Flash
Make Your Own Planet
by Tom Green - 19-Nov-09
Reader Level: 
Just because a planet doesn't have your name doesn't mean you can't make one. Mix together Fireworks, After Effects and Flash and you are able to build your own solar system.
Loading SWFs Randomly - Part 1: JavaScript
by David Stiller - 12-Nov-09
Reader Level: 
With Flash, interactivity isn't always about the content itself. Sometimes it's understated. Sometimes, for example, it's merely about picking a SWF at random when the user decides to reload the HTML page — regardless if the Flash content is programmed or not. You might use an approach like this to randomly display a set of Flash banner ads or cartoons, just to keep the page "fresh."
Whatever your intent, if you've ever wanted to try something like this but didn't know where to begin, this article is for you. The free SWFObject embedding solution, and a few lines of custom JavaScript, are all you need.
Pick Videos at the Drive-In
by Tom Green - 23-Oct-09
Reader Level:
How do you get three 1950's commercials to play on your web site? Did I mention they need to be posted within the next 30 minutes? Fireworks CS4 and Flash CS4 to the rescue.
Approximate download size: 31MB
Get Smart, Speed up Work in Flash with Project Panel
by Rafiq Elmansy - 02-Oct-09
Reader Level:
In a general review of Flash features and tools, you will notice that there are some features that can help you speed up your work, that allow you to do tasks more easily and more efficiently. One of these features is the Project Panel. I have been asking myself for long time why I do not see many people use this amazing feature in Flash, or even notice it. It is a really helpful feature that allows for a better workflow and easier work process. I wanted to give more focus to this tool in this tutorial and see how it could be used to manage a project.
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 6
by David Stiller - 28-Sep-09
Reader Level: 
In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3-D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as click-and-scrub input fields.
In Part 5, of this series, we reorganized our click-and-drag functionality — keyframe code until that point — into a custom Scrubber class in ActionScript 2.0. Here in Part 6, we'll migrate this custom class to ActionScript 3.0, keeping an eye on two things: a) how little the actual principles change (not at all) and b) how the structure of AS3 necessitates certain syntax revisions. As you'll see, though, none of it gets too overwhelming.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 5
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 6
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 7
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 5
by David Stiller - 15-Sep-09
Reader Level:
In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3-D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as click-and-scrub input fields.
In Part 4, of this series, we explored "out of the box" implementations of the basic click-and-rotate concept. In that article, "rotating" became "scrubbing"; that is, the action that began as spinning a jet plane evolved into scrolling a list of numbers, which were converted to letters, re-interpreted as different font faces, and could even have been used to adjust the volume of an audio clip. As cool as that was, all of the code for this click-and-scrub routine was located in a keyframe script. Here in Part 5, we'll make that code portable by moving it into a custom class.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 5
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 6
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 7
Mad About Getting Some Z's
by Tom Green - 04-Sep-09
Reader Level:
Rather than grabbing some "Z's" why not play with them in Flash CS4?
Approximate download size: 42MB
Embedding Flash Content, Demystified - Part 8: Using JavaScript Continued
by David Stiller - 05-Aug-09
Reader Level: 
There are numerous ways to embed Flash content in a website, from Dreamweaver's Insert > Media menu (for SWF files, Flash Paper, FLV files, and more) to the publishing templates provided by the Flash authoring tool itself. In spite of these varied options — or perhaps because they're so varied — many people lack confidence when it comes to marrying Flash content with an HTML document. If this strikes a chord with you, then lay your fears to rest. In this series, you'll cut through the complexity, find out what your application's auto-generated embedding code actually means, and learn to avoid a handful of common Flash-related pitfalls.
In the last article, we delved into embedding with JavaScript, using the popular (and free) SWFObject — specifically, the dynamic approach for that solution. Here in Part 8, we'll take a second look, this time at the static approach, which requires a bit more typing to code up. Why learn both? First, because it's always good to know your options. Second, because the SWFObject static approach is very close to the solution used by Dreamweaver CS4. If you prefer letting Dreamweaver do the work, this article may at least help you understand better what's going on.
The Embedding Flash Content Demystified Series:
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 1: Introduction
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 2: The Traditional Approach
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 3: Optional Parameters
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 4: Optional Parameters Continued
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 5: Optional Parameters Concluded
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 6: Common Pitfalls
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 7: Using JavaScript
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 8: Using JavaScript (cont)
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 9: Using JavaScript (concluded)
Embedding Flash Content, Demystified - Part 5: Optional Parameters Concluded
by David Stiller - 25-Jun-09
Reader Level:
There are numerous ways to embed Flash content in a website, from Dreamweaver's Insert > Media menu (for SWF files, Flash Paper, FLV files, and more) to the publishing templates provided by the Flash authoring tool itself. In spite of these varied options — or perhaps because they're so varied — many people lack confidence when it comes to marrying Flash content with an HTML document. If this strikes a chord with you, then lay your fears to rest. In this series, you'll cut through the complexity, find out what your application's auto-generated embedding code actually means, and learn to avoid a handful of common Flash-related pitfalls.
Here in Part 5, we'll investigate a final round of optional embed parameters. These are the ones not displayed as choices in the Flash authoring tool's Publish Settings dialog box, but available if you know them.
The Embedding Flash Content Demystified Series:
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 1: Introduction
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 2: The Traditional Approach
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 3: Optional Parameters
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 4: Optional Parameters Continued
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 5: Optional Parameters Concluded
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 6: Common Pitfalls
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 7: Using JavaScript
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 8: Using JavaScript (cont)
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 9: Using JavaScript (concluded)
The Joy of Easing
by Tom Green - 09-Jun-09
Reader Level:
Feeling like a "Lazy Animator"? How about creating animations without animating anything and letting Flash CS4 do the heavy lifting for you.
Approximate download size: 13.2 MB
Motion in Flash CS4 with No Keyframes
by Tom Green - 02-Jun-09
Reader Level:
How would you like to create a Flash CS4 animation that "dippsy-doodles" all over the screen? Sound like fun? How would you like to do the animation with zero keyframes? If that caught your attention, then this video tutorial is for you.
Approximate download size: 9 MB
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 4: Automation Strategies
by Joseph Balderson - 27-May-09
Reader Level:
Were you ever confused, frustrated or dismayed by a project you had to convert from ActionScript 1 or 2 and migrate it up to ActionScript 3.0? Maybe you've checked out the AS2 Migration reference, and have found it lacking specific examples, or searched on the net and been flabbergasted by the multitude of conversations. Finding the right information, the right tips and the right approach can be challenging when you're under the gun and need a solution, fast.
This series will guide you through some simple formulas and techniques to convert and migrate legacy Flash ActionScript 1 and 2 code and techniques to ActionScript 3.0.
When you start on nearly any ActionScript 1-to-3 conversion project, you will necessarily need to convert all of those text fields in the FLA. It is such a necessary step in the conversion process that it could be considered as basic as removing all the underscores in MovieClip property references.
Continuing from the last tutorial where you learned to convert AS1 textfields to AS3, in this article you'll learn a neat trick: no more hunting down and converting each and every AS1 text field in an FLA with hundreds or even thousands of assets. In this tutorial we'll show you how to automate the conversion of AS1 textfields with a simple JSFL script. Along the way we'll also look at how to fix the Flash CS3 ObjectFindAndSelect.jsfl bug, and a few high level strategies when confronted with any conversion problem.
The ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles Series:
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 1: An Introduction to AS3 Migration
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 2: Button Events
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 3: TextFields
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 4: Automation Strategies
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 5: Source Navigation Coming soon
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 6: Button Scripts Coming soon
Playing with 3D in Flash CS4
by Tom Green - 18-May-09
Reader Level:
There were some interesting tools introduced in Flash CS4. Among them was a 3D feature. Let's do a fly through to get a handle on how some of this stuff works.
Embedding Flash Content Demystified - Part 2: The Traditional Approach
by David Stiller - 14-May-09
Reader Level:
There are numerous ways to embed Flash content in a web site, from Dreamweaver's Insert > Media menu (for SWF files, Flash Paper, FLV files, and more) to the publishing templates provided by the Flash authoring tool itself. In spite of these varied options — or perhaps because they're so varied — many people lack confidence when it comes to marrying Flash content with an HTML document.
If this strikes a chord with you, then lay your fears to rest. In this series, you'll cut through the complexity, find out what your application's auto-generated embedding code actually means, and learn to avoid a handful of common Flash-related pitfalls.
In this installment, we'll begin an investigation into the original two-tag (
Lazy Man Method of Using Actionscript to Create Motion in Flash CS4
by Tom Green - 14-May-09
Reader Level:
ActionScript makes my teeth hurt. Imagine my joy at discovering that I can script motion in Flash CS4 with only one line of ActionScript.
Approximate download size: 10.8MB
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 3: TextFields
by Joseph Balderson - 11-May-09
Reader Level:
Were you ever confused, frustrated or dismayed by a project you had to convert from ActionScript 1 or 2 and migrate it up to ActionScript 3.0? Maybe you've checked out the AS2 Migration reference, and have found it lacking specific examples, or searched on the net and been flabbergasted by the multitude of conversations. Finding the right information, the right tips and the right approach can be challenging when you're under the gun and need a solution, fast.
This series will guide you through some simple formulas and techniques to convert and migrate legacy Flash ActionScript 1 and 2 code and techniques to ActionScript 3.0.
When you start on nearly any ActionScript 1-to-3 conversion project, you may need to convert all of those text fields in the FLA. It is such a necessary step in the conversion process that it could be considered as basic as removing all the underscores in MovieClip property references. In this article, you'll learn to convert AS 1 text fields to AS 3. You'll also learn about some of the challenges and choices you'll be faced with in this process, and how to overcome them.
The ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles Series:
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 1: An Introduction to AS3 Migration
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 2: Button Events
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 3: TextFields
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 4: Automation Strategies
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 5: Source Navigation Coming soon
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 6: Button Scripts Coming soon
Introducing Adobe Media Encoder CS4
by Rafiq Elmansy - 06-May-09
Reader Level:
Rafiq Elmansy has been a multimedia graphic designer, graphic and web designer since 1999. His background is in fine art and sculpture. He uses Adobe Products to create graphics and animations for desktop applications, cartoons, games, web sites, e-learning courses, and mobile and Pocket PC applications. He is the founder of Bee Design Studio. He is an Adobe Flash CS3 Certified, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Certified, and the founder of the first Adobe User Group in Egypt. Rafiq also creates computer artwork and writes articles and reviews about graphics, animation, and Flash topics at his site, Graphic Mania. Rafiq is an Adobe Community Expert, contributor writer at Adobe Design and Developer center and uCertify.com co-author.
Like Adobe Bridge CS4, Adobe Creative Suite 4 comes with another helpful application that allows you to bridge the gap between applications by encoding media to different formats.
In older versions of Adobe Media Encoder (Adobe Flash Video Encoder), it was only possible to encode media to the FLV format. But the new version has been enhanced with more encoding formats to provide various compressions to audio and video such as:
- Adobe FLV and F4V, to be used with Adobe Flash Player
- H.264, to be used with devices such as iPod, mobile phones ...etc.
- MPEG-1 for CDs
- MPEG-2 for DVD and high quality video
- Apple Quick Time
- Windows Media
The new version of Adobe Media Encoder is an extension for the previous version in Adobe Creative Suite 3. The new version has extended capabilities, starting with accepting more formats, different exported formats and accepting other types of content, such as Adobe After Effects Compositions and Adobe Premier Pro sequences.
3D Animation in Flash CS4
by Rafiq Elmansy - 18-Mar-09
Reader Level: 
I have no doubt that many Flash designers have used the classic work-around approaches for adding 3D to Flash, for working with 3D in Flash, or even for displaying 3D on the web with Flash as the medium, simply because Flash is the most efficient way to go. In previous years, we've seen a lot of 3rd party applications, engines and open-source projects to help work with 3D inside of Flash, such as Swift 3D, Papervision 3D, and Away 3D, etc.
Flash CS4 is the first version in Flash history to include a native 3D tool set to help designers transform and rotate objects in the 3D space. While this is exciting news, be aware that Flash CS4 does not create a full-fledged 3D object with the full meaning of 3D, such as having objects with volume, like 3D Studio Max or Swift 3D. While far more basic than that, Flash's new 3D tools do give the stage a 3rd dimension by adding the Z dimension to the stage in Flash Player 10 and higher.
Rafiq Elmansy has been a multimedia graphic designer since 2001 and a graphic and web designer since 1999. His background is in fine art and sculpture. He uses Flash to create graphics and animations for desktop applications, cartoons, games, web sites, e-learning courses, and mobile and Pocket PC applications. He is the founder of Bee Design Studio. He is an Adobe Flash CS3 Certified, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Certified, and the founder of the first Adobe User Group in Egypt. Rafiq also creates computer artworks and writes articles and reviews about graphic, animation, and Flash topics at his articles site, Graphic Mania. Rafiq is an Adobe Community Expert and Contributor writer at Adobe Design and Developer center.
Approximate download size: 6.8MB
Using the Bandwidth Profiler - Part 1
by Tom Green,David Stiller - 16-Mar-09
Reader Level:
As Tom Green mentioned in his end-of-2008 video "A Quick Tour of the Flash CS4 Interface," the latest version of Flash introduces a handful of eye-popping new tools. These are covered in detail in our latest collaborative effort, Foundation Flash CS4 for Designers (ISBN: 1430210931, by Tom Green and David Stiller, published by friends of ED). We've taken an introductory look at some of these new features already in this series — and there's more to come — but no matter what version of Flash you're using, if your content is distributed via the Internet, the time it takes to download and display is totally dependent on two things: a) the assets included in that content, which are under your control, and b) the flow of network traffic, which is not necessarily under your control.
This means you need to not only concentrate on what is in your movie, but also on who wants to access it. This is your chance to fall in love with the user and not the technology. Sure, the "bells and whistles" are usually exciting, but you need to regard the data transmission of your Flash content in much the same manner you regard your local highway. It may have six lanes for traffic and a posted speed limit of 60 mph or 100 kph, but all of that becomes irrelevant during rush hour. Traffic moves at the pace of the slowest car. It is no different with the Internet. Servers can become overloaded. In this excerpt, you'll learn how to take a few precautions.
Approximate download size: 1MB
The Using The Bandwidth Profiler Series:
Using the Bandwidth Profiler - Part 1
Using the Bandwidth Profiler - Part 2
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 2: Button Events
by Joseph Balderson - 04-Mar-09
Reader Level:
Were you ever confused, frustrated or dismayed by a project you had to convert from ActionScript 1 or 2 and migrate it up to ActionScript 3.0? Maybe you've checked out the AS2 Migration reference, and have found it lacking specific examples, or searched on the net and been flabbergasted by the multitude of conversations. Finding the right information, the right tips and the right approach can be challenging when you're under the gun and need a solution, fast.
This series will guide you through some simple formulas and techniques to convert and migrate legacy Flash ActionScript 1 and 2 code and techniques to ActionScript 3.0.
In this article, we'll cover one of the most common ActionScript conversions: button events. You'll learn to convert a simple application with a button, from AS1 and AS2, into AS3. Along the way we'll explain some of the theory and practice of building buttons and events in ActionScript 3.0.
The ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles Series:
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 1: An Introduction to AS3 Migration
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 2: Button Events
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 3: TextFields
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 4: Automation Strategies
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 5: Source Navigation Coming soon
ActionScript 3.0 Conversion Chronicles - Part 6: Button Scripts Coming soon
Decorative Drawing in Flash CS4 Using the Deco Tool and Spray Brush
by Rafiq Elmansy - 25-Feb-09
Reader Level:
Flash designers around the world have been using Flash for years to create decorative drawings and symmetrical shapes manually. Flash CS4 comes with two new decorative tools that are built on the algorithmic calculation, called procedural drawing, engine that uses the Flash JavaScript API.
Both the Deco tool and the Spray Brush tools are based on the same concept. It lets you, with a simple mouse click or mouse drag, create a pattern that is based on a default shape or symbol in the library.
In this article we will dig deeper to understand more about the decorative tools in Flash CS4.
Rafiq Elmansy has been a multimedia graphic designer since 2001 and a graphic and web designer since 1999. His background is in fine art and sculpture. He uses Flash to create graphics and animations for desktop applications, cartoons, games, web sites, e-learning courses, and mobile and Pocket PC applications. He is the founder of Bee Design Studio. He is an Adobe Flash CS3 Certified, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Certified, and the founder of the first Adobe User Group in Egypt. Rafiq also creates computer artworks and writes articles and reviews about graphic, animation, and Flash topics at his articles site, Graphic Mania. Rafiq is an Adobe Community Expert and Contributor writer at Adobe Design and Developer center.
Extracting Images from Flash Files
by Estelle Weyl - 17-Feb-09
Reader Level:
As web developers, we sometimes receive FLA, or Flash files, to include in our web sites. Unfortunately, those Flash developers sometimes forget to include the original files used in creating the Flash Movie: files that would be really helpful in creating images used throughout the rest of the web site.
