. In Chapter 14, you learn the basics of digital sound, and how to import, optimize, and export high-quality sound for different types of projects. Chapter 15 gives you an overview of how to bring vector or raster artwork from other programs into Flash and how to protect image quality while optimizing your Flash movies. Chapter 16 introduces the exciting new video features of Flash CS4 and the new Adobe Media Encoder CS4 application, including the use of the high-quality AVC/H.264 video codec.

Part V: Adding Basic Interactivity to Flash Movies

Learn how to start using Flash actions to create interactive and responsive presentations. Get oriented in the Flash CS4 Actions panel and fundamental ActionScript in your movies (Chapter 17). Use ActionScript in Flash movies to control internal elements on multiple timelines, such as nested Movie Clips (Chapter 18). Use Flash CS4 components to create fast, clean interfaces for multipart presentations that also include some of the Accessibility options (Chapter 19).

Part VI: Distributing Flash Movies

You need to learn how to export (or publish) your Flash presentations to the .swf file format for use in an HTML document, or within presentations in other formats. Chapter 20 details options in the Flash CS4 Publish settings, and provides tips for optimizing your Flash movies in order to achieve smaller file sizes for faster download performance. If you prefer to hand-code your HTML, read Chapter 21, which describes how to use the <embed> and <object> tags and how to create plug-in detection systems for your Flash movies using the SWFObject JavaScript library. If you want to find out how to create a Flash stand-alone projector, or use the Flash stand-alone player, check out Chapter 22.

Part VII: Approaching ActionScript

Learn the basic elements of ActionScript syntax (Chapter 23), and how to use ActionScript to control properties and methods of MovieClip objects (Chapter 24). Learn about making functions and arrays (Chapter 25), detecting Movie Clip collisions, and using the ColorTransform, Sound, and PrintJob classes for dynamic control of movie elements (Chapter 26).

Part VIII: Applying ActionScript

Learn how to use ActionScript to animate elements in a Flash movie (Chapter 27). Get an introduction to runtime MP3, JPEG/PNG/GIF, and FLV loading features as well as how to share and load assets in multiple .swf files (Chapter 28). Start creating Flash movies that send data with the LoadVars object and learn to integrate XML data with Flash movies (Chapter 29). Take control of text fields using updated HTML tags, the TextFormat class, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and high-quality anti-aliasing options (Chapter 30). Part VIII includes a detailed chapter dedicated to building a Flash game from the ground up (Chapter 31). Find out how to use the many User Interface components that ship with Flash CS4 to enhance your Flash projects (Chapter 32). Finally, build a Gallery component from scratch that works with dynamic PHP scripts to load image thumbnails and display full-size downloadable JPEG images (Chapter 33).

Part IX: Appendixes

In the appendixes, you'll find directions for using the CD-ROM (Appendix A), and a listing of contact information for the guest experts is also available (Appendix B). You can also find information on digital sound basics that explains sound sampling rates and bit-depths (Appendix C), and information on digital video basics (Appendix D).

Getting in Touch with Us

You can find additional information, resources, and feedback from the authors and other readers at www.flashsupportcom. We want to know what you think of individual chapters in this book. Visit www.flashsupportcom/feedback to send us your comments.

If you have a great tip or idea that you want to share with us, we'd like to hear from you. You can also send comments about the book to [email protected].

Also, check Appendix B to learn more about this book's various contributors and guest experts, including URLs of their work and contact information for people who don't mind being contacted directly by our readers.

For quality concerns or issues with the CD-ROM, you can call the Wiley Customer Care phone number: [phone]. Outside the United States, call 1 [phone], or contact Wiley Customer Service by e-mail at [email protected]. Wiley Publishing, Inc. will provide technical support only for CD-ROM installation and other general quality-control items; for technical support on the applications themselves, consult the program's vendor.

Adobe Wants to Help You

Adobe has created a Feature Request and Bug Report form to make it easier to process suggestions and requests from Flash users. If you have an idea or feature request for the next version or you find a bug that prevents you from doing your work, let the folks at Adobe know. You can find the online form at www.adobecom/wishform.

The simple fact is this: If more users request a specific feature or improvement, it's more likely that Adobe will implement it.

Regardless of your geographic location, you always have access to the global Flash community for support and the latest information through the Adobe online forums at www.adobe.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/index.cfm?forumid=15.

For inspiration and motivation check out the Site of the Day, weekly features, and case studies at www.adobecom/showcase.

