| Average Rating: |
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| Sales Rank: | 1485627 (lower is better) |
| Price Used: | $0.01 |
| Shipping: | Free Shipping on most orders over $25* |
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| Label: | Peer Information |
| UPC: | 809971003061 |
| Pages: | 760 |
| Binding: | Paperback |
| Publication Date: | 2001-03-16 |
| Published By: | Peer Information |
| ASIN: | 1903450306 |
| Category: | Book |
Calling upon a talented group of over 20 cutting-edge "Flashers" (working Flash professionals) to helm different chapters, Flash 5 Studio covers advanced site management, content creation (like Smart Clips, cartooning, video, and sound), dynamic content (interactive movies that feed content dynamically from separate data sources--for example, news headlines), ActionScripting, and issues that are crucial to partial or full Flash Web sites (like preloaders or optimizing Flash for search engines). The motto of the book: "deeper, more serious, more fully explained."
Each chapter teaches a specific technique or concept through examples that capitalize on the particular talents of that chapter's Flasher/author. For example, Nikhil Adnani is a talented and humorous cartoonist/animator from Canada (his Web site is www.groovechamber.com), and his chapter walks you through practical steps for creating charming animations (such as making a cow strut), while dispensing good advice on character design, making convincing movement, and optimization. Richard Mapes from www.Moonfruit.com provides an introduction to ActionScript principles; if coding seems beyond you, this might just clear the fog. From there, readers can explore scripting used in 3-D effects or object-oriented games. (This chapter, along with a table of contents, can be found at www.friendsofed.com if you'd like to check it out first.) The CD-ROM contains project FLAs and SWFs, as well as color images from selected chapters, and trial versions of software.
The advantage of learning from a book many designers and coders have had a hand in writing is that you're guaranteed a discussion that includes real-life goals and pitfalls. Also, if the style of one chapter's author doesn't quite jibe with yours, perhaps the next one's will. You're sure to come away with a deeper understanding of Flash and ActionScript, and a whole mess of new ideas to try. --Angelynn Grant
Topics covered:
Since I own Foundation Flash 5, Foundation Actionscript & Dynamic Content Studio (plus 23 other web design/flash books) some of the information is rehashed from other FOED's titles.
I purchased this book with hopes of receiving light-intermediate information on video integration within Flash 5. Most specifically for Flash 5 and Quicktime/Real Player video integration (...)--which this book DID NOT cover. It does a wonderful job of covering Flash 5 and Adobe After Effects (the video program discussed)--but after buying this book, who can afford the close-to-a-thousand dollar Adobe product. I know that serious web designers must know/use Adobe products since the MAC is far superior to the PC when it comes to print & web design/image software & hardware/video software & creation, but video editing/creation can also be achieved (to a moderately satisfying degree) on a PC.
The author should have considered more than one type of video player application and video editing program. Very good applications can be created with Quicktime and Realplayer and some of us up-an-coming Flash designers/users cannot afford the heavywieght Adobe stuff.
So, with that said, if you want to learn video and sound for Flash 5 from a more inclusive and more in-depth source try FOED's other book also/instead, Rich Media Content, as the book covers Final Cut Pro, RealPlayer, Quicktime, Abode After Effects and a score of other applications/programs.
Also, the first chapter--design principles--is bland and useless if you remotely know what a non-hideous website should look like.
Otherwise, this is another good title from FOED.
So if you are a designer who doesn't have a programmer working the ActionScript side of flash for you, this book would be a great desktop reference to complete a range of flash projects!
Also, While all sections are not perfectly written or perfectly coded the book is packed full of code and information for the person who is truly willing to put the time in and learn the many aspects of flash!
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