If you have the original FLA file, it is possible to export library items to create .png, .jpg and other useful files. While most tutorials here teach how to include images in your Flash file, in this tutorial we do the inverse.
In this tutorial I'll show you a simple method of exporting buttons, movie clips and graphics.
Character Animation with Bones in Flash CS4
by Rafiq Elmansy - 11-Feb-09
Reader Level:
Rafiq Elmansy has been a multimedia graphic designer since 2001 and a graphic and web designer since 1999. His background is in fine art and sculpture. He uses Flash to create graphics and animations for desktop applications, cartoons, games, web sites, e-learning courses, and mobile and Pocket PC applications. He is the founder of Bee Design Studio. He is an Adobe Flash CS3 Certified, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Certified, and the founder of the first Adobe User Group in Egypt. Rafiq also creates computer artworks and writes articles and reviews about graphic, animation, and Flash topics at his articles site, Graphic Mania. Rafiq is an Adobe Community Expert and Contributor writer at Adobe Design and Developer center.
Nowadays, Flash is known as a tool that enables us to create different type of content and applications for many types of devices and platforms. But, behind these amazing capabilities that Flash gives to us is a simple definition that we used to hear about Flash: Flash as an animation program to create small size animation files.
The magic behind Flash tools is that it is simple and can be used to create different types of animation tricks, either directly or with a work-around. However, the needs are always there for new tools and new capabilities.
Animators and cartoonists were depending on Flash to create animation, especially for web, taking advantage of the small file size and working with the rest of the team, such as designers and developers, using the same tool. They can get their work out for different types of media such as web, Video and even mobile devices. There was still a lack in cartooning animation tools in Flash. However, animators were always trying to find a work-around and looking for tricks and tips to create the work output they dreamed of.
In this article, we will dig into a tool that will make animators happier than ever, the Bones tool. The Bones tool allows you to create a skeleton for your character, object and even water bubbles to gives it more realistic animation more easily and with less effort.
Using Audio in Flash CS4
by Tom Green,David Stiller - 06-Feb-09
Reader Level:
As Tom Green mentioned in his end-of-2008 video "A Quick Tour of the Flash CS4 Interface," the latest version of Flash introduces a handful of eye-popping new tools. These are covered in detail in our latest collaborative effort, Foundation Flash CS4 for Designers (ISBN: 1430210931, by Tom Green and David Stiller, published by friends of ED). We've taken an introductory look at some of these new features already in this series — and there's more to come — but it may encourage you in the meanwhile to hear that certain workflows haven't really changed much in Flash CS4, even though the user interface was overhauled completely.
One of these workflows pertains to timeline-based audio. In this excerpt, we'll take a look at the two basic types of sound in Flash: event and streaming. In a sense, it doesn't matter what version of Flash you're working with, these principles apply across the board — and amazingly, they haven't been covered before in a Community MX article, so let's jump in!
The Excerpts from Foundation Flash CS4 for Designers Series
Flash CS4: The 3D Rotation Tool
Flash CS4: The 3D Translation Tool
Flash CS4: The Motion Editor Panel - Part 1
Flash CS4: The Motion Editor Panel - Part 2
Using Audio in Flash CS4
Motion Editor in Adobe Flash CS4 - Let's Move It!!
by Rafiq Elmansy - 03-Feb-09
Reader Level:
Rafiq Elmansy has been a multimedia graphic designer since 2001 and a graphic and web designer since 1999. His background is in fine art and sculpture. He uses Flash to create graphics and animations for desktop applications, cartoons, games, web sites, e-learning courses, and mobile and Pocket PC applications. He is the founder of Bee Design Studio. He is an Adobe Flash CS3 Certified, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Certified, and the founder of the first Adobe User Group in Egypt. Rafiq also creates computer artworks and writes articles and reviews about graphic, animation, and Flash topics at his articles site, Graphic Mania. Rafiq is an Adobe Community Expert and Contributor writer at Adobe Design and Developer center.
We have been using the classic motion tweening in Flash on a daily basis for years and years. We asked many times if the timeline could be enhanced to give us more capabilities, such as other animation programs like After Effects have.
Your comments were heard, the new Adobe Flash CS4 comes with two essential changes in the timeline. The first change is the new motion tweening, which we discussed in a previous article, Motion Tweening in Flash CS4 - Think Again!.
The second change, and the one that we will cover in this article, is the Motion Editor panel. This panel extends your capabilities by giving individual graphs for each changed property in the animation. Further more, it gives very deep control to your animation easing, which helps in creating realistic animation using both custom and built-in easing presets.
Motion Tweening in Flash CS4 - Think Again!
by Rafiq Elmansy - 14-Jan-09
Reader Level:
The changes in Flash's motion tweening are the effect of two changes in Adobe Flash CS4. The first change is in the new interface. There is a new location for the panels and a different arrangement for the properties related to motion tweening.
The second change is the new concept of animation in Flash CS4. This concept is imported from other Adobe video products, such as Adobe After Effects. The new animation concept is built on two facts:
- The symbol follows an animation path. This path starts with the first keyframe in the animation (the start of the animation) and ends with the last keyframe in the animation (the end of the animation). This path can be manipulated as if it were a stroke or a symbol.
- The keyframe concept has changed slightly from the previous version of Flash. The old keyframe concept requires you to add keyframes manually when indicating a change in the symbol. Old-style motion tweening is now called classic tweening. The keyframe used in the new motion tweening concept is created automatically when you create a change in the symbol. This happens after you apply motion tweening to the symbol.
In this article, we will show examples of how to create and work with the new tweening concept in Flash CS4.
Rafiq Elmansy has been a multimedia graphic designer since 2001 and a graphic and web designer since 1999. His background is in fine art and sculpture. He uses Flash to create graphics and animations for desktop applications, cartoons, games, web sites, e-learning courses, and mobile and Pocket PC applications. He is the founder of Bee Design Studio. He is Adobe Flash CS3 Certified, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Certified, and the founder of the first Adobe User Group in Egypt. Rafiq also creates computer artwork and writes articles and reviews about graphic, animation, and Flash topics at his articles site Graphic Mania. Rafiq is an Adobe Community Expert and Contributing writer at Adobe Design and Developer center.
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 4
by David Stiller - 19-Dec-08
Reader Level:
When it comes to Flash, one of my programming mentors has helped me significantly with troubleshooting — with making things work when, against all expectation, they simply don't work. In this series, I'd like to explore a single theme — troubleshooting — from a variety of angles, sharing with you what my mentor has shared with me. Along the way, we'll turn up a few quirks involved in working with Flash, but more importantly, we'll review how to approach arriving at useful workarounds, regardless what the issue is.
Here in Part 4, we'll take second look the divide-and-conquer approach we used last time, but performed in a very different way. In this excursion, the cause of the problem arguably isn't code at all, and the pertinent troubleshooting doesn't involve ActionScript. Yes, sometimes the solution to a programming hiccup is like stepping off a cliff: away from the familiar (if treacherous) coding landscape and into ... whatever awaits.
The Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles Series:
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 1
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 2
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 3
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 4
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 3
by David Stiller - 05-Dec-08
Reader Level:
When it comes to Flash, one of my programming mentors has helped me significantly with troubleshooting — with making things work when, against all expectation, they simply don't work. In this series, I'd like to explore a single theme — troubleshooting — from a variety of angles, sharing with you what my mentor has shared with me. Along the way, we'll turn up a few quirks involved in working with Flash, but more importantly, we'll review how to approach arriving at useful workarounds, regardless what the issue is.
Here in Part 3, we'll learn about an important troubleshooting concept called divide and conquer, which often becomes useful when clues are are harder to discover than in the previous two installments.
The Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles Series:
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 1
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 2
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 3
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 4
Developing a Flex-free AS3 Project for Flash Player 10 in Flex Builder 3
by Joseph Balderson - 12-Nov-08
Reader Level:
So you're developing an ActionScript 3.0 project, without using Flash components or the Flex framework, aimed at Flash Player 10. You could do it in Flash authoring, or you could do it in a third party code editor. But did you know you can also do this in Flex Builder?
This tutorial aims to show you that Flex Builder is not just for Flex projects: it can be used for pure ActionScript 3.0 projects, without accidentally using any classes or features of the Flex framework, compiled and deployed for Flash Player 10.
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 1
by David Stiller - 11-Nov-08
Reader Level:
Most of us have at least one mentor, even if it's someone we haven't met in person. In fact, if you're anything like me, you have a different mentor for each field that interests you: someone who inspires you to keep practicing the piano, to get creatively crazy in the kitchen, to learn yet another unicycle trick, and to keep strengthening your grasp on Flash (or Photoshop, or Dreamweaver ... you get the idea).
When it comes to Flash, one of my mentors has helped me significantly with troubleshooting — with making things work when, against all expectation, they simply don't work. In this series, I'd like to explore a single theme — troubleshooting — from a variety of angles, sharing with you what my mentor has shared with me. Along the way, we'll turn up a few quirks involved in working with Flash, but more importantly, we'll review how to approach arriving at useful workarounds, regardless what the issue is.
Here in Part 1, we'll start with a lowly movie clip symbol.
The Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles Series:
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 1
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 2
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 3
Flash Troubleshooter Chronicles - Part 4
Developing for Flash Player 10 in Flex Builder 3
by Joseph Balderson - 05-Nov-08
Reader Level:
As a Flex developer, keeping up with new advances in Flash Player 10 is essential. Thus, it's nice to be able to build to the latest Flash Player, without waiting for the next major release of Flex Builder. This article will show you how to get Flex Builder 3's code assist to recognize Flash Player 10 classes, and to compile for and check for the presence of the Flash 10 Player, without a lot of mucking about with configuration files.
Creating a Smart Skip Intro Button in Flash - Part 2
by David Stiller - 28-Oct-08
Reader Level:
Generally speaking, Flash designers have become more considerate. In the late 1990s, it was common to encounter dozens of Flash websites a day with bloated, pointless intro animations. Ultimately, sure, content was king, users would eventually get to the meat of a website, but all too often, were subjected to unnecessary bells and whistles, simply because Flash was the shiny new kid on the block. Fortunately, bloated intros are largely a thing of the past. Even better, designers have begun offering "Skip Intro" buttons that remember a user's preferences. And now you can, too.
In the last installment, you learned how to use the SharedObject class to create a banner ad that plays through once, but skips its animation on subsequent viewings. You also learned how to temporarily reverse this behavior for testing purposes. Finally, you associated the feature with an "Always Skip Intro" button. In this tutorial, you'll make the shared object a bit smarter, by having the animation play three times before skipping, and then resetting itself after a period of time.
The Creating a Smart Skip Intro Button in Flash Series:
Creating a Smart Skip Intro Button in Flash - Part 1
Creating a Smart Skip Intro Button in Flash - Part 2
Creating a Smart Skip Intro Button in Flash - Part 1
by David Stiller - 15-Oct-08
Reader Level:
Generally speaking, Flash designers have become more considerate. In the late 1990s, it was common to encounter dozens of Flash web sites a day with bloated, pointless intro animations. Ultimately, sure, content was king: users would eventually get to the meat of a web site, but all too often, were subjected to unnecessary bells and whistles, simply because Flash was the shiny new kid on the block. Nowadays, bloated intros are largely a thing of the past, but back then, designers were proud of these intros and assumed users were thrilled to see them. Frankly, it just wasn't so.
Fortunately, designers began to change their ways. Best practices took hold, and the "Skip Intro" button became a fashionable device (in fact, it appeared so often it became an industry joke). If users were really lucky, they'd even see a "Skip Intro Always" button, which remembered their preference for the next visit.
In this two-part series, you'll learn how to create such a button, and we'll examine other uses for the same mechanism. It's easier than you might think!
The Creating a Smart Skip Intro Button in Flash Series:
Creating a Smart Skip Intro Button in Flash - Part 1
Creating a Smart Skip Intro Button in Flash - Part 2
Playing with Lightning
by Tom Green - 26-Aug-08
Reader Level:
If you have ever wondered how one experiences one really upset cartoonist? One who is so upset he has lightning shooting out of his body. If you have After Effects Cs3 and Flash professional CS3, it isn't difficult.
Approximate download size: 15MB
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 9: Using The FLVPlayback Component in Flex
by Joseph Balderson - 25-Aug-08
Reader Level:
Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
Flex comes with its own video player component, the VideoDisplay class, which serves as a simple video player, but it does not possess the capability of the Flash CS3 FLVPlayback component. In this tutorial we will build upon techniques in previous articles, such as editing Flash class files in Flex and using the Flex Component Kit. Using this as a starting point, you will learn how to use the Flash CS3 FLVPlayback component in a Flex application, including some best practices and crucial gotchas to avoid in this conversion and a detailed authoring & compilation diagram to make it all clear.
The Final Flex Application with FLVPlayback Component, Authoring & Compilation Diagram
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 8: Creating Custom Flex Components with Flash CS3
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 9: Using The FLVPlayback Component in Flex
Working with Library and Linkage Changes in ActionScript 3.0
by David Stiller - 15-Aug-08
Reader Level:
Like its forerunner, ActionScript 3.0 supports the attachment of Library assets at runtime, but the mechanics have changed. While ActionScript 2.0 had the familiar MovieClip.attachMovie() and Sound.attachSound() methods, the only class methods that now contain the word "attach" relate to connecting the SWF file to an external device, such as NetStream.attachCamera(), which lets the user transmit webcam input. Not the same thing at all! So, how can you access the Library at runtime in an AS3 document? The answer is gratifyingly elegant, and even in its simple approach, ActionScript 3.0 gives you more elaborate options than before.
This article, adapted from an excerpt of The ActionScript 3.0 Quick Reference Guide (ISBN: 0596517351), discusses how Library linkage has changed in ActionScript 3.0. This quick answer guide is slated for October, 2008, published by O'Reilly, and is written by Community MX partner David Stiller, as well as Rich Shupe, Jen deHaan, and Darren Richardson.
Flash CS3: A Poor Man's Animation Tool
by Tom Green - 01-Aug-08
Reader Level:
Did you know that Flash can actually be used as a "poor man's animation tool" ? You didn't? Let's add to your knowledege,then, shall we?
Approximate download size: 32MB
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 8: Creating Custom Flex Components with Flash CS3
by Joseph Balderson - 01-Aug-08
Reader Level:
Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
In this tutorial we will examine creating a custom Flex component in Flash CS3 using the Flex Component Kit for Flash CS3. You will learn how to design a Flex button having custom states and timeline animation. A flash-flex component takes advantage of the best of both worlds: Flex state-based events and component-based API, combined with Flash timeline animation.
We will also be taking a look at a few best practices for using both Flash CS3- and Flex-compiled files in the same project workflow. And as a bonus, we'll end up with an advanced look at incorporating Flex states with the StateChangeEvent class and the undocumented MovieClip.addFrameScript method.
Introducing The Flex MonkeyButton
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 8: Creating Custom Flex Components with Flash CS3
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 9: Using The FLVPlayback Component in Flex
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project in Flash
by Tom Green - 30-Jul-08
Reader Level:
Ok, so we have an image that oozes. Let's start the ooze with a button click in Flash.
Approximate download size: 20MB
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4
by David Stiller - 22-Jul-08
Reader Level:
In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3-D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as click-and-scrub input fields.
In Part 3, of this series, we loaded the rotation image sequence from external JPG files. Here in Part 4, we're going to step out of the box and give a stretch to the clicking-and-rotating (or clicking-and-scrubbing) concept. In doing so, we'll re-shuffle the code a bit, and refine it in preparation for building this concept into a custom class that can be used for a wide variety of applications.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 5
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 6
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 7
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
by Tom Green - 18-Jul-08
Reader Level:
Click a Flash button and an image appears. Yawn. Booorring. Click a button and the image oozes out from behind the button. Now you have my attention. In this first part of the tutorial we prepare the assets in Fireworks CS3 so they can be converted to ooze in After Effects CS3.
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
by David Stiller - 09-Jul-08
Reader Level:
In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3-D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as click-and-scrub input fields.
In Part 2, of this series, we continued our exploration of the Flash version of a QTVR Object Movie that rotates an F-15A aircraft, adding a "grabber" icon and reversing the rotation direction. Here in Part 3, we'll load the image sequence from external files. In future articles, we'll consider alternate uses for the same programmatic concept and eventually build a custom class to wrap the functionality into a neatly portable bundle.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 5
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 6
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 7
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
by Joseph Balderson - 09-Jul-08
Reader Level:
Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
In the last article, we looked at how to use Flex Builder as the ActionScript 3 editor for a Flash-compiled project. But as some of you may have discovered, there is something missing from that workflow: if you are using any Flash CS3 components, Flex Builder is unable to recognize those component classes, which negates one of the principle advantages of using Flex Builder, which is its code assist. In this article, we will take a look at how to get Flex Builder to recognize the Flash CS3 Component classes for editing ActionScript 3 files in Flash CS3 projects.
How do we get Flex Builder's code assist to recognize Flash CS3 Component classes?
