INTRODUCTION TO ADOBE FLASH CS 5

GIT@SCHOOL
Introduction:
Macromedia Flash is a program that
creates interactive, and animated
media such as motion graphics, videos,
presentations and websites. You can
control an object's actions and behaviors
using the Behavior panel and the
Timeline.
Macromedia Flash, now known as Adobe
Flash, is a tool for building interactive
online content and animations, Web
games and cartoons.

Flash was a two-part system, a graphics

and animation editor known as
Macromedia Flash, and a player known as
Macromedia Flash Player.
Animation:
Animation is the process of turning two-
dimensional and three-dimensional still
images into moving images.

Animation is an art of using drawings, images

and motion to create a story or image. It can
be used to tell a story, create a charater or an
illusion.
When pictures are displayed in series, they
create motion. The simulation of movement
created by these pictures is known as
Animation. The most common example of
animation is cartoons. Animation is used in
multimedia presentations and in many
softwares. One such software is Flash, lets
learn more about flash,
Help in flash:-

Flash CS 5 contains three help systems:

•Using Flash: contains instruction and information for all flash

tools and commands

•Action Script Reference: contains instructions and information

on action script including writing action script

•Action Script Dictionary: The Dictionary class lets you create a

dynamic collection of properties
Dashboard for flash:-
Dashboard for flash provides access to available resources in the flash
development community sourced from within the flash application. The
dashboard can be used to get information on a various flash related topic and it is
updated regularly by Macromedia.

Uses of Adobe Flash

Used for designing, used for animation, used for creating movies, used for web-
design, used for cartoons and used for presentations.
Installing Flash
Insert the flash 5 CD into the DVD-ROM drive
In windows, choose start>Run. Click browse and choose the setup.exe file on
the flash 5 CD
Click OK in the run dialog box to begin the installation
Double click on the flash 5 installer icon
Follow on screen instruction.
If prompted restart the computer
System requirements for Flash

 Windows Intel Pentium 4

 MICROSOFT Windows XP with service pack 3or win 7
 2GB of RAM
 3.5GB of available hard disk space for installation
 1024x768 display java runtime environment
 DVD-ROM drive
 Quick time 7.6.6 software required for multimedia features.
FILES TYPES AND MANAGEMENT

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Creating a new file:-
The first step before creating and manipulating movies and animation is to open a
(.fla) file. User can create or open a file from the welcome screen or from the file
menu.

Saving a flash document

Once a file is created it is important to save it. An asterisk (*) after the documents
name in the title bar is an indicator of the document containing unsaved data.
The asterisk disappear the moment the file is saved
To save a flash document

Select file >save

Select file >save as
Type in the filename in the space provided in the Save As dialog box
Click on Save

Open an existing document

The welcome screen provides a list of recently opened files. The user can
either click on the desired files assuming it is visible on the list or click on
open to browse and specify the path to open the desired file. An existing
file can also be opened using the file menu.
To open a flash document

Select file>open
In the open dialog box navigate to the file or enter the path to the file in the Go
To box.
Click OK.

Printing a flash document

The page set up dialog box and the page setup along with the print margins
dialog box
Select file >page setup
Set page margins
In the frame menu select whether to print the first frame only or all the frames in
the document.
Property inspector

Click on the work area outside the stage to deselect all object on the stage, the
document properties appear in the property inspector

To open the property inspector

Choose window>properties
Set the FPS (frame per second), enter the number of animation frame to play
each second
Enter value for the width and height of the stage
click on color swatch and height of the stage
click the edit button to modify additional document properties
FILES TYPES AND MANAGEMENT (2)

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The following are the print layout menu options:

•Actual size: print the frame at full size

•Fit on one page: reduces or enlarges each frame so it fills the print area of the
page.

•Storyboard: print several thumbnails on one page. Select from boxes, grids or
blank. Enter the number of thumbnails In the frame margin box
To print frames select file >print.

