Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-On Training is the latest, updated version of the highly acclaimed publication from the leaders in training at lynda.com. In this book, readers will find carefully developed lessons and exercises that teach readers to create interactive Web sites and rich media, with the latest version of the Flash authoring tool. Given the extensive changes to the Flash interface and function, the step-by-step approach is much needed to help present things to a beginner in a very clear, easy-to-follow way. In it, they ll learn how to use the full set of creative drawing, animation, and interactive tools including drawing and color tools, animation basics,symbols and instances, motion, bitmaps, buttons, movie clips, sound, components and forms, and video. Not only that but readers will learn how to use the new powerful integration features with Photoshop and Illustrator and discover new Shape Primitives (expanding your ability to use and manipulate shapes), a new Pen tool that functions like that found in Illustrator, a new ability to convert animations to ActionScript 3, a brand new unified interface matching that of others in the Creative Suite, and much more. Accompanied by a CD-ROM loaded with classroom-proven exercises and QuickTime training videos, this book ensures ensures readers will master the key features of Adobe Flash CS3 in no time. PUBLISHER NOTE: We have received some complaints from readers about the quality of the binding of Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-On Training (ISBN: 0-321-50983-8). We have checked all copies of the inventory in our warehouse and found just a few copies with this problem. If you have received a defective copy of this book we recommend that you return it to the bookstore/reseller from which you purchased it.
REVIEW
Good Buy! This Flash book is very thorough and the tutorials are simple to follow. I love it includes a disc that holds all of your tutorial files to help you along the way. I definitely recommend this book to someone who is new to the program and wants to learn it all! Add a Review
When Flash Player 9 released in June 2006, it introduced the new scripting language, ActionScript 3, which has already taken hold in the Adobe Flex application development community. In its latest release, Flash CS3 incorporates this new and much improved upon language into its development environment, giving Flash authors more flexibility than ever before. Now, they just need to learn how to use it and get started quickly. For the first time, the Flash experts at Lynda.com have poured their training expertise into this exciting book release. ActionScript 3 in Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-OnTraining teaches readers all they need to know to get up and running with ActionScript 3 in Flash. It covers all the essentials and new features, including the brand new ActionScript debugger that allows users to step through a wide variety of properties in their code at runtime, with greater flexibility and feedback. Readers will also learn modern Web design and workflow techniques for developing their projects successfully with Flash using ActionScript 3. Accompanied by a CD-ROM loaded with classroom-proven exercises and QuickTime training videos, this book ensures readers will master the key features of ActionScript 3 in no time. Now that Flash is an integral part of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium, Web Standard, and Design Premium packages, there is an even greater need for the clear, step-by-step approach this book offers.
REVIEW
Very Useful I am a regular user of Flash, however ActionScript (other than the really basic stuff) has always been a mystery to me. This book helped me to understand it in a way I never thought possible. I highly recommend it. Add a Review
Whip up awesome Wii games using Flash and ActionScript. Nintendo Wii Flash Game Creator's Guide lays out each next-generation technique alongside real-world examples and cut-and-paste code samples. Learn how to design exciting Flash animations, create cool characters, simulate realistic motion, and use the Wii remote control in innovative ways. Plus, you'll get the latest tricks for supercharging your games and tips for distributing them on the Web.
Build Flash-based objects, layers, and controls
Work with timelines, keyframes, and .SWF files
Develop and animate original characters, backgrounds, and landscapes
Integrate unconventional mouse and Wii controller interactivity
Create, modify, and control movie clips using ActionScript 2.0
Design radical enemies, custom cursors, and invisible buttons
Incorporate audio, game timers, and score tracking
Publish your games to the Web and share them via the Wii's online connection service
REVIEW
Laughable As a flash programmer I bought this book based on my interest to deploy applications/games for the console (Wii).
I regret my decision ever since.
This book is ridiculous for any Flash programmer. Its a complete shame, it tours the reader through flash giving you almost no information about the platform we want to deploy.Just a simple flash guide.
The truth is, Wii flash support is very limited (as Adobe says), and the author is just trying to make some money without acknowledge this.