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 8: Creating Custom Flex Components with Flash CS3
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 9: Using The FLVPlayback Component in Flex
ActionScript Basics - Part 4: Building a Custom Button Class For the Dynamic Menu
by Derrick Ypenburg - 03-Jul-08
Reader Level:
Part 3, ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays, of this series left off with a dynamically generated menu using data coming from an associative array. The menu was built using a MovieClip from the library that was coded to work like a button.
This tutorial will continue with the basics of creating a custom class. We will create a custom Button class using the MovieClip symbol and an external ,as class file. This will be a light overview of creating your own custom class just so you can get your hands a little bit dirty with custom class development.
The ActionScript Basics Series:
ActionScript Basics - Part 1: Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 4: Building a Custom Button Class For the Dynamic Menu
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
by David Stiller - 01-Jul-08
Reader Level:
In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3-D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as click-and-scrub input fields.
In Part 1, of this series, we explored the Flash version of a QTVR Object Movie that rotates an F-15A aircraft. Here in Part 2, we'll look at how to compensate for the rotational direction of the image sequence and add a custom "grabber" cursor. In future articles, we'll work through loading the image sequence from external files and will consider alternate uses for the same programmatic concept.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 5
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 6
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 7
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
by Tom Green - 30-Jun-08
Reader Level:
You only need one click to optimize images in the Flash Library? What's with that? Let's start with a hidden gem and move on from there.
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
by Joseph Balderson - 25-Jun-08
Reader Level:
Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
In this article, we will delve into Flash-Flex integration on a more intimate level, using both Flash and Flex in a completely integrated development workflow. Using David Stiller's Click-and-Paint tutorial as a basis for our enhanced application, we will convert a timeline-based Flash project into a class-based project, but using Flex Builder as the code editor. Essentially using the Flash IDE as the assets editor and SWF compiler, and Flex Builder as the ActionScript 3 editor (without using the Flex compiler).
In this article, you will learn how to set up a Flex project workspace to enable the editing of Flash IDE-compiled ActionScript 3 class files. In doing so, you will no doubt discover why Flex Builder is a much more powerful tool for ActionScript class editing than the Flash Actions panel. As one of my Flash colleagues is fond of saying, "Once you go Flex, you never go back." :) But this isn't about making converts to either Flash or Flex development. Whatever your specialty, this series is here to show you that with a little ingenuity, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Flash Actions panel or Flex Builder: for code editing, there is no contest.
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 8: Creating Custom Flex Components with Flash CS3
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 9: Using The FLVPlayback Component in Flex
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
by David Stiller - 24-Jun-08
Reader Level:
In one implementation of the QuickTime VR format, known as QTVR Object Movies, the user can click-and-drag an image to seemingly rotate it, as if spinning the real-life object on a lazy Susan. This simulated 3D interactivity can improve multimedia curb appeal, and makes for a nifty way to showcase merchandise. But it doesn't stop there: the same basic principle can also bring click-and-drag responsiveness to short video sequences and even user input widgets, such as the click-and-scrub input fields of numerous Adobe dialog boxes
Adobe often uses click-and-drag input to update text fields
If you're a Flash developer and interested in click-and-drag functionality, you've come to the right tutorial series! Here in Part 1, we'll start by exploring the Flash version of a QTVR Object Movie that rotates an F-15A aircraft. In future articles, we'll work through a common "gotcha" in regard to direction reversal. We'll also load images from external files and explore alternate uses for the same programmatic concept.
The Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash Series:
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 1
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 2
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 3
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 4
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 5
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 6
Building Click-and-Rotate Content in Flash - Part 7
ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays
by Derrick Ypenburg - 23-Jun-08
Reader Level:
Dynamic menu and content creation that is generated by external or internal data is the next step in harnessing the power Associative Arrays. Part 2 of this series, ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays, looked at creating associative arrays to store multiple properties of information within elements of an array. This tutorial will covering using the data from an associative array to build a dynamic menu.
The ActionScript Basics Series:
ActionScript Basics - Part 1: Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 4: Building a Custom Button Class For the Dynamic Menu
Code Free Flash Video ... Sort Of
by Tom Green - 18-Jun-08
Reader Level:
Can you really stream an HD video through the Flash Media Server and have no code? You read that correctly: Code Free. Intrigued? Read on ...
Approximate download size: 114MB
Wiggle that Text! - Part 4: AS3 Custom Class
by David Stiller - 17-Jun-08
Reader Level:
As the well-known adage dictates, "a picture's worth a thousand words." Often enough, that sentiment is true — but even so, words are powerful in their own right. Especially when they wiggle! In this series, you'll learn how to accomplish an animated text effect with ActionScript ... but there's more to it than that. We're going to take a journey on this exercise, one that begins with timeline code and marches toward the destination of a custom class. Along the way, we'll discover some of the benefits that classes have to offer, focusing specifically on the convenience of re-usability.
Here in Part 4, you'll convert the custom WiggleText class from the last article into an ActionScript 3.0 class.
The Wiggle that Text! Series:
Wiggle that Text! - Part 1: AS2 Timeline Code Prep
Wiggle that Text! - Part 2: AS2 Timeline Code Animation
Wiggle that Text! - Part 3: AS2 Custom Class
Wiggle that Text! - Part 4: AS3 Custom Class
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
by Joseph Balderson - 13-Jun-08
Reader Level:
Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
Flex presents developers with a suite of tools which makes coding applications for the Flash Player a real treat. However, there are times you want to create a skin in Flash, and port it into a Flex application. Not merely embedding image assets via CSS, but utilizing flexible, complex skin assets.
In the previous article, we skinned our Flex component, tested its button states and the scale-9 properties of the background skin. In this final article in the scale-9 skinning trilogy (parts 3-5), we will finish coding the full functionality of our drag-and-resize component. You will learn how to:
- Output realtime event results to a textfield in the component;
- Code a drag control which allows a Flex component to be moved on stage constrained to a defined boundary;
- Calculate the minimum dimensions of a component using a scale-9 skin;
- Apply complex boundary calculations for a component resize handler;
- Update the dimensions of a resizable component at runtime;
- Build a custom DragPanel component with a skinned scale-9 background and functional drag and resize handles.
The final skinned and functional DragPanel component with calculation diagram.
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 8: Creating Custom Flex Components with Flash CS3
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 9: Using The FLVPlayback Component in Flex
Wiggle that Text! - Part 3: AS2 Custom Class
by David Stiller - 10-Jun-08
Reader Level:
As the well-known adage dictates, "a picture's worth a thousand words." Often enough, that sentiment is true — but even so, words are powerful in their own right. Especially when they wiggle! In this series, you'll learn how to accomplish an animated text effect with ActionScript ... but there's more to it than that. We're going to take a journey on this exercise, one that begins with timeline code and marches toward the destination of a custom class. Along the way, we'll discover some of the benefits that classes have to offer, focusing specifically on the convenience of re-usability.
Here in Part 3, we'll build a custom WiggleText class out of the animateText() and tweenIn() functions from last time. In addition, we'll continue to flesh out the benefits of classes in general by defining properties for most of the parameters previously passed to the animateText() function. This allows these parameters to be changed even after the WiggleText object is instantiated, which means our wiggle text functionality becomes even easier to use.
The Wiggle that Text! Series:
Wiggle that Text! - Part 1: AS2 Timeline Code Prep
Wiggle that Text! - Part 2: AS2 Timeline Code Animation
Wiggle that Text! - Part 3: AS2 Custom Class
Wiggle that Text! - Part 4: AS3 Custom Class
Wiggle that Text! - Part 2: AS2 Timeline Code Animation
by David Stiller - 03-Jun-08
Reader Level:
As the well-known adage dictates, "a picture's worth a thousand words." Often enough, that sentiment is true — but even so, words are powerful in their own right. Especially when they wiggle! In this series, you'll learn how to accomplish an animated text effect with ActionScript ... but there's more to it than that. We're going to take a journey on this exercise, one that begins with timeline code and marches toward the destination of a custom class. Along the way, we'll discover some of the benefits that classes have to offer, focusing specifically on the convenience of re-usability.
Here in Part 2, we pick up with 39 text fields generated by an ActionScript 2.0 keyframe. This is where the animation happens.
The Wiggle that Text! Series:
Wiggle that Text! - Part 1: AS2 Timeline Code Prep
Wiggle that Text! - Part 2: AS2 Timeline Code Animation
Wiggle that Text! - Part 3: AS2 Custom Class
Wiggle that Text! - Part 4: AS3 Custom Class
ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays
by Derrick Ypenburg - 22-May-08
Reader Level:
If you are creating any kind of logic or data storage/retrieval with ActionScript, you most likely will achieve that in part using arrays. Arrays are the most common and basic data structure besides variables in any programming language. Arrays allow storage of a series of one or more values in a single data structure. Ordinary arrays however pose logical limitations. Arrays in their most basic form ideally work with lists of like values such as a list of names and numbers. Arrays really aren't powerful tools when storing multiple details of items in a list.
This article will cover using associative arrays. Associative arrays can be used to store a list of like values with each value storing its own details about itself as properties.
Many of the basics and methods of working with arrays in this article are the same as Part 1 of this series. This article will not go into detail of the repetitive techniques and methods so refer to Part 1, ActionScript Basics - Part 1: Arrays, if you need more information.
The ActionScript Basics Series:
ActionScript Basics - Part 1: Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 4: Building a Custom Button Class For the Dynamic Menu
Playing Videos Sequentially
by Tom Green - 19-May-08
Reader Level:
In this, the last of six excerpts from Foundation Flash CS3 Video published by friendsofED, CMX partner Tom Green and his coauthor, Adam Thomas, answer that age-old question: How do I play a sequence of videos?
The Foundation Flash CS3 Video Excerpts:
Going Small - Playing Video On a Cell Phone
Going Big - Enter H.264
Reflections On an Alpha Video Theme
Using ActionScript to Dynamically Add a Masking Object
Letting Video Show Its Age
Playing videos sequentially
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
by Joseph Balderson - 15-May-08
Reader Level:
Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
Flex presents developers with a suite of tools which makes coding applications for the Flash Player a real treat. However, there are times you want to create a skin in Flash, and port it into a Flex application. Not merely embedding static images into your Flex application, but utilizing flexible, responsive skin assets.
In this first article, we will design a skin in Flash CS3 for a Flex component, which is able stretch intelligently using a concept known as scale-9. We will look at several techniques for designing assets in Flash using scale-9 effectively, avoiding certain important gotchas along the way. We will also demonstrate how one Flash skin file may be applicable to multiple Flex components. In the following article we will implement this skin for a Flex custom panel component with drag and resize handles.
The completed Flash-Flex component skin.
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 8: Creating Custom Flex Components with Flash CS3
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 9: Using The FLVPlayback Component in Flex
Letting Video Show Its Age
by Tom Green - 13-May-08
Reader Level:
In this, the fifth of six excerpts from Foundation Flash CS3 Video published by friendsofED, CMX partner Tom Green and his coauthor, Adam Thomas, explore how to age a video playing through the Flash Player.
The Foundation Flash CS3 Video Excerpts:
Going Small - Playing Video On a Cell Phone
Going Big - Enter H.264
Reflections On an Alpha Video Theme
Using ActionScript to Dynamically Add a Masking Object
Letting Video Show Its Age
Playing videos sequentially Coming Soon
Wiggle that Text! - Part 1: AS2 Timeline Code Prep
by David Stiller - 13-May-08
Reader Level:
As the well-known adage dictates, "a picture's worth a thousand words." Often enough, that sentiment is true — but even so, words are powerful in their own right.
The Wiggle that Text! Series:
Wiggle that Text! - Part 1: AS2 Timeline Code Prep
Wiggle that Text! - Part 2: AS2 Timeline Code Animation
Wiggle that Text! - Part 3: AS2 Custom Class
Wiggle that Text! - Part 4: AS3 Custom Class
Using ActionScript to Dynamically Add a Masking Object
by Tom Green - 05-May-08
Reader Level:
In this, the fourth of six excerpts from Foundation Flash CS3 Video published by friendsofED, CMX partner Tom Green and his coauthor, Adam Thomas, show you how to load an Illustrator CS3 file that can be used as a video mask ... at runtime.
The Foundation Flash CS3 Video Excerpts:
Going Small - Playing Video On a Cell Phone
Going Big - Enter H.264
Reflections On an Alpha Video Theme
Using ActionScript to Dynamically Add a Masking Object
Letting Video Show Its Age Coming Soon
Playing videos sequentially Coming Soon
Flex-Flash Integration, Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
by Joseph Balderson - 01-May-08
Reader Level:
Sometimes, when you're coding a Flex application, don't you just wish you could use a Flash animation, right there? And in Flash, don't you sometimes wish you could use that one class in Flex, or that one component, which would make your life so much easier? It is at such times that a developer encounters the limitations of their tools, be it in Flex or in Flash. This series aims to explore the possibilities inherent in an integrated Flash-Flex workflow, bridging the gap between the two technologies, enabling a greater range of development options.
This article offers a clearly understandable tutorial on skinning Flex 2.01 components with Flash CS3. Later in this series we will move on to more advanced component skinning available in Flex 3.
The completed application with custom-skinned buttons.
The Flash-Flex Integration Series:
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 1: Workflows
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 2: Flex 2 Component Skinning
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 3: Flex Component Skinning with Scale-9
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 4: Skinning the Scale-9 Flex Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 5: Building the DragPanel Component
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 6: Editing Flash Code in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 7: Coding With Flash Components in Flex Builder
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 8: Creating Custom Flex Components with Flash CS3
Flash-Flex Integration - Part 9: Using The FLVPlayback Component in Flex
Going Big — Enter H.264
by Tom Green - 30-Apr-08
Reader Level:
In this second excerpt from Foundation Flash CS3 Video, CommunityMX partner and his coauthor, Adam Thomas, show you how to add HD video to your web sites.
Approximate download size: 223MB
The Foundation Flash CS3 Video Excerpts:
Going Small - Playing Video On a Cell Phone
Going Big - Enter H.264
Reflections On an Alpha Video Theme
Using ActionScript to Dynamically Add a Masking Object
Letting Video Show Its Age Coming Soon
Playing videos sequentially Coming Soon
Reflections on an Alpha Video Theme
by Tom Green - 30-Apr-08
Reader Level:
In this third excerpt from Foundation Flash CS3 Video by friendsofED, Cmax partner Tom Green and his coauthor, Adam Thomas, show you how to reflect alpha channel video using ActionScript 3.0.
The Foundation Flash CS3 Video Excerpts:
Going Small - Playing Video On a Cell Phone
Going Big - Enter H.264
Reflections On an Alpha Video Theme
Using ActionScript to Dynamically Add a Masking Object
Letting Video Show Its Age Coming Soon
Playing videos sequentially Coming Soon
Creating Click-and-Paint Flash Content - Part 2: AS3
by David Stiller - 29-Apr-08
Reader Level:
Ah, coloring books! In my neighborhood, a family restaurant keeps a stack handy for kids to use while they wait for their food to arrive. Coloring books were certainly a fun pastime for me growing up, both on rainy and sunny afternoons. There's nothing like the smell of a fresh box of Crayolas, and nothing beats the satisfaction of tearing off paper as the colored wax slowly wears down. Even so, online coloring books are plenty fun in their own way, and Flash provides the easiest tool for creating a click-and-paint version of this childhood favorite.
This two-part series began last time with a tutorial for an implementation in ActionScript 2.0. In this article, we'll update the programming for ActionScript 3.0, and use the opportunity to grapple with a few migration issues.
The Click-and-Paint Flash Content Series:
Creating Click-and-Paint Flash Content - Part 1: AS2
Creating Click-and-Paint Flash Content - Part 2: AS3
Going Small - Playing Video On a Cell Phone
by Tom Green - 25-Apr-08
Reader Level:
In this, the first of six excerpts from Foundation Flash CS3 Video published by friendsofED, CMX partner Tom Green and his coauthor, Adam Thomas, explore how to play an FLV file through a cell phone.
Approximate download size: 11MB
The Foundation Flash CS3 Video Excerpts:
Going Small - Playing Video On a Cell Phone
Going Big - Enter H.264
Reflections On an Alpha Video Theme
Using ActionScript to Dynamically Add a Masking Object
Letting Video Show Its Age Coming Soon
Playing videos sequentially Coming Soon
Interactive Flash Maps - Part 2: Creating, Storing and Displaying Map Data
by Derrick Ypenburg - 21-Apr-08
Reader Level:
In Part 2 of creating interactive Flash mapping applications, you will be introduced to KML (the mark-up language for storing mapping data) and UMapper, an online service which we will use to build your maps and export the KML map data to use in your own custom mapping applications using the UMap component.
This article assumes you are familiar with adding the UMap component to a Flash application and have read Part 1 of this series, Interactive Flash Maps Part 1.