Using templates:
A variety of templates are made available for the user so that precious time is
not wasted in setting up the page. To use template from the file menu
Select file >new
Click the template tab
Select a category from the category list
Click OK.
Multiple document window:

Flash allows users to open and work on multiple files. All open files display at the
top of the document window. To access the desired file click on the tab. Tab are
displayed only when the document window is maximized. Click the tab of the
document to view.
By default the files in the tab appear in the order in which the documents were
created or opened. User can change the order by dragging the document.
FLASH WORKFLOW AND WORKSPACE

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Definition:

Workspace in flash refers to the arrangement of various elements used for

creating and manipulating a movie. These include the stage panel, property bar
etc.
The flash workflow:

Flash is not only useful for creating websites and attractive moving banners.
Flash can also be used for making interactive games, movies and other projects
that require seamless integration of graphics, video and sounds. Files in Flash
are created to achieve certain design objectives.

A design objective is a project that involves certain steps from planning and
execution. Hence, a typical flash project has the following stages:
Establishing the concept and the goal:
This step involves the purpose of creating the movie, understanding the
target audience and how the movie will interact with the users and so on.

Producing and testing:

This stage involves the actual production of the concept; the planning of
the resources their efficient utilization. The product (movie) is also tested
to determine its achieves its design objectives
Implementation :

Once the movie is built and tested, assuming it meets all the design
parameters, it is time to implement it. This involves making the movie
available to the users for whom the movie is created.
 THE STAGE

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Definition:
The center of the screen is called the stage this is where the users create various
graphics and build animations. By default, the flash stage appears white, but, can
be changed from the document properties dialog box using the modify
document command.

The grey area surrounding the stage is the work area, any graphic or artwork
placed in this area is not considered or included in the movie. For instance it can
be used to animate a character to enter from the work area onto the stage.
Changing the stage view:
The zoom tool available in the tool panel can
be used to manipulate the magnification
level of an element. Zoom tool is extremely
useful especially while editing images and
drawings. The minimum zooming out value
is 8%, whereas the maximum zooming in
value is 2000%.
Moving the stage view
Sometimes the desired portion of an element that has
been magnified by a very high percentage may be difficult
to view. Using the hand tool user can move and view
desired portion without reducing the magnification
percentage.
In the tool panel, select the hand tool and drag the stage.

Setting the stage color:-

-Go to property panel
-Locate the stage color
-Then click on it, automatically it changes the background
color
Using and setting the grid preference:
-Select view > Grid> Edit Grid and select from the options
-To save the current settings as the default, click Save Default

Using the rulers and guides on the stage

-Rulers:- The default unit measurement is pixels. Rulers appear
along the top and left sides of the document.

-To show or hide rulers

Select View>Rulers

-Guides:-
This allows the user to drag horizontal and vertical guides from
the ruler on the stage.
THE TOOL PANEL

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The tool panel:-
It is a detachable vertical bar on the extreme right of the window
containing all the tools needed to create select or edit graphics on
the stage.

The property panel:

It is a centralized place to access most common options for various
authoring items. Depending on what item on the stage is selected by
the user. The property panel loads relevant controls to manipulate
the properties of the selected item.

Using the zoom tool:

The zoom tool available in the tool panel can be used to manipulate
the magnification level of an element. Zoom tool is extremely useful
especially while editing images and drawings. The minimum
zooming out value is 8% whereas the maximum zooming in value is
2000%.
Library panel:
The library panel function as a store house for symbols created in
flash as well as imported files.

Actions panel:
it is used for defining how elements would respond to certain
actions performed by the user

Rulers grids and guide:-

It helps the user in placing the items on stage with precision.

Rulers:
The default unit of measurement is pixels. It appear along the top
left side of the document
Guides:
allows the user to drag horizontal and vertical guides
from the ruler on the stage

Grids:
The set of lines that appears behind the artwork in all
scenes is called the grid.

The contextual menu:

It provides quick access to tool manipulating the
properties of the selected item, it also provide for tools
that are relevant for the selected item
Undo, redo and repeat command:-
These commands provide lots of flexibility
while working on a document.

Timeline:-
It organizes and controls a document’s
content over time in layers and frames.
Flash documents divide lengths of time
into frames.