This book would not have been possible without the dedication and talent of many people. Although much of the content in this edition has changed to reflect changes in the tools, there is also a good deal of content from dedicated contributors that has been carried over from the previous edition. We are always grateful for the added breadth and depth the tutorials from our guest experts bring to the content. First and foremost, we would like to thank the Flash development community. In our combined experiences in research and multimedia production, we haven't seen another community that has been so open, friendly, and willing to share advanced tips and techniques. It has been gratifying to be involved as the community keeps expanding and to see the innovators in the first wave of Flash development become mentors to a whole new generation. Thank you all for continuing to inspire and challenge audiences and each other with the possibilities for Flash.

We would like to thank everyone at Wiley Publishing who supported us as we researched and revised, week after week. Katharine Dvorak, our project editor, was friendly, professional, and compassionate with our writing schedule — we knew she was working just as hard as we were when we received near-instant replies late at night. A Flash Bible production team can't steer itself — our gratitude goes to Laura Sinise and Aaron Black, our acquisitions editors, and Scott Tullis, our copy editor. Jeremy Petty, our technical editor and dear friend, was instrumental in helping us keep our material honest and effective.

Many of the scripts provided in this book would not be complete without the “instant messenger” help provided by Joey Lott, Paul Newman, Danny Patterson, Bruce Hyslop, Roger Braunstein, Geoff Stearns, and Phillip Kerman. We'd also like to thank Richard Blakely and Jerry Chabolla at Influxis.com for providing the ongoing Flash Media Server hosting for this book's streaming video examples.

Of course, this book about Flash wouldn't even exist without the hard work of the people at Adobe who make it all possible. Many thanks to the developers, engineers, and support staff at Adobe, especially Jen Taylor, Richard Galvan, Mike Downey, Mike Chambers, Erica Norton, Nivesh Rajbhandari, Peter deHaan, and Jen deHaan. We're also indebted, as always, to all our intrepid fellow developers and authors, who helped us to get our bearings in early versions of Flash CS4.

Part I: An Introduction to Flash Web Production

In This Part

Chapter 1: Understanding the Adobe Flash CS4 Blueprint Chapter 2: Exploring Web Technologies Chapter 3: Planning Flash Projects

If you're new to Flash or to multimedia production, this section gets you started on the right foot. If you are a veteran Flash user, this section gives you some perspective on the evolution of Flash and the workflow options available in Adobe Flash CS4.

Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the Flash format and some background on where Flash came from and how it has evolved. Chapter 2 explores the various ways that Flash movies interact with other Web formats and introduces some of the issues that need to be considered when planning for specific audiences. Chapter 3 has expanded coverage of strategies for multimedia project planning, including descriptions of how to create flowcharts, site maps, and functional specification documents.

Chapter 1: Understanding the Adobe Flash CS4 Blueprint

In This Chapter

Exploring the uses of Flash CS4 Identifying Flash file types Introducing the structure of Flash documents

Since its humble beginnings as FutureSplash in 1997, the Flash authoring tool and the Flash platform have matured into a powerful tool for deploying a wide range of media content. With every new version released, the possibilities have increased for imaginative and dynamic content creation — for the Web and beyond. After Adobe acquired Macromedia in 2005, Adobe has expanded Flash capabilities in several Creative Suite products, as well as development tools such as Adobe Flex Builder. The Adobe user interface is consistent across powerhouse applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash, and Adobe Illustrator.

In this chapter, we introduce Flash CS4 and explore the many possibilities available for your productions. We also discuss how Flash compares to or enhances other programs that you may be familiar with.

Flash content can be viewed in a few different ways. The most common method is from within a Web browser, either as an asset within an HTML page or as a Web site completely comprised of a master Flash movie using several smaller Flash movies as loaded SWF assets. The Flash Player is also available as a stand-alone application (known as a projector), which can be used to view movies without needing a Web browser or the plug-in. This method is commonly used for deployment of Flash movies on CD-ROMs, floppy disks, or other offline media formats.

You can learn more about projectors and stand-alones in Chapter 22, “Using the Flash Player and Projector.”

The Key Is Integration

Flash has seen significant development over its 12 years in both capability and design. Consistently with each new release, designers and developers push the technology into new territory. In its current iteration, Flash CS4 enables you to create content that's compatible with Adobe Flash Player 10, one of the largest updates to the Flash Player. There are two sides of the integration coin: designing the user interface and high-end programming with ActionScript 3.0. Flash CS4 continues to satisfy both designers and programmers — all the new authortime visual effects in Flash CS4 and Flash Player 10 are fully programmable with ActionScript, the programming language of Flash.