Approximate download size: 4.4MB
The Interactive Flash Maps Series:
Interactive Flash Maps - Part 1
Interactive Flash Maps - Part 2: Creating, Storing and Displaying Map Data
Creating Click-and-Paint Flash Content - Part 1: AS2
by David Stiller - 18-Apr-08
Reader Level:
Ah, coloring books! In my neighborhood, a family restaurant keeps a stack handy for kids to use while they wait for their food to arrive. Coloring books were certainly a fun pastime for me growing up, both on rainy and sunny afternoons. There's nothing like the smell of a fresh box of Crayolas, and nothing beats the satisfaction of tearing off paper as the colored wax slowly wears down. Even so, online coloring books are plenty fun in their own way, and Flash provides the easiest tool for creating a click-and-paint version of this childhood favorite.
In this two-part series, we'll begin by stepping through an approach in ActionScript 2.0. In the follow-up article, we'll update the programming for ActionScript 3.0, taking the opportunity to note and work through a number of challenges presented by the code migration.
The Click-and-Paint Flash Content Series:
Creating Click-and-Paint Flash Content - Part 1: AS2
Creating Click-and-Paint Flash Content - Part 2: AS3
Using Sound in ActionScript 3: Part I
by Steve Wilkison - 16-Apr-08
Reader Level:
One of the most common reasons for incorporating Flash into a web site is to provide sound. It might be something as simple as a "sound effect" on a button or as complicated as a full blown MP3 jukebox. You might decide to build your entire web site with Flash, or you may only need to use some Flash elements on your (X)HTML page. Either way, to use sound effectively in Flash you'll need to have at least a basic understanding of ActionScript, Flash's programming language and the Sound Classes provided by Flash.
Much of the ActionScript related to Sound has changed in ActionScript 3. Whether you are completely new to ActionScript or migrating from ActionScript 2 to ActionScript 3, this series of articles will show you how to use ActionScript 3 to work dynamically with external sounds. You'll need to make sure you have Flash CS3 to work through these tutorials.
Steve Wilkison has been working in the graphic design field for over fifteen years. He has been involved with over forty CD releases as art director and/or graphic designer, including packages for such artists as Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Wayne Hancock and Kate Campbell. He
made the move from print design to web design in 2001 and never looked back. Since then he has designed and created numerous e-cards and web sites utilizing many of today's cutting edge technologies. Today he concentrates almost exclusively on web site design and development utilizing XHTML, CSS, Flash, PHP, JavaScript and Ajax through his company Digital Vision Media. He currently teaches web design at Watkins College of Art & Design in Nashville, TN.
Understanding Bitmap Fills in ActionScript
by David Stiller - 15-Apr-08
Reader Level:
As Tom Green demonstrates in his video tutorial "Bitmap Fills in Flash," Bitmap fills are easy to achieve with the drawing tools — but what about ActionScript? Is it even possible to script bitmap fills? If so, is it insanely burdensome? The answers are: yes, it's possible (yay!); and no, it's not burdensome at all (double yay!). So what's the scoop? How does it work? You've come to the right tutorial.
Interactive Flash Maps - Part 1
by Derrick Ypenburg - 08-Apr-08
Reader Level:
When a client approached me to develop an application that maps out the waterways of Ontario for boating, services, towns, attractions, accomodations, etc, I was "on board" for the task. As we got deeper into the project and ran into limitations of the custom mapping application I was drawing and programming vs. the costs to overcome them with the custom mapping utility we were creating, it was time to look for other possible solutions. That's when I found UMap, a universal mapping component developed by the folks at Advanced Flash Components (AFC).
The Interactive Flash Maps Series:
Interactive Flash Maps - Part 1
Interactive Flash Maps - Part 2: Creating, Storing and Displaying Map Data
Controlling a New Browser Window's Characteristics with Flash: Part 2 - AS2
by David Stiller - 01-Apr-08
Reader Level:
It's easy enough, in Flash, to open a hyperlink into a new browser window. As a matter of fact, Flash uses the same syntax as HTML: specify "_blank" as the optional target parameter of the navigateToURL() function in AS3 or the getURL() function prior to AS3, just like specifying "_blank" for the target attribute of HTML's <a href="sample.html" target="_blank">. This results in a new window in most browsers — but if you want to control the characteristics of that new window, such as its dimensions, or whether or not to include certain attributes (navigation toolbar, menu bar, status bar, etc.), you'll have to use JavaScript.
If your hyperlink originates from Flash content, it means you'll have to instruct Flash to convey your intentions to JavaScript on your behalf. This two-part series gives you the how-to on doing just that. Here in Part 2, we'll pick up from last time, reviewing what code needs to change in order to produce the same results in ActionScript 2.0.
The Controlling a New Browser Window's Characteristics with Flash Series:
Controlling a New Browser Window's Characteristics with Flash - Part 1: AS3
Controlling a New Browser Window's Characteristics with Flash - Part 2: AS2
Controlling a New Browser Window's Characteristics with Flash: Part 1 - AS3
by David Stiller - 14-Mar-08
Reader Level:
It's easy enough, in Flash, to open a hyperlink into a new browser window. As a matter of fact, Flash uses the same syntax as HTML: specify "_blank" as the optional target parameter of the navigateToURL() function in AS3 or the getURL() function prior to AS3, just like specifying "_blank" for the target attribute of HTML's <a href="sample.html" target="_blank">. This results in a new window in most browsers, true enough — but if you want to control the characteristics of that new window, such as its dimensions, or whether or not to include certain attributes (navigation toolbar, menu bar, status bar, etc.), you'll have to use JavaScript.
If your hyperlink originates from Flash content, it means you'll have to instruct Flash to convey your intentions to JavaScript on your behalf. This two-part series gives you the how-to on doing just that. Here in Part 1, we'll cover an ActionScript 3.0 approach; next time, we'll break it down for ActionScript 2.0.
The Controlling a New Browser Window's Characteristics with Flash Series:
Controlling a New Browser Window's Characteristics with Flash - Part 1: AS3
Controlling a New Browser Window's Characteristics with Flash - Part 2: AS2
A Streaming Video
by Tom Green - 12-Mar-08
Reader Level:
"Flash Media Server" and "No Brainer" are two terms you would never see in the same sentence. Not any more. Really!!!
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
by Tom Green - 05-Mar-08
Reader Level:
Using Photoshop CS3 to add a pattern or texture to an image destined for Flash is about as useful as lighting your BBQ with an atom bomb. Discover how Flash CS3 and Fireworks CS3 is an unbeatable combination.
Approximate download size: 13.6MB
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash CS3: Part 4- Scaling on the Fly
by Tom Green - 28-Feb-08
Reader Level:
Have you ever wondered how they do those really cool image scaling effects on the photography sites? It isn't as hard as it looks.
Approximate download size: 17.2MB
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon
ActionScript Basics - Part 1: Arrays
by Derrick Ypenburg - 28-Feb-08
Reader Level:
If you are are creating any kind of logic or data storage/retrieval with ActionScript, you most likely will achieve that in part using arrays. Arrays are the most common and basic data structure, besides variables, in any programming language. Arrays allow storage of a series of one or more values in a single data structure.
In Part 1, we will cover the basics of creating arrays, adding, removing and returning values, and using methods of the array class. In Part 2, we will get more advanced with arrays and put arrays to use in a real world scenario.
The ActionScript Basics Series:
ActionScript Basics - Part 1: Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 2: Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 3: Building Dynamic Menus and Associative Arrays
ActionScript Basics - Part 4: Building a Custom Button Class For the Dynamic Menu
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 3: AS3
by David Stiller - 21-Feb-08
Reader Level:
For many developers, progressive enhancement is a good idea that often gets set aside. After all, doesn't it require duplicated effort? Not necessarily. In this series, you're going to build a simple Flash slideshow that takes its cues entirely from the HTML document that contains it. Update the HTML and the Flash updates too — automatically. If Flash Player is not installed, the user sees the images anyway, only without the Flash pizzazz.
Here in Part 3, you'll learn how to migrate the ActionScript you wrote last time from 2.0 to 3.0 — code that retrieved images and captions from the XHTML file you loaded in Part 1.
The Progressive Enhancement with Flash Series:
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 1
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 2: AS2
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 3: AS3
Interactive Blurs
by Tom Green - 21-Feb-08
Reader Level:
We've all seen those Flash sites where, if you roll over an image, it either blurs or comes into focus. You may be wondering, "How do they do that?". It uses magic. ActionScript magic. In fact the ActionScript is dead simple. Intrigued? Read on.
Approximate download size: 12MB
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 2: AS2
by David Stiller - 19-Feb-08
Reader Level:
For many developers, progressive enhancement is a good idea that often gets set aside. After all, doesn't it require duplicated effort? Not necessarily. In this series, you're going to build a simple Flash slideshow that takes its cues entirely from the HTML document that contains it. Update the HTML and the Flash updates too — automatically. If Flash Player is not installed, the user sees the images anyway, only without the Flash pizzazz.
The Progressive Enhancement with Flash Series:
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 1
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 2: AS2
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 3: AS3
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
by Tom Green - 14-Feb-08
Reader Level:
One of the fundamental maxims of this crazy business is:Let the software do the work. Let's go one even better. Let's let the software create a grid of objects on the stage and use them as a sort of transition effect. Did I mention it was code-free? Intrigued? Read on...
Approximate download size: 11.7MB
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon
From Photo to Art and Back Again
by Tom Green - 07-Feb-08
Reader Level:
How would you like to have an image transform into line art and back to an image? It's a snap in Flash CS3.
Approximate download size: 14.8MB
The Playing With Bitmaps In Flash CS3 Series:
From Photo to Art and Back Again
A Page Transition Effect in Flash CS3
Interactive Blurs
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 4: Scaling on the Fly
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 5: Adding Textures
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 6: Batch Processing
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7a: Creating an Oozing Image
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7b: Creating an Oozing Image Coming Soon
Playing with Bitmaps in Flash - Part 7c: Completing the Project In Flash Coming Soon
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 1
by David Stiller - 04-Feb-08
Reader Level:
One of the main tenets of good Web design involves the principle of progressive enhancement. In general, the idea goes like this: make sure the user can access a web site's essential content regardless of browser. It shouldn't matter whether the user visits your site with Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Netscape, or pick your favorite flavor. In fact, the site's content should be accessible even without JavaScript or peripheral plugins like Flash Player. Once the basics are covered, use CSS to enhance the visual design. Then, and only then, introduce the whizz-bang stuff — nifty rollovers, AJAX interactivity, Flash — and do it in a way that doesn't penalize users who don't have (or choose to disable) the needed machinery.
For many developers, progressive enhancement is a good idea that often gets set aside. After all, doesn't it require duplicated effort? Not necessarily. In this series, you're going to build a simple Flash slideshow that takes its cues entirely from the HTML document that contains it. Update the HTML and the Flash updates too — automatically. If Flash Player is not installed, the user sees the images anyway, only without the Flash pizzazz.
Here in Part 1, you'll learn how to get the HTML data into Flash. In future articles, you'll learn how to pull out the relevant image references and captions and display them with ActionScript 2.0 and 3.0.
The Progressive Enhancement with Flash Series:
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 1
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 2: AS2
Progressive Enhancement with Flash - Part 3: AS3
Google Analytics - Tracking Flash/Flex Online
by Derrick Ypenburg - 30-Jan-08
Reader Level:
Tracking user statistics in a SWF file is a problem as old as Flash itself. Being that a SWF is a self-enclosed file, traffic tracking utilities and services cannot 'peek' inside of an embedded SWF and see what's going on. Even if they could, the events and happening's of the SWF would make no sense to a tracker and it could not really effectively track what's going on. Sure you can track server stats of requested files such as loaded SWF's, images and videos but its hard to match them up with specific user sessions.
Not being able to track statistics effectively from a Flash website is a deal breaker when it comes to selling your Flash services. You need worry no longer though. This is where the Google Analytics comes in!
Adding Flash Cue Points in Soundbooth CS3
by Tom Green - 23-Jan-08
Reader Level:
An audio editing app that adds cue points to an FLV file? What's with that? Actually, it makes a lot of sense.
Approximate download size: 24MB
HD Video and the FLVPlayback Component
by Tom Green - 17-Jan-08
Reader Level:
Let me guess, you have seen some of the HD stuff in Flash and thought: "Whoa! Too complex for me." What if I were to tell you that it can be done ... code-free ... using nothing more than a few mouse clicks. Let's go one better... let me show you...
Loading and Controlling External SWFs in AS3
by Derrick Ypenburg - 17-Jan-08
Reader Level:
Loading external files into Flash with ActionScript 3.0 has changed quite a bit from ActionScript 1 and 2.The Flash API contains a new Loader class with which to load JPEGs, GIFs, and PNGs, a URLRequest class for making URL requests and a new event model. SWFs are loaded using the same technique, but finding the right way to call methods and properties of a loaded SWF can be challenging. I have been hand-coding ActionScript for years and this task made me feel like a newbie trying to figure it out.
If you are struggling with the same problem, then please read on and stop the pain.
Cross Fading Audio in ActionScript - Part 2: ActionScript 3.0
by David Stiller - 16-Jan-08
Reader Level:
It's easy enough to cross fade audio in a Flash timeline. Just create a layer for each sound and use the Edit button in the Property inspector to create two custom fades. You'll have to select the keyframe that introduces each sound. Make the one sound fade out and the other in — and position the fades so they overlap. The result is a smooth transition between two audio clips, but it ends up being inflexible in the published SWF. The cross fade happens when it happens, and that's that.
If you want to accomplish the same effect in response to user input, you'll have to use ActionScript. But how? The approach is markedly different between ActionScript 2.0 and 3.0. Last time in Part 1, we took a look at the older AS2 approach. Here in Part 2, we'll update the same principles to work in AS3.
Approximate download size: 4.6MB
The Cross Fading Audio in ActionScript Series:
Cross Fading Audio in ActionScript - Part 1: ActionScript 2.0
Cross Fading Audio in ActionScript - Part 2: ActionScript 3.0
Using XML and the ComboBox to Choose Multiple Videos in Flash CS3
by Tom Green - 15-Jan-08
Reader Level:
You are about to discover that Flash and XML are an unbeatable combination when it comes to playing a list of videos.
GIF Animations in Flash
by Tom Green - 10-Jan-08
Reader Level:
Of course Flash is an animation tool. The thing is, web animations prior to Flash were animated GIF files. The odd thing is, Flash still works with animated GIF files.
Cross Fading Audio in ActionScript - Part 1: ActionScript 2.0
by David Stiller - 08-Jan-08
Reader Level:
It's easy enough to cross fade audio in a Flash timeline. Just create a layer for each sound and use the Edit button in the Property inspector to create two custom fades. You'll have to select the keyframe that introduces each sound. Make the one sound fade out and the other in — and position the fades so they overlap. The result is a smooth transition between two audio clips, but it ends up being inflexible in the published SWF. The cross fade happens when it happens, and that's that.
If you want to accomplish the same effect in response to user input, you'll have to use ActionScript. But how? The approach is markedly different between ActionScript 2.0 and 3.0. Here in Part 1, we'll start with AS2. Next time, we'll update the same principles to work in AS3.
Approximate download size: 2MB
The Cross Fading Audio in ActionScript Series:
Cross Fading Audio in ActionScript - Part 1: ActionScript 2.0
Cross Fading Audio in ActionScript - Part 2: ActionScript 3.0
Bitmap Fills in Flash
by Tom Green - 04-Jan-08
Reader Level:
Why use solid colors and gradients to fill objects on the Flash stage. How about a bitmap instead?
Approximate download size: 2.2MB
Making Your Own Utility Classes - Part 2: Custom Loader Utility
by Derrick Ypenburg - 03-Jan-08
Reader Level:
If you've read some of my past articles about ActionScript, you may have heard me say that I am a designer who knows how to program. In other words, I'm in denial about being a programmer. I cannot be in denial any longer though because I have a confession to make... I love making my own utility classes. I can program these things all day long.
Utility classes are classes that perform re-usable, common tasks in Flash. Say you have an application that has status and message panels that pop-up in multiple locations within the application. Rather than re-program the panels for every situation, construct an object from a utility class that takes care of the panel functionality. For me personally, I also love creating separate utility classes as I like to separate tasks and functionality in my code as much as I can. ActionScript is easier to de-bug, read and program when functionality is in a focused and easy-to-digest manner.
Part 2 of this series looks at building a custom loader class to re-use for loading image and swf assets throughout an application. After creating the basics of this custom class, you should feel comfortable in taking the class to the next step and tweaking it out and adding to it for your own dev purposes. As with other utiltiy classes I create in my dev environment, a custom utility class like the one we will build in this article keeps redundant and verbose coding to a minimum and can add some unique functionality to my loading sequences.
The Making Your Own Utility Classes Series:
Making Your Own Utility Classes - Part 1
Making Your Own Utility Classes - Part 2: Custom Loader Utility
Turning Bitmaps into Flash Vector Art
by Tom Green - 21-Dec-07
Reader Level:
The conversion of bitmap artwork into vectors, within Flash CS3, is a bit of "Black Art". In this tutorial I show you how it is done and leave you to make the decisions.
Approximate download size: 11.3MB
Flash Video and Dreamweaver CS3
by Tom Green - 21-Dec-07
Reader Level:
A lot of confusion has arisen around inserting Flash Video into Dreamweaver CS3. Here are the straight goods.
