Macromedia Flash 5 Authorized Book

Macromedia Flash 5 Training from the Source is a highly structured training course aimed at beginners. It consists of 12 lessons covering everything from basics--setting preferences, using the drawing tools and aligning, rotating and scaling elements--to more advanced animation and interactivity using ActionScript. The course is based on the curriculum originally developed for use by Macromedia-authorised trainers and is nothing if not thorough. Each lesson begins with an overview telling you what you will learn, what files you need from the CD ROM and how long the lesson will take--in most cases about an hour. Structured around development of a fictional Web site, lesson subjects include Using Graphics and Text, Creating animation, Using Sound, Adding Basic Interactivity, Programming with ActionScript and Adding More Complex Interactivity. The style is very instructional, there's none of the friendly banter and humorous asides characteristic of the more personal approach of some authors. Instead, the emphasis is on training. This material has been developed with one purpose--to get you up to speed in the techniques you need to know to develop effective Flash sites. The course aims are very specific. By the end of the book you should be able to, among other things, create complex animations, add, modify, customise and control sounds, add basic interactivity, use ActionScript to add drag-and-drop interactivity, publish, print and export your movies. For a broader focus, including design considerations you'll need to look to something like Flash 5 Studio Secrets, but for beginners who prefer a structured course approach this delivers the goods. --Ken McMahonRead More