Introduction to Flash

1
Introduction to Flash
2
Format of Lecture

• Introduction to Flash 2004 MX
• Tools panel
• Stage
• Timeline
• Frame and keyframes
• Layers

3
What is Macromedia Flash?

• Macromedia Flash is a multimedia graphics program
  specially for use on the Web
• Flash enables you to create interactive "movies"
  on the Web
• Flash uses vector graphics, which means that the
  graphics can be scaled to any size without losing
  clarity/quality
• Flash does not require programming skills and is
  easy to learn

4
Why Flash?

• Flash loads much faster than animated images
• Flash allows interactivity, animated images do
  not
• Simple Flash does not require programming skills

5
Why Flash?
NPD Online survey, conducted December 2004.

• Also example of Flash website http//www.macromedi
  a.com/cfusion/showcase/index.cfm?eventfinderprod
  uctid1527locen_us

6
About Flash

• A new file with extension .fla will be created
  every time create a new flash documentation
• To deploy the content, publish it and a file with
  .swf extension will be created
• Macromedia Flash player 7 runs the file with
  extension .swf

7
Tools panel

• Tools panel is divided into 4 sections
• Tools area
• View area
• Colours area
• Options area

8
Stage

• Rectangular area where you place graphic content
• Zoom in and zoom out capabilities
• To zoom in on a particular area, select the Zoom
  tool in the tools panel
• Select the Hand tool to let you move the stage to
  change view
• To zoom in entire stage, go to view gt Zoom in

9
Timeline

• It is used to organise and control a fla over
  time
• Major components in timeline are layers, frames
  and playhead
• You can configure the timeline view at the Frame
  View button in the upper right corner of Timeline

10
Frames and keyfreames

• A keyframe is a frame in which you define a
  change in an animation
• Keyframe allows each frame to produce without
  drawing each frame

11
Layers

• Help you to organise the artwork in your stage
• Only one layer is activated at one time
• Draw and edit objects without affect other layers
• Able to hide, lock and rearrange layers

12
Useful links

• http//library.thinkquest.org/C0110767/flash/intro
  .html
• http//www.collinraye.com/flash/flash-cr-intro.htm
  
• http//www.kinleysonline.com/index_flash.asp
• http//www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productin
  fo/tutorials/gettingstarted/

13
Summary

• We have discussed introduction to Macromedia
  Flash
• We have also look through the common interface of
  Macromedia Flash 2004 MX
• Next week, you will have a chance to develop a
  simple flash application