Bitmaps and Flash
by Tom Green - 20-Dec-07
Reader Level:
Why is it that working with bitmaps in Flash is often regarded as a "Black Art". Not quite. In this one I show you how editing of a bitmap can be done in both Flash CS3 and Fireworks CS3.
Approximate download size: 12MB
Making Your Own Utility Classes - Part 1
by Derrick Ypenburg - 20-Dec-07
Reader Level:
If you've read some of my past articles about ActionScript, you may have heard me say that I am a designer who knows how to program. In other words, I'm in denial about being a programmer. I cannot be in denial any longer though because I have a confession to make... I love making my own utility classes. I can program these things all day long.
Utility classes are classes that perform re-usable, common tasks in Flash. Say you have an application that has status and message panels that pop-up in multiple locations within the application. Rather than re-program the panels for every situation, construct an object from a utility class that takes care of the panel functionality. For me personally, I also love creating separate utility classes as I like to separate tasks and functionality in my code as much as I can. ActionScript is easier to de-bug, read and program when functionality is in a focused and easy-to-digest manner.
The Making Your Own Utility Classes Series:
Making Your Own Utility Classes - Part 1
Making Your Own Utility Classes - Part 2: Custom Loader Utility Coming Soon
Faking a Document Class in ActionScript 2.0
by David Stiller - 13-Dec-07
Reader Level:
Flash CS3 offers a remarkably convenient way to separate code from FLA assets completely. This feature is called the document class, and it's only available for FLA files configured for ActionScript 3.0. In AS3 documents, the Property inspector displays a Document class field when the Stage is selected, which facilitates the new feature; in AS2 and AS1 documents, this field is disabled. In a nutshell, the document class concept allows you control the main timeline by way of a custom class definition that extends Sprite or MovieClip. This class becomes your main timeline at runtime — and you can accomplish this without a shred of code in the FLA itself (see Steve Schelter's "Flash CS3 - The Document Class" series for details).
In team situations, especially, this allows designers to steer clear of programming altogether and opens the way for programmers do their thing away from drawing tools and timelines, which keeps everyone happy. But what if you haven't yet upgraded to Flash CS3? Or what if you have, but your project requirements dictate ActionScript 2.0? While the full benefit of a true document class cannot be realized before AS3, the feature can be faked as early as Flash MX 2004 by way of a single movie clip's Linkage properties. Let's take a look.
Understanding Gradient Fills in ActionScript - Part 1
by David Stiller - 10-Dec-07
Reader Level:
For the most part, the drawing API in ActionScript 2.0 and 3.0 is a straightforward business. Sure, complex shapes are a pain to draw programmatically, but the syntax is easy enough. You have your imaginary pen and tell it where to go, using the moveTo(), lineTo(), and curveTo() methods of their respective classes (MovieClip class in AS2, Graphics class in AS3). Fills are easy, too. The beginFill() method accepts two parameters: color and opacity. But gradients ... whoa, gradients are another matter! The beginGradientFill() method accepts at least five parameters, one of which involves matrix math. If you've ever had to build gradients with ActionScript and found yourself lost right out the gate, this is the tutorial for you.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, we'll break down all the parameters of the beginGradientFill() method, including the matrix, which — bafflingly — can be supplied in three different ways in AS2.
In Part 2, we'll write a JavaScript Flash (JSFL) script to create the tedious ActionScript for you.
The Understanding Gradient Fills in ActionScript Series:
Understanding Gradient Fills in ActionScript - Part 1
Understanding Gradient Fills in ActionScript - Part 2 Coming Soon
Looping a Video Object
by Tom Green - 28-Nov-07
Reader Level:
You are playing an FLV through a video object and you need to loop the video. Here's how...
Approximate download size: 7MB
Looping Video in the FLVPlayback Component
by Tom Green - 21-Nov-07
Reader Level:
One of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to the playback of a video file is: "How can I loop the video?" Here's how it is done using the Flash CS3 FLVPlayback component.
Approximate download size: 9.8MB
Native PSD Import into Flash CS3
by Derrick Ypenburg - 19-Nov-07
Reader Level:
Importing Photoshop files directly into Flash is now a reality with Flash CS3. Flash's new ability to import a PSD file by its layers and be able to import them as their own bitmap image as well as editable text layers, and into their own MovieClips, is extremely convenient for anyone who develops their interfaces and designs in Photoshop.
This article is quite similar to my previous article about importing Illustrator files into Flash. There are differences when importing Photoshop files however.
Importing Native AI Files into Flash CS3
by Derrick Ypenburg - 16-Nov-07
Reader Level:
Importing Illustrator files is easier than ever with Flash CS3. Flash's new ability to import an AI file by its layers, sub layers and un-used objects and be able to import them on their own layers, in their own MovieClips and as flattened bitmaps, is extremely convenient for anyone who develops their interfaces in Illustrator. I always start my Flash interface development in Illustrator. Even with the new and improved drawing tools in Flash CS3, nothing beats the drawing capabilities of Illustrator.
Using Video Maru - Part 6: Creating an XML Playlist
by Joseph Balderson - 16-Nov-07
Reader Level:
Finding ways to make it easy for Flash designers to create a simple FLV video player has been a much sought-after goal for many who work with the Adobe suite of technologies. Nowadays, designers and developers have an array of options available to them, from the new and improved v3 (or 'CS3') FLVPlayback component, to a flurry of third party video player components, all designed to make a Flash designer's job easier and more productive.
One such third party player is the video.Maru component. In all my years developing with Flash, I have yet to encounter a component which makes it simpler and easier to create a custom FLV video player. We'll show that it's so easy to create a custom player with video.Maru, you'll be looking for the guide wires!
In this tutorial, we'll be playing videos sequentially from a simple XML playlist.
The Using Video Maru Series:
Using Video Maru - Part 1: The Basics
Using Video Maru - Part 2: Adding Playback Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 3: Timeline & Sound Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 4: Effects
Using Video Maru - Part 5: Building a YouTube Player
Using Video Maru - Part 6: Creating an XML Playlist
Using Video Maru - Part 7: Exploring the Code API Coming Soon
Creating Smoke in Flash CS3: Part 1
by Tom Green - 08-Nov-07
Reader Level:
Ever wanted to add steam hissing out of a vent or smoke rising from a smoldering log in Flash? Read on...
Approximate download size: 1.2MB
Fireworks CS3 Symbols to Flash CS3
by Tom Green - 07-Nov-07
Reader Level:
Why don't the Flash guys get that Fireworks CS3 symbols can easily move into Flash as symbols? While we are at it, why is it the Fireworks guys aren't doing this as often as they should as well?
Approximate download size: 7.6MB
That Annoying stopDrag() Quirk in AS3.0
by Derrick Ypenburg - 02-Nov-07
Reader Level:
I was surprised to see that in AS3.0, the onReleaseOutside mouse event was left out of the MouseEvent class. This was a very important mouse event when it came to drag-and-drop functionality. To find this out, and think of a work-around in AS3.0 has been annoying for many people to find / figure out. Fortunately, the solution is simple.
This article will cover the quick work-around to solve the missing onReleaseOutside functionality.
Using Video Maru - Part 5: Building a YouTube Player
by Joseph Balderson - 24-Oct-07
Reader Level:
Finding ways to make it easy for Flash designers to create a simple FLV video player has been a much sought-after goal for many who work with the Adobe suite of technologies. Nowadays, designers and developers have an array of options available to them, from the new and improved v3 (or 'CS3') FLVPlayback component, to a flurry of third party video player components, all designed to make a Flash designer's job easier and more productive.
One such third party player is the video.Maru component. In all my years developing with Flash, I have yet to encounter a component which makes it simpler and easier to create a custom FLV video player. We'll show that it's so easy to create a custom player with video.Maru, you'll be looking for the guide wires!
In this tutorial, we're going to revisit the basics, for those who missed the first article in this series, and see how video.Maru can also be configured to play a video straight from YouTube. And without using a single line of code.
The video.Maru component playing a YouTube video.
The Using Video Maru Series:
Using Video Maru - Part 1: The Basics
Using Video Maru - Part 2: Adding Playback Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 3: Timeline & Sound Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 4: Effects
Using Video Maru - Part 5: Building a YouTube Player
Using Video Maru - Part 6: Creating an XML Playlist
Using Video Maru - Part 7: Exploring the Code API Coming Soon
The Object Oriented Designer Part 6: Creating Buttons out of the Reflective Thumbs
by Derrick Ypenburg - 22-Oct-07
Reader Level:
Well we're almost done the Reflective Thumbnail Menu portion of the Object Oriented Designer series. In this second last tutorial, we will make the thumbnail images respond to mouse events and link to a URL when they are clicked. The URL info will be added to the XML document that feeds the menu its info and the rest will be animating with ActionScript and some tweaks and changes to the AS files.
The Object Oriented Designer Series
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 1: Animated Buttons
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 2: Making the Button Class
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 3: Creating Reflective Images with AS 3
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 4: Building a Reflective Image Menu with AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 5: Building a Reflective Image Menu with XML and AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 6: Creating Buttons out of the Reflective Thumbs
Using Video Maru - Part 4: Effects
by Joseph Balderson - 18-Oct-07
Reader Level:
Finding ways to make it easy for Flash designers to create a simple FLV video player has been a much sought-after goal for many who work with the Adobe suite of technologies. Nowadays, designers and developers have an array of options available to them, from the new and improved v3 (or 'CS3') FLVPlayback component, to a flurry of third-party video player components, all designed to make a Flash designer's job easier and more productive.
One such third party player is the video.Maru component. In all my years developing with Flash, I have yet to encounter a component which makes it simpler and easier to create a custom FLV video player. We'll show that it's so easy to create a custom player with video.Maru, you'll be looking for the guide wires!
In this tutorial, we'll be adding effects to our video.Maru player, all of which are built right into the component. We will show you how to add a reflection effect and place your controls in a fadeTray, which fade and appear when needed. Still with no code required. :)
A video.Maru player with fadeTray & reflection effects.
The Using Video Maru Series:
Using Video Maru - Part 1: The Basics
Using Video Maru - Part 2: Adding Playback Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 3: Timeline & Sound Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 4: Effects
Using Video Maru - Part 5: Building a YouTube Player
Using Video Maru - Part 6: Creating an XML Playlist
Using Video Maru - Part 7: Exploring the Code API Coming Soon
Exploring Flash CS3 Primitives - Part 2: Oval Primitive and Animation
by David Stiller - 15-Oct-07
Reader Level:
Flash CS3 introduces two new drawing tools: Rectangle Primitive and Oval Primitive. At first glance, they don't appear much different from the familiar Rectangle and Oval tools. After all, the new ones allow you to draw (you guessed it!) rectangles and ovals. So what makes these mysterious new tools so special? Doesn't "primitive" mean "simple" or "unsophisticated"? Isn't this a step backward? Hardly!
The Rectangle Primitive and Oval Primitive tools
In this two-part series, we'll take a look at what these newcomers do, how they work, and discover their uses and quirks. Last time, in Part 1, we focused on the Rectangle Primitive. Here in Part 2, we'll pick up with the Oval Primitive and examine a few interesting points on the animation of shapes drawn by these tools.
What if Andy Warhol Used the BitmapData Class in Flash CS3
by Derrick Ypenburg - 12-Oct-07
Reader Level:
What if Flash was around in the days of Andy Warhol? What if it was Flash CS3 with all the new and improved Bitmap, BitmapDataChannel and bitmapData classes? Well I can't put myself in the mind of Andy Warhol, but his artwork may help make sense and inspire uses for these classes.
In this tutorial, I will cover the basic use of the Bitmap, BitmapData and BitmapDataChannel classes to strip a color image down to three displays of its red, green and blue channels as separate images.
Using Video Maru - Part 3: Timeline & Sound Controls
by Joseph Balderson - 10-Oct-07
Reader Level:
Finding ways to make it easy for Flash designers to create a simple FLV video player has been a much sought-after goal for many who work with the Adobe suite of technologies. Nowadays, designers and developers have an array of options available to them, from the new and improved v3 (or 'CS3') FLVPlayback component, to a flurry of third party video player components, all designed to make a Flash designer's job easier and more productive.
One such third party player is the video.Maru component. In all my years developing with Flash, I have yet to encounter a component which makes it simpler or easier to create a custom FLV video player. We'll show that it's so easy to create a custom player with video.Maru, you'll be looking for the guide wires!
In this tutorial, we'll be adding timeline and sound controls to the Video Maru component, for what are more commonly known as the seek bar, progress bar, volume slider and mute controls. Still with no code required. :)
A video.Maru player with timeline & sound controls.
The Using Video Maru Series:
Using Video Maru - Part 1: The Basics
Using Video Maru - Part 2: Adding Playback Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 3: Timeline & Sound Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 4: Effects
Using Video Maru - Part 5: Building a YouTube Player
Using Video Maru - Part 6: Creating an XML Playlist
Using Video Maru - Part 7: Exploring the Code API Coming Soon
Using Video Maru - Part 2: Adding Playback Controls
by Joseph Balderson - 04-Oct-07
Reader Level:
Finding ways to make it easy for Flash designers to create a simple FLV video player has been a much sought-after goal for many who work with the Adobe suite of technologies. Nowadays, designers and developers have an array of options available to them, from the new and improved v3 (or 'CS3') FLVPlayback component, to a flurry of third party video player components, all designed to make a Flash designer's job easier and more productive.
One such third-party player is the video.Maru component. In all my years developing with Flash, I have yet to encounter a component which makes it simpler and easier to create a custom FLV video player. We'll show that it's so easy to create a custom player with video.Maru, you'll be looking for the guide wires!
In this tutorial, we'll be adding playback controls to the Video Maru component. Still without using a single line of code! :)
A video.Maru player with playback controls
The Using Video Maru Series:
Using Video Maru - Part 1: The Basics
Using Video Maru - Part 2: Adding Playback Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 3: Timeline & Sound Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 4: Effects
Using Video Maru - Part 5: Building a YouTube Player
Using Video Maru - Part 6: Creating an XML Playlist
Using Video Maru - Part 7: Exploring the Code API Coming Soon
From Fireworks to a Flash Animation in a Flash
by Tom Green - 03-Oct-07
Reader Level:
So you have a layer in Fireworks that would make for a cool Flash animation. This issue is: How? Read on..
Exploring Flash CS3 Primitives - Part 1: Rectangle Primitive
by David Stiller - 01-Oct-07
Reader Level:
Flash CS3 introduces two new drawing tools: Rectangle Primitive and Oval Primitive. At first glance, they don't appear much different from the familiar Rectangle and Oval tools. After all, the new ones allow you to draw (you guessed it!) rectangles and ovals. So what makes these mysterious new tools so special? Doesn't "primitive" mean "simple" or "unsophisticated"? Isn't this a step backward? Hardly!
The Rectangle Primitive and Oval Primitive tools
In this two-part series, we'll take a look at what these newcomers do, how they work, and discover their uses and quirks. Here in Part 1, we'll focus on the Rectangle Primitive. Next time, we'll pick up with the Oval Primitive and examine a few interesting points on the animation of shapes drawn by these tools.
Using Video Maru - Part 1: The Basics
by Joseph Balderson - 27-Sep-07
Reader Level:
Finding ways to make it easy for Flash designers to create a simple FLV video player has been a much sought-after goal for many who work with the Adobe suite of technologies. Nowadays, designers and developers have an array of options available to them, from the new and improved v3 (or 'CS3') FLVPlayback component, to a flurry of third-party video player components, all designed to make a Flash designer's job easier and more productive.
One such third-party player is the video.Maru component. In all my years developing with Flash, I have yet to encounter a component which makes it simpler and easier to create a custom FLV video player. We'll show that it's so easy to create a custom player with video.Maru, you'll be looking for the guide wires!
In this first tutorial, we'll take a basic look at the Video Maru component, getting a video to play without any controls. And without using a single line of code.
A simple player built with the video.Maru component.
The Using Video Maru Series:
Using Video Maru - Part 1: The Basics
Using Video Maru - Part 2: Adding Playback Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 3: Timeline & Sound Controls
Using Video Maru - Part 4: Effects
Using Video Maru - Part 5: Building a YouTube Player
Using Video Maru - Part 6: Creating an XML Playlist
Using Video Maru - Part 7: Exploring the Code API Coming Soon
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 5: Building a Reflective Image Menu with XML and AS3.0
by Derrick Ypenburg - 26-Sep-07
Reader Level:
In this segment of the Object Oriented Designer series, we will build on the previous tutorial and focus on populating our menu with numerous external images that are defined in an external XML file. This will allow our menu to be dynamic and updateable from outside of the FLA file.
The final installment in this series will make thumbnails clickable for events or links and make the menu scrollable.
If you are not familiar with the previous installments in this series, please read them before you continue with this tutorial starting here.
