Scientific Visualization

1
Scientific Visualization

• January 18, 2006
• 3 open positions
• Internship with Physical Plant
• Energy data analysis
• Web page work
• InterAct Public Safety Systems
• Database and Visual Programming
• EA

2
Agenda

• MMAS Accounts
• Server name mmas.unca.edu
• File transfer protocol sftp
• Login yourBulldogLogin
• Matching Quiz - online at pipeline
• Review Homework files
• ActionScript 2.0
• Escaping Flatland

3
Agenda (continued)

• Groups of 3
• Project demo and storyboard
• Classwork Homework Assignments

4
ActionScript 2.0

• Why the name ActionScript?
• Macromedia calls statements actions.
• i 5 // is an example of an action
• File formats
• Movie Clips Hierarchy
• Performance Issues
• Programmer tools debugger, code hints, help
• Online lab covering file formats, movie clip
  hierarchy and addressing
• Programming style

5
Flash File Formats

• .fla file
• File used to develop flash application
• Projector files - platform specific
• .exe for windows oss
• .hqx if windows creates mac projector (not a good
  idea since it still needs to be converted using
  binhex or other converter before executing on a
  mac)
• The projector created on a mac for a mac will not
  have an extension by default.

6
Flash File Formats (cont)

• .swf -- an open standard -- file
• In an Internet browser such as Firefox, Netscape
  Navigator or Internet Explorer that has the
  current Flash Player
• In Director with the Flash Xtra
• In Microsoft Office and other ActiveX
  applications with the Flash ActiveX control
• As part of a QuickTime video
• As a stand-alone video called a projector

7
Where is Your Code?

• Actions can be attached to button instances,
  frames and movie clip instances.
• Code should be in frames.
• Code should always be separate from imagery in
  its own layer, located as the first layer (at the
  top of the layer list).
• While code on buttons and movie clips is
  supported, the unfortunate result is that those
  scripts are difficult to find.

8
Movie Clip Hierarchy

• Timelines
• Main timeline
• Movie clip timeline(s)
• Scripts associated with an instance act as though
  they are executing within the button or movie
  script timeline. (ex advance playhead)
• Addressing
• this (current timeline)
• _parent (up a level)
• _parent._parent (up two levels)
• _root (main timeline)

9
Performance Issues in FlashMX 2004

• From the Flash Help documentation.
• Avoid using gradients
• Keep the amount of alpha or transparency you use
  in a SWF file to a minimum.
• Animating transparent graphics over bitmaps is a
  particularly processor-intensive kind of
  animation, and must be kept to a minimum or
  avoided completely.
• The best bitmap format to import into Flash is
  PNG, which is the native file format of
  Macromedia Fireworks.

10
Performance Issues in FlashMX 2004 (cont)

• Optimize bitmaps as much as possible without
  overcompressing them.
• A 72-dpi resolution is optimal for the web (Ask
  Jim kiosk resolution).
• Compressing a bitmap image reduces file size, but
  compressing it too much compromises the quality
  of the graphic.
• If outputting to JPG files, check that the
  settings for JPEG quality in the Publish Settings
  dialog box do not over-compress the image.
• If your image can be represented as a vector
  graphic, this is preferable in most cases.
• Limit the number of colors in your image as much
  as possible while still retaining quality.
• Note Avoid scaling bitmaps larger than their
  original dimensions, because it reduces the
  quality of your image and is processor-intensive.

11
Performance Issues in FlashMX 2004 (cont)

• Set the _visible property to false instead of
  changing the _alpha level to 0 or 1 in a SWF
  file.
• Instead of unloading and possibly reloading
  assets, set the _visible property to false, which
  is much less processor-intensive.
• Try to reduce the number of lines and points you
  use in a SWF file.
• Modify Shape Optimize
• Select the Use Multiple Passes option for more
  optimization.

12
Performance Issues in FlashMX 2004 (cont)

• Animation that uses ActionScript can produce
  better performance and smaller file size than
  animation that uses tweens at times, but
  sometimes not.
• To get the best results, try different ways of
  producing an effect, and test each of the
  options.
• A higher frame rate produces smooth animation in
  a SWF file
• Test your animations at different frame rates to
  find the lowest frame rate possible.

13
Programmer Tools

• Debugger
• Code hints pop up with syntax as you type in your
  script.
• Help contains a dictionary of all actionScript
  commands and gives examples

14
Lab

• Online lab covering file formats and layers.

15
Programming Style

• Why comment code?
• The real reason.
• The incentive comments will be considered in
  grading.
• Naming conventions
• camelCaseVariables
• CONSTANTS - no user defined constants in
  ActionScript
• Iterators
• For better performance, use small BUT MEANINGFUL
  names for functions and variables
• Indentation
• Be consistent

16
Escaping Flatland

• Designer as a director
• We need to direct the viewers attention.
• Gestalt theory.

17
Groups of 3

• Introductions rank skills from 0-10 with
  respect to
• Design
• Programming
• Flash
• Soft skills (project management, interpersonal
  skills, organization)

18
Project Demo and Storyboard

• Jim Fox

19
Classwork Homework

• Assignment of modules to groups
• Schedule field trip to Colburn Museum
• Which Tuesday 1215-115?
• Homework
• Read next chapter in Tufte
• Brainstorm ideas for group project. Every person
  in the class should bring a storyboard (digital
  or paper - template) to next weeks class 1/25/06
  for their groups 3 modules. In other words, 3
  storyboards per student.

20
Agenda (continued)

• Groups of 3
• Project demo and storyboard
• Assignment of modules to groups
• Schedule field trip to Colburn Museum - Tuesday
  1215-115
• Homework
• Read next chapter in Tufte
• Brainstorm ideas for group project. Every person
  in the class should bring a storyboard (digital
  or paper - template) to next weeks class 1/25/06
  for their groups 3 modules. In other words, 3
  storyboards per student.