Flash CS4 Professional, also referred to simply as Flash CS4, adds several enhancements to previous editions:

• One version: You don't have to worry about which version of the Flash authoring tool to purchase — there's only one version! If you haven't upgraded from Flash 8 or earlier, you might be using one of two editions of the Flash authoring tool. If you have Flash CS4, you have access to any feature we discuss in this book (and more!).

• CS4 interface: Flash CS4 sports a completely revised user interface layout, with tools and panels that match the look and feel of other Adobe Creative Suite applications such as a Photoshop and Illustrator. The panels can be docked or stacked, and panels can be reduced to icon-only or icon-and-text views.

• Adobe document import: Because Adobe oversees the development of Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash, it's much easier to coordinate file format interoperability between the applications. You have more options than ever to faithfully bring Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects content into Flash documents. Many of the CS4 tools can now export XFL packages that enable a smooth workflow from tools such as Illustrator and After Effects into Flash.

• Adobe Device Central CS4: Flash CS4 ships with an updated version of Adobe Device Central. This program enables you to set up a Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, or After Effects document prepped with the proper screen size and attributes for deployment to a wide range of mobile devices. Presets for manufacturers such as Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola determine the frame size, frame rate, FlashLite (or Flash Player) version, and ActionScript version compatible for each device.

• Improved animation and drawing features: It's easier than ever to apply motion tweens to your Flash artwork with the new Motion Editor panel and the Motion Presets panel. Every aspect of your motion tween can be accessed and updated in the Motion Editor panel, sporting a look and feel very similar to the Timeline panel of Adobe After Effects. Flash CS4 also includes a new Deco tool that can draw intricate patterned fills within your artwork.

• Improved font menus: If you've used other Adobe graphics software such as Photoshop and Illustrator, you likely miss the font family lists in past versions of Flash. In Flash CS4, you'll find a consistent font menu across the CS4 product line.

• 3D transformations: You can now control a third dimension, or the Z axis, on two dimensional (2D) artwork created or imported into your Flash document, including video! You can animate the X, Y, and Z axis of objects in the new Motion Editor!

• Inverse kinematics (IK): Adobe added two new tools, the Bone tool and the Bind tool, to create linked segments that respond as a contiguous element. For example, if you want to create an animated frog, you can create the independent pieces of the frog's shape, connect them with the Bone tool, and then animate the entire frog! If you move one connected element in the chain of elements, the whole framework responds.

• Adobe Flash Media Encoder: Adobe did an excellent job retooling the compression settings and options for the Flash Video CS3 Encoder, which is now called the Adobe Media Encoder. Now you can export AVC/H.264 video content compatible with Flash Player 9 Update 3 or later.

• Flash Player detection update: Flash CS4 improves the Flash Player detection capabilities in the Publish Settings' HTML tab. Flash CS4 can create one HTML page that detects a target version of the Flash Player and displays the appropriate content. Geoff Stearns' SWFObject, which we covered in Flash CS3 Professional Bible (Wiley, 2007), is now the standard for Flash Player detection in Flash CS4.

• Authoring for Adobe AIR: You can now directly publish your Flash documents to the new Adobe AIR platform. AIR enables you to run Flash, HTML, and PDF content directly from the desktop, without a Web browser!

• Updated Project panel: The new Project panel in Flash CS4 requires much less work for you to get a set of folders and files ready for easy access in the authoring environment. You no longer need to manually create folder structures and link files to a project file.

• Adobe Soundbooth sample sound library: Flash CS4 ships with over 150 sound-effect audio files from Adobe Soundbooth. You can use these sound effects with your Flash content royalty free.

• Improved Library panel: The Library panel in Flash CS4 is now searchable, and you can now create new symbols in specific folders in the Library panel.

Many enhancements are not directly seen in the authoring environment, though. Flash Player 10 adds the following enhancements, among others:

• Enhanced creative effects: In addition to the 3D treatment of 2D objects mentioned earlier in this chapter, Flash Player 10 features a new custom filter-creation tool, the Adobe Pixel Bender toolkit. This new filter-creation tool, based on the scripting language called Hydra, enables you to build your own filter effects! There's also a completely revamped text layout engine, which can support right-to-left (RTL) languages such as Hebrew and Arabic, vertical text layout, and typographic elements like ligatures.

• Visual performance improvements: Flash Player 10 can offload more heavy graphics processing directly to the video graphics card. This hardware acceleration enables faster compositing of graphics and video content in your Flash files.

• Audio/video enhancements: You can use new transport protocols for real-time streaming video and peer-to-peer connections. Adobe has a new audio codec, Speex, added to Flash Player 10 for better real-time voice communications.

