adobe flash cs4 – illustrated unit a: getting started with adobe flash

Adobe Flash CS4 – Illustrated

Unit A: Getting Started with Adobe Flash


Objectives

Understand Adobe Flash

Start Adobe Flash CS4

View the Flash workspace

Arrange the workspace

Open a document and play a movie

Understand the Timeline

Add a layer and element

Use Help and exit Flash


Understanding Adobe Flash

Multimedia program for: Creating and organizing media Applying animation and other effects to

the media

An authoring tool


Uses of Adobe Flash

Add movies to Web pages Animation Persistence of vision Streaming

Create interactive content Navigational components User interface

Create self-running programs Rich Internet Applications (RIA)


Uses of Adobe Flash (cont’d)

Develop content to create playable files Create documents with .fla file extension Save document as output file for users in

.swf file format Use Flash Player plug-in (standard in

most browsers) to play .swf files


Starting Adobe Flash CS4

Double-click Flash shortcut icon on desktop (Win) or in dock (Mac), or

Use the Start menu


The Welcome Screen

Open existing or recently used files

Create new files of various types

Create files from a template

Access link to Flash Exchange Web site

Access links to additional information and tutorials

Turn off Welcome Screen


The Welcome Screen


Viewing the Flash Workspace

Workspace definition Screen area for working with elements of

a movie

Workspace elements Stage Timeline Panels Menu bar


Viewing the Flash Workspace


Flash Workspace: Stage

Contains movie elements (text, images, graphics, drawings, video)

Shows how elements interact with each other

Shows how action plays in the movie

Size corresponds to size of movie when it is played on the Web


Flash Workspace: Timeline

Controls and organizes movie elements by using layers and frames


Flash Workspace: Panels

Control aspects of a project with individual windows

Display information and options for selected objects

Select tools for creating and modifying objects

Store media objects for the project


Flash Workspace: Panels

Properties panel

Attributes and options for selected element on Stage or Timeline

Library panel Media to be used in a project

Tools panel Tools to draw, select, modify, and view graphics and text

Selection tools

Drawing, painting, and text tools

Retouching tools

Navigation tools

Color tools

Tool options


Flash Workspace: Menu Bar

Contains Flash commands and workspace and Help options

Workplace switcher

Flash Workspaces:


Planning a Flash Project

Flash project planning process


Arranging the Workspace

Create a custom workspace by performing different actions on panels or panel groups Dock (group) Undock Regroup Collapse Expand Close panels



Viewing collapsed panels



Undocked Tools panel



Panel opened from the Window menu


Opening a Documentand Playing a Movie

Options for opening a document From the location where Data Files are

stored From the Welcome window Keyboard shortcuts

Options for playing a movie On the Stage Commands on the Control menu Keyboard shortcuts Controller



Good practice Save file with a different file name to

protect the original



Open dialog box



Viewing the Controller



Testing a movie in Flash Player


Understanding the Timeline

Layers Appear in a column Contain elements of a movie and

determine their position

Frames Appear in a row Show elements in the project over time


Understanding the Timeline:Layers

Ways to manipulate Show/hide Lock from editing Display as an outline Add/delete Create a folder (useful organizing tool)


Understanding the Timeline:Layers

Viewing layers


Understanding the Timeline: Frames

Use to create animation

Create different effects by using different frame types

View status of a movie (current frame, frame rate [fps], total elapsed time)

Scrubbing



Viewing the Timeline



Options for changing appearance Undock Move Resize Close


Adding a Layer and Element

Each document has one layer by default

Elements are added to layers by Importing them, or Dragging them from the Library panel to

the Stage

Rename layers as an organizing technique


Adding a Layer and Element

Adding content to a new layer


Using Help

Find what you need by Looking up a subject by topic, or Searching for specific keywords, or Pressing [F1]

Access Help by Typing a search item in Help text box on

the menu bar, or Opening Help from the Window menu


Exiting Flash

Click Close button on the menu bar, or

Use keyboard shortcuts


Using Help

Adobe Flash Help window


Using Help

Viewing a Help topic


Using Help

Searching for help on a keyword

adobe flash cs4 – illustrated unit a: getting started with adobe flash

Documents

flash workspacearrange

starting adobe flash

flash shortcut icon

adobe flashadd movies

custom workspace

swf files

data files

output file