A plain example of this is the lack of controller interactivity. Although the editorial review speaks about "Integrate unconventional mouse and Wii controller interactivity", the book only tries to use the mouse positions and click's because that's all the flash supports in this platform. There's no official way of detecting the controllers button state or accelerometer info. Add a Review
Adobe Certified Instructor Todd Perkins makes ActionScript fun in ActionScript 3.0 Projects: Game Development . He explains the principles of game design and development, then shows how to overcome game-making challenges to create all kinds of games. Todd teaches developers how to dealwith case sensitivity, create dynamically moving enemies, add event listeners, determine a win or loss in a game, and add additional features and artificial intelligence. Each set of tutorials covers how to build a game from scratch. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.
REVIEW
Good Content, Bad Delivery The content of the turorials are clear and useful - they provide good insight into game development in ActionScript 3.0. However, the interface is horrible: a video tutorial without the ability to pause? Clicking most things on the menu will crash the program, too. It was a very frustrating experience. I found it most useful to explore the disc and find the actual quicktime files so I could pause and rewind when necessary. Add a Review
Flash CS3 Professional Fundamentals focuses on the animation and storytelling aspects of Flash, from animating objects to manipulating animation. Covering the core skills needed for starting an animation project, such as drawing, tweening, and using the timeline, as well as the common pitfalls that new users often experience, instructor Todd Perkins simplifies and streamlines even the most complex concepts. Exercise files accompany the tutorial.
To fully take advantage of Flash CS3, it's necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of ActionScript 3.0. From manipulating movie clips and responding to user actions with variables to writing functions and conditional operators, ActionScript 3.0 in Flash CS3 Professional Essential Training covers the vital skills necessary to master ActionScript 3.0. Instructor Todd Perkins uses numerous hands-on examples - including two game-building exercises - to explore ActionScript's powerful features. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.Topics Include:
Communicating with MovieClips, variables, and people
Using and writing functions
Responding to events
Understanding conditional statements
Using text and arrays
Creating a memory game
Using advanced graphics and animation tools
Loading external images and Flash movies
Creating a drag-and-drop game
Duration: 7.5 hoursOn 1 CD-ROM
REVIEW
Not good, unfortunately I bought some actionscript books, but I got this CD because I thought it would be an easy intro. But I kept having to refer to my books to figure out what was happening on the CD. Here are some examples:
The author names things ina confusing way. Sometimes he'll name an event "event" and it's hard to know whether this is just his name for this particular event, or whether you have to use the term "event" in all such cases. (If that was confusing to read, then you understand how I felt watching the CD). In other words, it's not always clear whether he's naming something on the fly with whatever name he wants, or is instead invoking a required term.
He often types code before explaining what he wants to do with it, which leads to things like, "Type this function on line 16, now go up and enter this variable on line 4, now go down to line 18 and type..." And you're just sitting there watching but not understanding what he's doing because he's not going to tell you the point of all these lines until he's finished typing them.
In general the author needs to work harder at presenting the big picture, zeroing in the details, and relating them back to the big picture. Too often, this training leaves you unclear on how to take the code he's demonstrating and apply to other situations. Add a Review
Through several hands-on tutorials, instructor Todd Perkins shows how to best build dynamic, streamlined sites using Flash CS3Professional. Learn how to create custom keyboard shortcuts, apply advanced text techniques such as animating scrolling text with custom easing controls, and using advanced animation techniques. Flash CS3 Professional Beyond the Basics covers many challenging features, including adding complex interactivity to a Flash CS3 project and getting Flash content on a phone. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.
From understanding the basics to creating advanced effects like explosions and smoke, ActionScript 3.0: Particle Systems covers each step involved in creating particles and building particle systems. Instructor Todd Perkins explains how to make a versatile particle class that controls particle movement, gravity, friction, spin, rotation, fading, scaling, and other movement effects. He also demonstrates how each unique particle system can be added to a real worldapplication. Exercise files accompany the course.
The use of RSS feeds is a growing trend, and they can be found within many new websites. In ActionScript 3.0: Working with XML, instructor Todd Perkins places strong emphasis on using RSS data for blogs, podcasts, and images. He also demonstrates how to perform common tasks with XML, such as using E4X syntax, loading external data from local and remote locations, saving data, and integrating with popular services like Flickr. Exercise files accompany the course.