The Object Oriented Designer Series
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 1: Animated Buttons
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 2: Making the Button Class
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 3: Creating Reflective Images with AS 3
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 4: Building a Reflective Image Menu with AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 5: Building a Reflective Image Menu with XML and AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 6: Creating Buttons out of the Reflective Thumbs
Extending the AS3 FLVPlayback Component in Flash CS3: Part 1 - Adding a Background Color
by Robert Reinhardt - 24-Sep-07
Reader Level:
In this FLVPlayback component series, you'll learn how to enhance the capabilities of the AS3 FLVPlayback component that ships with Adobe Flash CS3 Professional. Over the next several tutorials, you'll learn how to create an arbitrary class called FLVPlaybackPro and add custom methods and properties to accomplish common Flash Video tasks. The FLVPlaybackPro class extends the FLVPlayback class. In this tutorial, you learn how to create the FLVPlaybackPro class and build a background and backgroundColor property.
NOTE: This series augments the material discussed in my book, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Video Studio Techniques (Adobe Press). Some of the ActionScript 3.0 (AS3) custom classes I built and included on the book's DVD-ROM are discussed and expanded in this series.
MovieClip Buttons: Understanding a Few ActionScript 3.0 Nuances
by David Stiller - 21-Sep-07
Reader Level:
The first thing that comes to mind when many developers think of buttons in Flash is the common button symbol. It's name, after all, is perfectly apt: this is the symbol — out of the triad Movie Clip, Graphic, and Button — that is primed for making, well, buttons. This symbol has a set of specialized timeline frames that automatically update the visual states of Up, Over, and Down, which correspond to the mouse's movement over the button. No complaints there ... the button symbol is good for the basic widget it describes. The thing is, it's also possible to make buttons from movie clips. Robert Reinhardt describes why and how in the first rate "Building Better Buttons" article from this "Better Practices for Flash Designers" series (in a nutshell, movie clips' timelines can be more powerfully controlled, which allows for smoother transitions between states).
Robert's article was written for Flash 8, which means it covers ActionScript 2.0. Even so, the concept holds just as well for Flash CS3 — specifically ActionScript 3.0 — even though the syntax changes a bit. That said, some of the new functionality in the MovieClip class may stump you if you're keen to experiment on your own with movie clip buttons in Flash CS3. Let's examine two possible pitfalls, so you'll know how to sidestep them if they cross your path.
Taming the FLVPlayback Component's Need to Download
by David Stiller - 12-Sep-07
Reader Level:
Don't get me wrong, the FLVPlayback component that ships with Flash is a good thing. If you want video content on your site and you're not especially into programming, this component makes things very easy. Just drag an instance to the Stage, flip to the Parameters tab of the Property inspector, and enter the path to your FLV (Flash video) file. In the same Parameters area, you can even choose from a number of skins that affect the functionality and appearance of your video player. If you like, go minimal, with no skin and a video that plays automatically. Otherwise, go full bore and give your users a skin that allows pausing, seeking, volume adjustment and muting. The amount of control you give is up to you — all without a shred of ActionScript. So, what's not to like?
Two things, the importance of which only you can determine. First, FLVPlayback adds something of a heavy footprint to your SWF. Whatever it weighed before the component, FLVPlayback adds 35KB in ActionScript 2.0 documents and 49KB in ActionScript 3.0 documents. Assuming you're okay with that, the other issue is this: even if you configure it not to autoplay, FLVPlayback always initiates a download of your FLV file. That's right, even if it starts in pause mode, your video file will still be hogging up bandwidth, especially if you have two or three video players on your page. Given that your visitor may not even choose to watch, why put that strain on your server? Here's a clever way to step around the issue.
Using HD Video in Flash CS3
by Tom Green - 11-Sep-07
Reader Level:
So Adobe gets the Flash community cranked up last week by allowing you to add H.264 encoded video to your Flash movies. Here's a quick "How To"...
Using FLV Cue Points to Direct Hyperlinks
by David Stiller - 05-Sep-07
Reader Level:
Tom Green likes to mix and match multimedia formats. In From After Effects to Flash: Poetry in Motion Graphics, he and co-author Tiago Dias bounce happily back and forth between video files and SWF files. And why not? Flash has supported true video by way of the FLV format for several versions now. No longer is Flash the exclusive domain of animators and programmers - videographers, too, can join the fun.
Taking a cue from Tom and Tiago, this tutorial explores an atypical approach to an otherwise run-of-the-mill Flash presentation, one in which various timeline keyframes present hyperlinks to other web pages. The catch is that the Flash file in this tutorial is only comprised of a single frame. The visuals are determined by a video file, and the hyperlinks are determined by cue points.
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 4: Building a Reflective Image Menu with AS 3.0
by Derrick Ypenburg - 31-Aug-07
Reader Level:
In this segment of the Object Oriented Designer - Creating a Reflective Image Menu, we will build on the previous tutorial and turn the reflective image application into a dynamic menu set-up. We will focus on: converting the previous set-up into a class based set-up, the loading of the external images, the XML configuration menu. This will set us up for the last installment, where we will make the menu interactive and scrollable.
The Object Oriented Designer Series
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 1: Animated Buttons
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 2: Making the Button Class
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 3: Creating Reflective Images with AS 3
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 4: Building a Reflective Image Menu with AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 5: Building a Reflective Image Menu with XML and AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 6: Creating Buttons out of the Reflective Thumbs
Using XML in Flash CS3 to Build a Slideshow
by Tom Green,David Stiller - 14-Aug-07
Reader Level:
In this, the final excerpt from their new book, Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers (friendsofED), Tom Green and David Stiller walk you through the creation of a slideshow that makes exetensive use of many of the new XML-handling features of Flash CS3.
Approximate download size: 3MB
The Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers Excerpts
Motion Tween Effects in Flash CS3
Optimizing Flash Content for Use in Video
Adding Audio to Flash CS3
XML Captions for Video
Notes from the Photoshop File Importer
Create a Soft Mask in Flash CS3
Going Mobile in Flash CS3
Using XML in Flash CS3 to Build a Slideshow
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 3: Creating Reflective Images with AS 3
by Derrick Ypenburg - 13-Aug-07
Reader Level:
In this segment of the Object Oriented Designer series we will tackle a pretty tricky solution for creating reflective images using AS3.0 and an external image. These reflective image effects and reflective menus are the 'hot' thing to do right now. This tutorial will cover the loading of a single external image, creating a reflection of it by copying the image, flipping it, blurring it, and masking it with a gradient mask so you can get the effect as shown with David Stiller's photo below. No frame and property effects. Just 100% ActionScript!
Further installments will include classing out the ActionScript, dynamically populating a menu list with a number of loaded CMX Partner thumbnails, and mouse interactivity. For now, I will pick on David's image for the tutorial.
The Object Oriented Designer Series
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 1: Animated Buttons
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 2: Making the Button Class
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 3: Creating Reflective Images with AS 3
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 4: Building a Reflective Image Menu with AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 5: Building a Reflective Image Menu with XML and AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 6: Creating Buttons out of the Reflective Thumbs
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 2: Making the Button Class
by Derrick Ypenburg - 08-Aug-07
Reader Level:
The Object Oriented Designer series of articles will focus on the OOP method of writing ActionScript from an Graphical User Interface (GUI) designers point of view. I am personally in denial about being a "coder". I consider myself a designer that learned ActionScript to make my GUI's look and work better in an interactive environment. I have no other interest in programming except for the front-end aspect of things.
GUI Designers in Flash are not only responsible for design and layout, they are also responsible for how a design is interacted with, and what kind of things happen when a design is interfaced by the end-user. This series will also be done in ActionScript 3 so this is a perfect place to move your current AS2 skills into the world of CS3.
Part 1 of this series started out with a fully animated button using Mouse events and the Tween/Easing classes with ActionScript 3. The ActionScript in Part 1 was timeline based. In Part 2, we will move the frame based ActionScript into a custom Button class and make the animated button a true class.
The Object Oriented Designer Series
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 1: Animated Buttons
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 2: Making the Button Class
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 3: Creating Reflective Images with AS 3
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 4: Building a Reflective Image Menu with AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 5: Building a Reflective Image Menu with XML and AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 6: Creating Buttons out of the Reflective Thumbs
Going Mobile in Flash CS3
by Tom Green,David Stiller - 07-Aug-07
Reader Level:
New to Flash CS3 is Device Central. In this, the seventh of eight excerpts from their new book Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers (friendsofED), Community MX authors Tom Green and David Stiller take you through the mobile pace from content to upload.
The Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers Excerpts
Motion Tween Effects in Flash CS3
Optimizing Flash Content for Use in Video
Adding Audio to Flash CS3
XML Captions for Video
Notes from the Photoshop File Importer
Create a Soft Mask in Flash CS3
Going Mobile in Flash CS3
Using XML in Flash CS3 to Build a Slideshow
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 1: Animated Buttons with AS3
by Derrick Ypenburg - 06-Aug-07
Reader Level:
The Object Oriented Designer series of articles will focus on the OOP method of writing ActionScript from a Flash designers point of view. I am personally in denial about being a "coder". I consider myself a designer that learned ActionScript to make my designs look, and work, better in an interactive environment. I have no other interest in programming except for the front-end aspect of things.
Designers in Flash are not only responsible for design, they are also responsible for how a design is interacted with, and what kind of things happen when a design is interfaced by the end user. This series will also be done in ActionScript 3 so this is a prefect place to move your current AS2 skills into the world of CS3.
The first code-driven bit of design/interactivity I will cover is animated buttons.
The Object Oriented Designer Series
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 1: Animated Buttons
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 2: Making the Button Class
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 3: Creating Reflective Images with AS 3
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 4: Building a Reflective Image Menu with AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 5: Building a Reflective Image Menu with XML and AS 3.0
The Object Oriented Designer - Part 6: Creating Buttons out of the Reflective Thumbs
Sharing Fonts in ActionScript 3.0 - Part 2: Displaying a Loaded Font in a TextField Instance
by Robert Reinhardt - 02-Aug-07
Reader Level:
In this tutorial series, you learn how to use the new Font class in ActionScript 3.0 and Flash Player 9. The Font class enables you to embed one or more fonts in a Flash movie (SWF file), and reuse the font with other SWF files. In this tutorial, you learn how to utilize a font from a loaded font SWF file with a dynamically-created text field.
NOTE: In order to follow along with the tutorials in this series, you need to use Adobe Flash CS3 Professional. The font sharing techniques discussed in this series require ActionScript 3.0 and Flash Player 9.
The Sharing Fonts in ActionScript 3.0 Series:
Sharing Fonts in ActionScript 3.0 - Part 1: Creating a Font SWF
Sharing Fonts in ActionScript 3.0 - Part 2: Displaying a Loaded Font in a TextField Instance
Creating Custom UIComponents in Flex 2: Lesson 2 - Basic Setup
by Steve Schelter - 01-Aug-07
Reader Level:
When working in the Flex 2 environment, there are many times where you might find yourself in need of a component that does not exist. The Flex SDK offers plenty of extensibility for building custom UI components that can plug seamlessly into the existing framework. In the second lesson of this series, we will set up the foundation for a custom component.
The Creating Custom UIComponents in Flex 2 Series:
Creating Custom UIComponents in Flex 2: Lesson 1 - Overview
Creating Custom UIComponents in Flex 2: Lesson 2 - Basic Setup
Creating Custom UIComponents in Flex 2: Lesson 3 - Dispatching Events
Creating Custom UIComponents in Flex 2: Lesson 4 - Property Exposure
Creating Custom UIComponents in Flex 2: Lesson 5 - Styles
Creating Custom UIComponents in Flex 2: Lesson 6 - Effect Triggers
XML Captions for Video
by Tom Green,David Stiller - 20-Jul-07
Reader Level:
Embed an XML document into an FLV and you too can add closed captions to your FLV files. Find out how in this, the fourth of our excerpts, from Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers by friendsofED written by Community MX partners David Stiller and Tom Green.
The Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers Excerpts
Motion Tween Effects in Flash CS3
Optimizing Flash Content for Use in Video
Adding Audio to Flash CS3
XML Captions for Video
Notes from the Photoshop File Importer
Create a Soft Mask in Flash CS3
Going Mobile in Flash CS3
Using XML in Flash CS3 to Build a Slideshow
Adding Audio to Flash CS3
by Tom Green,David Stiller - 19-Jul-07
Reader Level:
In this, the third of eight excerpts from the soon-to-be released Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers (friendsofED) book, Community MX partners Tom Green and David Stiller walk you through the basics of audio in Flash.
The Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers Excerpts
Motion Tween Effects in Flash CS3
Optimizing Flash Content for Use in Video
Adding Audio to Flash CS3
XML Captions for Video
Notes from the Photoshop File Importer
Create a Soft Mask in Flash CS3
Going Mobile in Flash CS3
Using XML in Flash CS3 to Build a Slideshow
Sharing Fonts in ActionScript 3.0 - Part 1: Creating a Font SWF
by Robert Reinhardt - 17-Jul-07
Reader Level:
In this tutorial series, you learn how to use the new Font class in ActionScript 3.0 and Flash Player 9. The Font class enables you to embed one or more fonts in a Flash movie (SWF file), and reuse the font with other SWF files. In this tutorial, you learn how to create a font SWF file and load it into another Flash movie.
The Sharing Fonts in ActionScript 3.0 Series:
Sharing Fonts in ActionScript 3.0 - Part 1: Creating a Font SWF
Sharing Fonts in ActionScript 3.0 - Part 2: Displaying a Loaded Font in a TextField Instance
Sound Visualization in Flash CS3
by Tom Green - 13-Jul-07
Reader Level:
Sometimes a little foreknowledge is a good thing. Let's all take a deep breath and explore a sound visualization exercise in Flash Professional CS3.
Preparing Source Video for Flash Video: Part 1 - Converting MPEG Files
by Robert Reinhardt - 13-Jul-07
Reader Level:
In this Flash Video series, you learn how to process source video files before you encode the content to the Flash Video (FLV) format. Source video can be saved in a wide range of formats across Windows and Macintosh platforms, and each format can use specific audio and video codecs. In this tutorial, you learn how to prepare an MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 file for Flash Video encoding.
NOTE: All of the tutorials in this series require Apple QuickTime Player. I recommended purchasing Apple QuickTime Player Pro directly from Apple. The Pro version enables you to export audio and video files. This series augments the material discussed in my book, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Video Studio Techniques (Adobe Press).
The Preparing Source Video for Flash Video Series:
Preparing Source Video for Flash Video: Part 1 - Converting MPEG Files
Preparing Source Video for Flash Video: Part 2 - Preventing Quality Loss
Optimizing Flash Content for Use in Video
by Tom Green,David Stiller - 10-Jul-07
Reader Level:
In this, the second of eight excerpts from Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers by friendsofEd, Community MX partners, Tom Green and David Stiller, show you how to convert a Flash movie into a Quicktime movie. This exercise doesn't just think "outside of the box", it moves to the room where the box is located.
Approximate download size: 31MB
The Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers Excerpts
Motion Tween Effects in Flash CS3
Optimizing Flash Content for Use in Video
Adding Audio to Flash CS3
XML Captions for Video
Notes from the Photoshop File Importer
Create a Soft Mask in Flash CS3
Going Mobile in Flash CS3
Using XML in Flash CS3 to Build a Slideshow
Flash CS3: The Document Class - Part 2
by Steve Schelter - 09-Jul-07
Reader Level:
The document class is a powerful new feature in Flash CS3 that utilizes the new IDE's integration into ActionScript 3.0. After the previous lesson, we've covered what the document class is and how it works. In this lesson, we will explore just how powerful the document class can be for building complex, modular applications.
The Flash CS3 Document Class Series:
Flash CS3: The Document Class - Part 1
Flash CS3: The Document Class - Part 2
Motion Tween Effects in Flash CS3
by Tom Green,David Stiller - 05-Jul-07
Reader Level:
In a series of excerpts from their new book, Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers, Community MX partners Tom Green and David Stiller show you how to apply the Glow effect to Jay Maynard, better known as Tron Guy.
The Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers Excerpts
Motion Tween Effects in Flash CS3
Optimizing Flash Content for Use in Video
Adding Audio to Flash CS3
XML Captions for Video
Notes from the Photoshop File Importer
Create a Soft Mask in Flash CS3
Going Mobile in Flash CS3
Using XML in Flash CS3 to Build a Slideshow
TodCon 2007 Session: Introduction to Design Patterns for Flash and Flex
by Joseph Balderson - 26-Jun-07
Reader Level:
Whether you consider yourself to be a Flash developer or a Flex programmer, eventually you will discover that projects have become too complex, too feature-rich, to rely exclusively on the Flash timeline, or on Flex MXML markup. Taking your project that extra step may require using ActionScript class files and structured Object-Oriented Programming.
However, using OOP principles without a plan, without a way of structuring your classes, can very quickly lead to convoluted and unmanageable code. The solution is to use a tool called Design Patterns.
This session will dispel the myth that design patterns are only for geeks with PHDs, and explain how and why to use them in both Flash and Flex projects. Participants will come away with powerful tools to simplify and organize their coding projects to be better suited for efficiency and team development.
This is a presentation made at TodCon 2007 in Las Vegas, June 12, 2007.