• Enhanced local file access: Previous releases of the Flash Player could only access file bytes but not display or manipulate them back to the local system without using a remote server to communicate and download updated content. Flash Player 10 now enables a user to load a local file and save new content back to the desktop without any server interaction.

If you're targeting a Flash Player 6 audience, you might want to consider targeting Flash Player 10 as well. Why? Flash Player 6 is capable of running Express Install scripts, which enable a Flash movie to automatically update the installed version of the Flash Player. Also, users with Flash Player 7 or later can receive automatic player updates. By default, Flash Player 7 checks Adobe's site every 30 days for new player updates. This process occurs silently in the background and doesn't require the user to upgrade his or her player installation manually. Theoretically, then, within 30 days of the release of any new Flash Player, including Flash Player 10, most browsers that had Flash Player 7, 8, or 9 will then have Flash Player 10.

For a complete list of features in Flash CS4, open the new browser-based help system by choosing Help ⇒ Flash Help, and then selecting Using Flash ⇒ Using Flash CS4 Professional ⇒ Resources ⇒ What's New ⇒ New Features.

Adobe also released new versions of Dreamweaver and Fireworks, as part of the CS4 Web Suite software bundle. The user interfaces for Flash, Dreamweaver, and Fireworks are very similar, each touting a Property inspector, dockable panel sets, and specialized tools to integrate the products with one another.

Although the broad array of Flash work created by Web designers and developers already speaks for itself, the sleek interface and the powerful new features of Flash CS4 surely inspire more challenging, functional, entertaining, informative, bizarre, humorous, beautiful, and fascinating experiments and innovations.

There are more ways to use Flash than there are adjectives to describe them, but here are just a few examples:

• Forms for collecting user information and dynamically loading custom content based on this interaction

• Real-time interaction with multiple users on a forum or support site, including live audio/video feeds of connected parties

• Complex online games with rich graphics and interaction, including multiplayer games

• A video portfolio using Flash Video capabilities and dynamic loading of content

• Animated ID spots and loading screens with built-in download detection

• A practical Web utility, such as a mortgage calculator or a search tool

• Robust chat rooms based on XML and server-socket technology

• An audio interface dynamically pulling in requested songs, using native Flash 8 support for MP3 loading

• Interactive conceptual art experimentations involving several users, 3-D, or recording and playback of user interaction

• Shopping and e-commerce solutions built entirely by using Flash and server-side technology

• Interfaces for kiosks at museums, banks, and shopping centers

• Alternative content or movie attributes based on system capability testing (if a device or desktop doesn't support audio streaming, then a text equivalent of the audio transcript is presented to the user)

• Projectors used for creating slide show presentations in the style of PowerPoint, either on CD-ROM or an alternative storage device

• Broadcast-quality cartoons, advertising, or titling

• Optimized animations for the Web, and for mobile devices such as cellphones or PDAs

• An interface that addresses accessibility issues by modifying certain elements when a screen reader is active

• Flash movies specifically exported for use in digital video projects requiring special effects and compositing

This list is obviously far from complete and is ever expanding with each new release of the program. As you can probably tell from this list, if you can imagine a use for Flash, it can probably be accomplished.

The topography of Flash CS4

Before you attempt to construct interactive projects in Flash, you should be familiar with the structure of the authoring environment. Even if you already know a previous version of Flash, learning this is advisable. That's because with the release of Flash CS4, Adobe has reorganized existing features to the interface and has either moved or improved other features and functionalities. So, to get a firm footing in the new interface, we strongly suggest that you work your way through this book — from the beginning.

Chapter 4, “Interface Fundamentals,” introduces the updated Flash CS4 interface and gives you tips for customizing your workspace and optimizing your workflow.

Moreover, you need to proactively plan your interactive projects before you attempt to author them in Flash. An ounce of preplanning goes a long way during the production process. Don't fool yourself — the better your plan looks on paper, the better it performs when it comes to the final execution.

We detail the foundation for planning interactive Flash projects in Chapter 3, “Planning Flash Projects,” and you will find these concepts reiterated and expanded in chapters that discuss specific project workflows. Chapter 19, “Making Your First Flash CS4 Project,” is a great place to start applying these planning strategies.

We consolidated the overview of interactive planning in the early chapters of the book. In later chapters, we included step-by-step descriptions of real-world projects that allow you to see how all the theory and planning suggestions apply to the development of specific projects.

Chapter 31, “Creating a Game in Flash,” walks you through the logic required to design and script a functional and engaging game. Chapter 33, “Building an Image Gallery Component,” describes the process of creating an entire component from the ground up, utilizing many of the visual effects available in ActionScript.