Flash MX 2004 Savvy

Both new and experienced Flash users need plenty of help mastering these versatile, powerful applications. Whichever group you belong to, Flash MX 2004 Savvy gives you the resources you need to advance your skills. This means clear explanations, real-world examples, and carefully crafted tutorials in which you'll learn the full range of Flash techniques. You'll find in-depth introductions to the features new to Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004: Timeline Effects, the expanded components library, built-in project management tools, and more.

Designed so you can work your way from front to back or focus on the topics most important to you, this book helps you understand why Flash works as it does and how to meet the demands of your Flash-based projects. Coverage includes:

Content creation: painting and drawing, text manipulation, reusable content, interactive slideshow presentations, content for the Pocket PC
ActionScript: manual scripting, movie clip management and parameter control—plus a complete ActionScript Reference on the CD
Interactivity: interface elements and controllers, new Flash components, new ActionScript behaviors
Audio integration: synchronization, compression schemes, implementing interactive audio
Media integration: with Director, with CD-ROM content, with 3D animation, with full-motion and streaming video

Contents

Introduction

PART I: GETTING TO KNOW FLASH
Chapter 1: Introduction to Flash
Chapter 2: What's New in Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004
Chapter 3: A Tour of the Flash Interface and Getting Started on Your Movie
Hands On 1: Creating your Own Custom Panel Layout

PART II: CREATING AND MANIPULATING VISUAL CONTENT
Chapter 4: Creating Static Content with the Painting and Drawing Tools
Chapter 5: Creating and Crafting Text
Chapter 6: Working with Objects
Chapter 7: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: Working with Symbols
Chapter 8: Adding Depth to Flash Movies with Layers
Chapter 9: Managing Your Flash Movie Project
Hands On 2: Creating an Illustrated Ocean Scene with Layers and Objects

PART III: ANIMATING WITH FLASH
Chapter 10: Animating with the Timeline
Chapter 11: Working with Movie Clips
Chapter 12: Using Scenes to Organize Your Flash Movie
Chapter 13: Creating Interactive Presentations with Slides in Flash MX Professional 2004
Hands On 3: Animating a Sci-Fi Spectacular Space Scene

PART IV: ADDING BASIC INTERACTIVITY
Chapter 14: Adding Interactivity with ActionScript Behaviors
Chapter 15: Creating Interactive Controls
Chapter 16: Creating Flash Applications with Components
Hands On 4: Creating a Favorites Application with Behaviors and Components

PART V: ADDING ADVANCED INTERACTIVITY WITH ACTIONSCRIPT
Chapter 17: Understanding and Using ActionScript
Chapter 18: Writing ActionScript
Chapter 19: Writing ActionScript for Multiple Timeline Movies
Chapter 20: Creating Advanced Interaction
Chapter 21: Troubleshooting ActionScript
Hands On 5: Creating a Modular Flash Website with Movable Pop-Up Windows

PART VI: WORKING WITH AUDIO
Chapter 22: Understanding Digital Audio in the Flash Environment
Chapter 23: Flash Audio Basics
Chapter 24: Synchronizing Audio with Animations
Chapter 25: Controlling Audio with ActionScript
Hands On 6: Creating a Mixing-Board Application

PART VII: INTEGRATING FLASH WITH OTHER PROGRAMS
Chapter 26: Working with Flash and Director
Chapter 27: Working with Flash and Dreamweaver
Chapter 28: Working with Flash and Digital Audio Applications
Chapter 29: Creating 3D Flash
Hands On 7: Creating an Animated 3D Flash Preloader

PART VIII: PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTING YOUR FLASH MOVIES
Chapter 30: Publishing Your Flash Movie
Chapter 31: Working with Flash and Video
Chapter 32: Using Flash for CD-ROM Development
Chapter 33: Creating Mobile Flash Content for the Pocket PC
Hands On 8: Synchronizing Streaming Video with Flash Animations

Index