Navigating to Flash Video Cue Points by Name
by David Stiller - 13-Jun-07
Reader Level:
The FLVPlayback component that shipped with Flash 8 ushered in a tidy mechanism for seeking to video cue points. All you have to do is reference the FLVPlayback instance by its instance name and invoke the seekToNavCuePoint() method. This method lets you pass in a specific time, cue point name, or cue point object as the parameter, and boom — you're in. The video jumps to that point in the FLV file. FLVPlayback is a boon, because it makes things easy, but there are times when, for various reasons, you may want to avoid the 33KB penalty for using a component (the ActionScript 2.0 version is 33KB; the ActionScript 3.0 version, available in Flash CS3, weighs 49KB).
The NetConnection and NetStream classes provide an easy way to display video at a svelte 3KB, but neither of them supports a seek-related method that accepts cue point names. If you know the cue point's time value, you're fine — but names sure are convenient! What to do? If this is your predicament, ActionScript 3.0 provides an escape hatch via the onMetaData event.
Approximate download size: 3.7MB
Flash CS3: The Document Class - Part 1
by Steve Schelter - 12-Jun-07
Reader Level:
The document classL is a powerful new feature in Flash CS3 that utilizes the new IDE's integration into ActionScript 3.0. Some of you may have noticed the presence of the so-called document class pop up at various different places just from casually playing around with the new IDE, but what is it? In this lesson, we will discuss the significance of this class and its role in AS 3.0 development.
The Flash CS3 Document Class Series:
Flash CS3: The Document Class - Part 1
Flash CS3: The Document Class - Part 2
Creating Audio Visualizations in AS 3.0
by Steve Schelter - 07-Jun-07
Reader Level:
In the past, the creation of audio visualizations were only made possible using external tools. The new AS 3.0 sound utilities, however, offer greater advantages for handling such view-driven effects. The process becomes even greater simplified through the use of the Spectrum Tools library, which I have built for free use to the Flash community.
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 6: Using Fullscreen
by Joseph Balderson - 06-Jun-07
Reader Level: 
Ever wondered how some Flash applications "break free" of the constraints of a fixed stage size, flowing from one size to another depending on browser size or application state? Creating these fluid layouts in Flash is considered by some to be one of those hidden mysteries of Flash coding. By others, it is regarded as a milestone to be achieved on the path of ActionScript mastery. For me, it is both.
We will take you through the steps, from intermediate to advanced, necessary to create application layouts in Flash which can exhibit "fullsize" or "fluid" functionality. In this series we will explore the basic principles of creating fluid layouts in Flash, build a sample application with a class architecture using components, finishing off with an exploration of the new fullscreen feature available in Flash Player 9.
In the last tutorial we extended the Stage class, thereby adding to its functionality. In this article we will explore the new Flash Player 9 fullscreen feature, adding this functionality to our new stage class, and to our application.
The completed application in fullscreen mode.
The Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash Series:
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 1: The Basics
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 2: Proportional Layouts
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 3: Application Development
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 4:Creating the Movie Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 5: Extending the Stage Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 6: Using Fullscreen
Approximate download size: 2MB
Flash CS3: Customizing Components Just Got Easier!
by David Stiller - 01-Jun-07
Reader Level:
Since early in its life, Flash has proven itself the leader in Web animation. In recent years, that dominance has nudged into the realm of online applications as well. For user-facing applications, you need user interface (UI) elements, plain and simple — something to receive input from the person viewing your content or to display information in a specific way, such as in a grid or selection box.
The UI components that ship with Flash CS3 are an improvement over the Flash 8 set in a number of ways: size (much smaller), performance (faster, better) and ease of customization. Let's take a brief overview of this last point, customization, by way of the Button component in Flash CS3 Professional. The following tutorial is slightly modified from an excerpt of the components chapter in Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers, by Tom Green and David Stiller, to be published summer 2007 by friends of ED.
Approximate download size: 674k
Flash CS3: What Happened to the Syntax Checker?
by David Stiller - 30-May-07
Reader Level:
In Flash 8, and even earlier, the Check syntax button of the Actions panel was a little friendlier than it is today. Even in Flash CS3 Professional, if you set the document's publish settings to ActionScript 2.0 (File > Publish Settings, Flash tab), you can get a taste of the "good old days" — but ActionScript 3.0 documents represent a new era, where all is not as it seems; an era that many of you may feel is frustrating.
This issue presented in this article affects Flash documents (FLAs) when their publish settings are configured for ActionScript 3.0 and stand-alone classes (AS text files) when edited in the Script window (a full-screen version of the Actions panel that temporarily locks out access to other panels).
The following tutorial is slightly modified from an excerpt of the "ActionScript Basics" chapter in Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers, by Tom Green and David Stiller, to be published summer 2007 by friends of ED.
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
by Robert Reinhardt - 25-May-07
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to use the Camera class in Flash Player. The Camera class has been available in Flash Player since version 6, yet many Flash designers and developers don't know much about it. The Camera class gives you access to the user's webcam, to do everything from publishing a live video stream to detecting movement in the camera frame. In this tutorial, you learn how to record a live publisher stream directly to a Flash Media Server application.
NOTE: In order to follow along with the tutorials in this series, you should have a webcam and microphone compatible with Flash Player 6 and higher. Just about any webcam and microphone works with the Flash Player.
SPECIAL OFFER: The first twenty readers of this tutorial series to send me an e-mail via the feedback link on this tutorial will receive a free time-limited Flash Media Server account at Influxis. You can use this account to publish live video streams. Please allow one to three days for me to verify your subscriber (or pay per use) status with Community MX. (There are still accounts available as of May 24th, 2007!)
The Working With the Camera Class Series:
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
by Robert Reinhardt - 21-May-07
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to use the Camera class in Flash Player. The Camera class has been available in Flash Player since version 6, yet many Flash designers and developers don't know much about it. The Camera class gives you access to the user's webcam, to do everything from publishing a live video stream to detecting movement in the camera frame. In this tutorial, you learn how to control the audio quality and bandwidth usage of the Microphone class used with a live publisher stream.
NOTE: In order to follow along with the tutorials in this series, you should have a webcam and microphone compatible with Flash Player 6 and higher. Just about any webcam and microphone works with the Flash Player.
SPECIAL OFFER: The first twenty readers of this tutorial series to send me an e-mail via the feedback link on this tutorial will receive a free time-limited Flash Media Server account at Influxis. You can use this account to publish live video streams. Please allow one to three days for me to verify your subscriber (or pay per use) status with Community MX. (There are still accounts available as of May 20th, 2007!)
The Working With the Camera Class Series:
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
Animation Magic in Flash CS3 Professional
by Tom Green - 16-May-07
Reader Level:
How's this for a magic trick? Scripted motion without writing a single line of ActionScript code.
Approximate download size: 4.9MB
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 5: Extending the Stage Class
by Joseph Balderson - 15-May-07
Reader Level:
Ever wondered how some Flash applications "break free" of the constraints of a fixed stage size, flowing from one size to another depending on browser size or application state? Creating these fluid layouts in Flash is considered by some to be one of those "hidden mysteries" of Flash coding. By others it is regarded as a milestone to be achieved on the path of ActionScript mastery. For me, it is both.
We will take you through the steps, from intermediate to advanced, necessary to create application layouts in Flash which can exhibit "fullsize" or "fluid" functionality. In this series we will explore the basic principles of creating fluid layouts in Flash, build a sample application with a class architecture using components, finishing off with an exploration of the new "fullscreen" feature available in Flash Player 9.
In the last tutorial we created an encapsulation of certain document properties into a static Movie class. In this tutorial we will continue to lay the groundwork for our AS 2.0 "Fluid stage layout engine" by extending the Stage class, thereby adding to its functionality. And along the way we will take a look at some basic ActionScript 2.0 object-oriented programming techniques and best practices.
The Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash Series:
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 1: The Basics
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 2: Proportional Layouts
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 3: Application Development
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 4:Creating the Movie Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 5: Extending the Stage Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 6: Using Fullscreen
Flash CS3: What Happened to Linkage Identifier?
by David Stiller - 14-May-07
Reader Level:
Intermediate users of ActionScript 2.0 are generally familiar with the concept of attaching Library assets at runtime. The process requires right-clicking (PC) or Ctrl+clicking (Mac) a Library asset and selecting Linkage... from the context menu. This opens the Linkage Properties dialog, which has historically been the place to provide a unique Identifier label. This label allows the asset to be summoned by ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0 in conjunction with methods such as MovieClip.attachMovie() or Sound.attachSound().
In Flash CS3 Professional, the addition of ActionScript 3.0 has knocked this paradigm on its ear. Attaching assets is still possible — in fact, the new mechanism arguably makes more sense — but until you "get it," you might find yourself blinking at the documentation of your shiny new CS3 install, wondering where the "attach" methods went. Sure, you could set your FLA's Publish Settings for ActionScript 2.0, but you want to take advantage of the new language, right? Let's do just that.
Animation: The Fireworks CS3 to Flash CS3 Connection
by Tom Green - 08-May-07
Reader Level:
Who says you can't create Flash CS3 animations using Fireworks CS3?
The AS3 Event System - Part 5: Managing Event Flow
by Steve Schelter - 03-May-07
Reader Level:
In the fifth installment of the AS3 Event System series, we'll be covering advanced techniques of event flow management.
The AS3 Events System Series:
The AS3 Event System - Part 1: The Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 2: Timer Class
The AS3 Event System - Part 3: Custom Dispatchers
The AS3 Event System - Part 4: Event Flow Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 5: Managing Event Flow
Using E4X to Retrieve XML Data in Flash CS3
by David Stiller - 02-May-07
Reader Level:
Back in early 2005, Danny Patterson took us on an early examination of something called E4X (see ECMAScript for XML (E4X): Overview). He was looking ahead to a technology that would greatly simplify XML data retrieval when it made its introduction to Flex developers in ActionScript 3.0.
With the recent commercial release of Flash CS3, this enhancement has become available to Flash developers too. You're going to love what E4X means to your XML-in-Flash workflow! The following tutorial is slightly modified from an excerpt of the XML chapter in Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers, by Tom Green and David Stiller, to be published summer 2007 by friends of ED.
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 4: Creating the Movie Class
by Joseph Balderson - 01-May-07
Reader Level:
Ever wondered how some Flash applications "break free" of the constraints of a fixed stage size, flowing from one size to another depending on browser size or application state? Creating these fluid layouts in Flash is considered by some to be one of those hidden mysteries of Flash coding. By others it is regarded as a milestone to be achieved on the path of ActionScript mastery. For me, it is both.
We will take you through the steps, from intermediate to advanced, necessary to create application layouts in Flash which can exhibit "fullsize" or "fluid" functionality. In this series we will explore the basic principles of creating fluid layouts in Flash, build a sample application with a class architecture using components, finishing off with an exploration of the new "fullscreen" feature available in Flash Player 9.
In the last tutorial we created an application with a fluid proportional layout using v2 components. In this tutorial we will continue evolving our code by encapsulating certain properties of the Flash document SWF into a static class file called the Movie class, which will be used as a foundation for the rest of this series. We will also show you how to get the document size set in the FLA, at runtime, without needing to use a constant or pre-defined variable.
The Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash Series:
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 1: The Basics
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 2: Proportional Layouts
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 3: Application Development
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 4:Creating the Movie Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 5: Extending the Stage Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 6: Using Fullscreen
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
by Robert Reinhardt - 26-Apr-07
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to use the Camera class in Flash Player. The Camera class has been available in Flash Player since version 6, yet many Flash designers and developers don't know much about it. The Camera class gives you access to the user's webcam, to do everything from publishing a live video stream to detecting movement in the camera frame. In this tutorial, you learn how to control the image quality and bandwidth usage of the live publisher stream.
NOTE: In order to follow along with the tutorials in this series, you should have a webcam and microphone compatible with Flash Player 6 and higher. Just about any webcam and microphone works with the Flash Player.
SPECIAL OFFER: The first twenty readers of this tutorial series to send me an e-mail via the feedback link on this tutorial will receive a free time-limited Flash Media Server account at Influxis. You can use this account to publish live video streams. Please allow one to three days for me to verify your subscriber (or pay per use) status with Community MX. (There are still accounts available as of April 21st, 2007!)
The Working With the Camera Class Series:
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
Customizing the Mouse Cursor in AS2
by David Stiller - 25-Apr-07
Reader Level:
Flash gives you two mouse cursors: the default arrow and the "finger" pointer that appears over hyperlinks and buttons. While useful, those are the only two you get, and that's that — unless you design your own. If you've ever wanted to enhance the user's experience with additional cursors using ActionScript 2.0, or simply replace the default arrow with something fun, this is the tutorial for you.
The AS3 Event System - Part 4: Event Flow Basics
by Steve Schelter - 20-Apr-07
Reader Level:
In the fourth installment of the AS3 Event System series, we'll be covering the basics of event flow and how the various phases differ from each other.
The AS3 Events System Series:
The AS3 Event System - Part 1: The Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 2: Timer Class
The AS3 Event System - Part 3: Custom Dispatchers
The AS3 Event System - Part 4: Event Flow Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 5: Managing Event Flow
Using the Flash CS3 FLVPlayback UI Components
by Tom Green - 19-Apr-07
Reader Level:
Living in an ActionScript-free zone when it comes to Flash video has arrived.
Approximate download size: 2.7MB
Using the Flash CS3 FLVPlayback Component
by Tom Green - 16-Apr-07
Reader Level:
Adobe may just have pulled off the "seemingly impossible": They made something that was dead simple to use, even easier to use.
Approximate download size: 12MB
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
by Robert Reinhardt - 09-Apr-07
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to use the Camera class in Flash Player. The Camera class has been available in Flash Player since version 6, yet many Flash designers and developers don't know much about it. The Camera class gives you access to the user's webcam, to do everything from publishing a live video stream to detecting movement in the camera frame. In this tutorial, you learn how to use the Microphone class to add audio from the user's microphone to a live stream.
NOTE: In order to follow along with the tutorials in this series, you should have a webcam and microphone compatible with Flash Player 6 and higher. Just about any webcam and microphone works with the Flash Player.
SPECIAL OFFER: The first twenty readers of this tutorial series to send me an e-mail via the feedback link on this tutorial will receive a free time-limited Flash Media Server account at Influxis. You can use this account to publish live video streams. Please allow one to three days for me to verify your subscriber (or pay per use) status with Community MX. (There are still accounts available as of April 1st, 2007!)
The Working With the Camera Class Series:
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
The AS3 Event System - Part 3: Custom Dispatchers
by Steve Schelter - 03-Apr-07
Reader Level:
In the third installment of the AS3 Event System series, we'll be taking the custom Stopwatch class we built in part 2 and turn it into a custom event dispatcher.
The AS3 Events System Series:
The AS3 Event System - Part 1: The Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 2: Timer Class
The AS3 Event System - Part 3: Custom Dispatchers
The AS3 Event System - Part 4: Event Flow Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 5: Managing Event Flow
The AS3 Event System - Part 2: Timer Class
by Steve Schelter - 20-Mar-07
Reader Level:
In the second installment of the AS3 Event System series, we'll be covering the procedure for implementing a commonly-used utility, the Timer class.
The AS3 Events System Series:
The AS3 Event System - Part 1: The Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 2: Timer Class
The AS3 Event System - Part 3: Custom Dispatchers
The AS3 Event System - Part 4: Event Flow Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 5: Managing Event Flow
Flash PowerTools: Exploring Gradients
by Joseph Balderson - 14-Mar-07
Reader Level:
Out there in the Flash design and development world, there are many tools available to assist in creating projects. These are "power tools" that supercharge the task of designing, coding, compiling, testing and documenting, allowing you to save time and present ideas much more effectively. Some have been around for a few years, and some are pretty new. This series highlights some of the open source tools and techniques which have made my life as a Flash developer much more effective.
Implementing code-generated graphics or animations can be greatly facilitated with the aid of an "explorer," showing a live example of certain effects, and the code required to create the effect at runtime. This can greatly expedite code generation, and provide an essential learning tool. In this article we'll look at two very handy utilities for exploring code-generated gradients: Kinglong's "Flash Gradient Fills Explorer" and Andreas Weber's Gradient Tween Editor.
Kinglong's "Flash Gradient Fills Explorer" and Andreas Weber's Gradient Tween Editor
The Flash PowerTools Series:
Flash PowerTools: Code Automation with SEPY
Flash PowerTools: FlashTracer for Firefox
Flash PowerTools: Standalone FLV Players
Flash PowerTools: Transition and Tween Explorer
Flash PowerTools: Flash Switcher for Firefox
Flash PowerTools: Exploring Gradients
Flash PowerTools: Kuler Color - Part 1
Flash PowerTools: Kuler Color - Part 2 Coming Soon
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
by Robert Reinhardt - 12-Mar-07
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to use the Camera class in Flash Player. The Camera class has been available in Flash Player since version 6, yet many Flash designers and developers don't know much about it. The Camera class gives you access to the user's webcam, to do everything from publishing a live video stream to detecting movement in the camera frame. In this tutorial, you learn how to use the NetStream.play() method to receive a live video feed from a Flash Media Server application.
NOTE: In order to follow along with the tutorials in this series, you should have a webcam compatible with Flash Player 6 and higher. Just about any USB or Firewire webcam works with the Flash Player.
SPECIAL OFFER: The first twenty readers of this tutorial series to send me an e-mail via the feedback link on this tutorial will receive a free time-limited Flash Media Server account at Influxis. You can use this account to publish live video streams. Please allow one to three days for me to verify your subscriber (or pay per use) status with Community MX. (There are still accounts available as of March 8th, 2007!)
The Working With the Camera Class Series:
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
The AS3 Event System - Part 1: The Basics
by Steve Schelter - 09-Mar-07
Reader Level:
AS 3 brings a new level of sophistication in scripting for flash with a unified event model system. In the first installment of this series, we'll be covering the basic principles of registerring listeners and handling event objects.
The AS3 Events System Series:
The AS3 Event System - Part 1: The Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 2: Timer Class
The AS3 Event System - Part 3: Custom Dispatchers
The AS3 Event System - Part 4: Event Flow Basics
The AS3 Event System - Part 5: Managing Event Flow
From Flash to After Effects
by Tom Green - 28-Feb-07
Reader Level:
Who says you have to export QuickTime out of Flash to get a video?
Building a Custom Flash Video Player Part 1: The Basic Application
by Derrick Ypenburg - 27-Feb-07
Reader Level:
For online video, delivering it with Flash is your best bet. Flash gives you the ability to create a fully customized and branded streaming experience for the end user. Other streaming formats and platforms stream through players that cannot be customized, or that are extremely difficult to embed and integrate into a customized environment and require expensive development and testing to do so. Further, ad insertion, closed captioning and selective player controls are also quite easy to integrate in Flash video applications. The ubiquity of the Flash player and fast download time of the plug-in allows you to reach a much larger audience.
This series will guide you from creating the basic building blocks for a simple customized Flash video application to developing a full-on television station type of environment complete with error handling and status messaging, playlists, ad insertion and many other bells and whistles.
This tutorial will start with creating the basic building blocks to plan a strong, well-designed custom video application. After completing this tutorial, you will have a functional, custom Flash video player that you can build upon.
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified: Part 3 - Curvature
by David Stiller - 23-Feb-07
Reader Level:
Flash Professional 8 introduced a number of exciting new visual filters — such as drop shadow, blur, glow, and bevel — which reproduce many of the corresponding filters of Photoshop and Fireworks. Of these, most are available via the Property inspector's Filters tab. All filters are accessible to ActionScript, but a few actually require programming. One of these is the DisplacementMapFilter class, which distorts images based on the colors or transparency in a special reference map. Here in Part 3 of this series, you will learn how to harness the magnification effect we achieved last time by adding a second layer of "strength factor" to the gradient displacement map. This can produce perspective distortion, only available with shapes until Flash 8, and even curved distortion, like a fisheye lens. In the next and final installment, we'll use ActionScript's built-in Perlin noise generator in conjunction with the DisplacementMapFilter class to add animated ripples to an image.
Particle Trails in Actionscript 2.0
by Steve Schelter - 22-Feb-07
Reader Level:
BitmapData, introduced in Flash 8, opens the door to new capabalities for complex motion effects. This tutorial will cover some of the more common techniques for creating motion trails, and will analyze the process efficiency of each one.
Loaders Demystified: Part 5 - Photorealism
by Joseph Balderson - 21-Feb-07
Reader Level:
Loaders in Flash have become somewhat of a lost art or a no-brainer, depending on whom you speak to. Many mysteries have been solved quite a while ago in the history of Flash, but with new advances, many of these techniques have been forgotten, and some new tricks have come to light. Like anything in Flash, there is more that one way of arriving at the same result, and loaders are no exception. Despite this fact, the Loader remains one of the most mysterious and neglected aspects of Flash development. This series seeks to cover the pitfalls, best practices, tips and tricks to building loaders of all kinds in Flash.
Ever wondered how to incorporate a loader seamlessly into the design of the application itself, or show the load progress using a photorealistic image? In this tutorial we'll build a load indicator that looks exactly like an analog needle dial from a rusted old display panel.
The Loaders Demystified Series
Loaders Demystified: Part 1 - Usability Guidelines
Loaders Demystified: Part 2 - Creating a Simple Loader
Loaders Demystified: Part 3 - Getting Creative with Progress Indicators
Loaders Demystified: Part 4 - Using the CMX GIF Pre-Loader Packs
Loaders Demystified: Part 5 - Photorealism
Approximate download size: 1.6MB
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
by Robert Reinhardt - 16-Feb-07
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to use the Camera class in Flash Player. The Camera class has been available in Flash Player since version 6, yet many Flash designers and developers don't know much about it. The Camera class gives you access to the user's webcam, to do everything from publishing a live video stream to detecting movement in the camera frame. In this tutorial, you learn how to use the NetStream.publish() method to send an audio and video feed from your webcam to a Flash Media Server application.
SPECIAL OFFER: The first twenty readers of this tutorial to send me an e-mail either via the feedback form at the end of this tutorial or to robert@communitymx.com will receive a free time-limited Flash Media Server account at Influxis. You can use this account to publish live video streams. Please allow one to three days for me to verify your subscriber (or pay per use) status with Community MX.
The Working With the Camera Class Series:
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
A Bright Idea from Community MX
by Tom Green - 15-Feb-07
Reader Level:
Instead of looking at After Effects and Flash as being two big applications... ask yourself how they can work together. The results my just be the brightest idea you ever had.
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 4: Coding the Singleton Application
by Joseph Balderson - 14-Feb-07
Reader Level:
In the evolution of many a Flash developer, eventually one will discover that projects have become too complex, too feature-rich, to be built using the timeline metaphor of classic Flash programming. Taking ActionScript that extra step requires using class files. However, even using class files and object-oriented programming (OOP) principles, without a plan, a way of structuring those classes, things can quickly become very convoluted and lead to unmanageable code.
Whether you know it or not, every time you use the Flash v2 Component Architecture, or a third party Flash component set — in fact, every time you use the ActionScript 2 event model in a class file — you are most likely using design patterns.
So what are design patterns and how can we use them in Flash? In this series we will explore design patterns commonly used in Flash ActionScript applications and their implementation. This series assumes the reader is familiar with creating and using custom classes in Flash along with the basics of object-oriented programming.
The Understanding Design Patterns Series:
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 1: An Introduction
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 2: The Singleton Pattern
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 3: A Singleton Application
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 4: Coding the Singleton Application
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 3: A Singleton Application
by Joseph Balderson - 13-Feb-07
Reader Level:
In the evolution of many a Flash developer, eventually one will discover that projects have become too complex, too feature-rich, to be built using the timeline metaphor of classic Flash programming. Taking ActionScript that extra step requires using class files. However, even using class files and object-oriented programming (OOP) principles, without a plan, a way of structuring those classes, things can quickly become very convoluted and lead to unmanageable code.
Whether you know it or not, every time you use the Flash v2 Component Architecture, or a third party Flash component set — in fact, every time you use the ActionScript 2 event model in a class file — you are most likely using design patterns.
So what are design patterns and how can we use them in Flash? In this series we will explore design patterns commonly used in Flash ActionScript applications and their implementation. This series assumes the reader is familiar with creating and using custom classes in Flash along with the basics of object-oriented programming.
The Understanding Design Patterns Series:
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 1: An Introduction
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 2: The Singleton Pattern
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 3: A Singleton Application
Understanding Design Patterns - Part 4: Coding the Singleton Application
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified: Part 2 - Skewing and Magnification
by David Stiller - 06-Feb-07
Reader Level:
Flash Professional 8 introduced a number of exciting new visual filters — such as drop shadow, blur, glow, and bevel — which reproduce many of the corresponding filters of Photoshop and Fireworks. Of these, most are available via the Property inspector's Filters tab. All filters are accessible to ActionScript, but a few actually require programming. One of these is the DisplacementMapFilter class, which distorts images based on the colors or transparency in a special reference map.
Here in Part 2 of this series, you will learn how a gradient fill can be used to skew and magnify pixels in an imported graphic file. In future installments, you will learn how to add curvature and even ripples.
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified Series
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified: Part 1 - How it Ticks
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified: Part 2 - Skewing and Magnification
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
by Robert Reinhardt - 30-Jan-07
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to use the Camera class in Flash Player. The Camera class has been available in Flash Player since version 6, yet many Flash designers and developers don't know much about it. The Camera class gives you access to the user's webcam, to do everything from publishing a live video stream to detecting movement in the camera frame. In this tutorial, you learn how to use the Camera.onActivity event handler to detect motion in the video feed.
The Working With the Camera Class Series:
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
Peronalized E-cards with Flash
by Derrick Ypenburg - 29-Jan-07
Reader Level:
I know the busy season for sending out greeting cards to your clients and friends has passed, but you can plan ahead for next year as well as using this tutorial for sending out any customized info and greetings throughout the rest of the year.
Nicely designed e-cards using Flash can send an effective, fully animated-greeting and message to your clients/friends. It also saves you a bundle in printing and mailing costs that come with hard-copy cards and mail-outs. If you're like me and you wait to the last minute with things, you can send them out much later and not have to worry about the time mail takes to get to places on-time!
This tutorial covers using PHP, URL encoded strings, FlahVars, and Flash to send out an address to a simple Flash e-card template that is personalized for each recipients name.
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified: Part 1 - How It Ticks
by David Stiller - 26-Jan-07
Reader Level:
Flash Professional 8 introduced a number of exciting new visual filters — such as drop shadow, blur, glow, and bevel — which reproduce many of the corresponding filters of Photoshop and Fireworks. Of these, most are available via the Property inspector's Filters tab. All filters are accessible to ActionScript, but a few actually require programming. One of these is the DisplacementMapFilter class, which distorts images based on the colors or transparency in a special reference map.
Here in Part 1 of this series, you will learn how the displacement map filter works and how to use it to reposition pixels in an imported graphic file. In future installments, you will learn how to produce a handful of very cool visual effects that are only possible with ActionScript, including a magnifying class, fisheye lens, and ripples.
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified Series
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified: Part 1 - How it Ticks
The Displacement Map Filter Demystified: Part 2 - Skewing and Magnification
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
by Robert Reinhardt - 22-Jan-07
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to use the Camera class in Flash Player. The Camera class has been available in Flash Player since version 6, yet many Flash designers and developers don't know much about it. The Camera class gives you access to the user's webcam, to do everything from publishing a live video stream to detecting movement in the camera frame. In this tutorial, you learn how to test a webcam connection and watch live output in a Flash movie.
The Working With the Camera Class Series:
Working with the Camera Class - Part 1: Viewing Live Output
Working with the Camera Class - Part 2: Detecting Motion
Working with the Camera Class - Part 3: Publishing a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 4: Subscribing to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 5: Adding Audio to a Live Stream
Working with the Camera Class - Part 6: Controlling Image Quality and Bandwidth Usage
Working with the Camera Class - Part 7: Controlling Audio Quality
Working with the Camera Class - Part 8: Recording a Stream
Mimicking QTVR: Panoramas in Flash
by David Stiller - 11-Jan-07
Reader Level:
The most popular format for immersive panoramic images on the web is probably QTVR (QuickTime Virtual Reality). QTVR files put the viewer "right in the action" and are viewable with the free QuickTime player, which also displays video. Not a bad way to go! There are alternatives, of course. Another fairly popular format is iPix, which relies on the Java virtual machine. Both solutions are quite impressive, hands down, but it is possible to simulate interactive panoramas with Flash. This tutorial steps you through the ActionScript 2.0 necessary to pull it off.
Approximate download size: 2.4MB
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 3: Application Development
by Joseph Balderson - 05-Jan-07
Reader Level:
Ever wondered how some Flash applications "break free" of the constraints of a fixed stage size, flowing from one size to another depending on browser size or application state? Creating these fluid layouts in Flash is considered by some to be one of those "hidden mysteries" of Flash coding. By others it is regarded as a milestone to be achieved on the path of ActionScript mastery. For me, it is both.
We will take you through the steps, from intermediate to advanced, necessary to create application layouts in Flash which can exhibit "fullsize" or "fluid" functionality. In this series we will explore the basic principles of creating fluid layouts in Flash, build a sample application with a class architecture using components, finishing off with an exploration of the new "fullscreen" feature available in Flash Player 9.
In the last tutorial we completed our examination of the basics by creating a fluid layout with proportionally sized content "panels". In this tutorial we will use this technique to create a basic application with v2 components, moving all of our code off the timeline and into a class file.
The completed fluid layout application
Approximate download size: 1.5MB
The Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash Series:
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 1: The Basics
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 2: Proportional Layouts
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 3: Application Development
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 4:Creating the Movie Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 5: Extending the Stage Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 6: Using Fullscreen
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 2: Proportional Layouts
by Joseph Balderson - 22-Dec-06
Reader Level:
Ever wondered how some Flash applications break free of the constraints of a fixed stage size, flowing from one size to another depending on browser size or application state? Creating these fluid layouts in Flash is considered by some to be one of those hidden mysteries of Flash coding. By others it is regarded as a milestone to be achieved on the path of ActionScript mastery. For me, it is both.
We will take you through the steps, from intermediate to advanced, necessary to create application layouts in Flash which can exhibit fullsize or fluid functionality. In this series we will explore the basic principles of creating fluid layouts in Flash, build a sample application with a class architecture using components, finishing off with an exploration of the new fullscreen feature available in Flash Player 9.
In the last tutorial we covered the basics of fluid layouts by building a flexible stage container and positioning objects within according to the stage size. In this tutorial we will complete our examination of the basics by creating a fluid layout with proportionally sized content panels.
The Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash Series:
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 1: The Basics
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 2: Proportional Layouts
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 3: Application Development
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 4:Creating the Movie Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 5: Extending the Stage Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 6: Using Fullscreen
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 7: Sharing Components
by Robert Reinhardt - 21-Dec-06
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to create and use shared libraries with your Flash movies. Shared libraries can help you optimize your workflow, making it easier to update assets across several Flash movies used for any type of project. In the last tutorial of this series, you learned how to use CSS files with shared fonts. In this tutorial, you learn how to create a shared library for Flash UI components. Components can require many kilobytes (KB); if you're using the same component across several Flash movies on the same web site, you should consider using a runtime shared library to store the components.
The Working with Shared Libraries Series:
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 1: Sharing Symbols in Authortime Libraries
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 2: Sharing Symbols in a Runtime Shared Library
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 3: Sharing Fonts with Static Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 4: Sharing Fonts with Dynamic Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 5: Sharing Fonts with Runtime-Created Text Fields
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 6: Using CSS with Shared Fonts
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 7: Sharing Components
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 1: The Basics
by Joseph Balderson - 18-Dec-06
Reader Level:
Ever wondered how some Flash applications “break free” of the constraints of a fixed stage size, flowing from one size to another depending on browser size or application state? Creating these fluid layouts in Flash is considered by some to be one of those hidden mysteries of Flash coding. By others it is regarded as a milestone to be achieved on the path of ActionScript mastery. For me, it is both.
We will take you through the steps, from intermediate to advanced, necessary to create application layouts in Flash which can exhibit fullsize or fluid functionality. In this series we will explore the basic principles of creating fluid layouts in Flash, build a sample application with a class architecture using components, finishing off with an exploration of the new fullscreen feature available in Flash Player 9.
This tutorial will explore the basics of creating a flexible stage application.
The Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash Series:
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 1: The Basics
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 2: Proportional Layouts
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 3: Application Development
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 4:Creating the Movie Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 5: Extending the Stage Class
Creating Fluid Layouts in Flash - Part 6: Using Fullscreen
Rolling Your Own Dial Control
by David Stiller - 12-Dec-06
Reader Level:
In Knobs, Sliders and Flash, Oh My! Sound Controls in Flash MX 2004, Tom Green shows how to use a specialized button — a knob, or dial control — included with Flash under the Window > Common Libraries panel. These built-in assets look great and are indeed good for rapid prototyping, as Tom mentions, even if they aren't as powerful or easily configurable as the more recent v2 User Interface components. Surprisingly, the Components panel does not offer a rotating dial control, so if you're interested in something round, you either have to use the discussed knob button or build one from scratch. In this tutorial, you'll learn learn how to "roll your own" basic dial control with ActionScript 2.0 ... and yours can look exactly how you like.
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 5: HTML Formatting
by Joseph Balderson - 01-Dec-06
Reader Level:
Ever tried formatting a text field in flash using ActionScript, only to get all tangled up in a myriad of class properties and methods? Parts 1 & 2 of this series looks at how to create a text field and format it completely with code. Part 3 examines dynamic font embedding, Parts 4 & 5 cover how to use HTML formatting, and Parts 6 & 7 show you how to use CSS stylesheets in Flash.
In this tutorial we are going to pick up where we left off in Part 4, where we looked at formatting HTML text. We are also going to expand on what we learned about font embedding in Part 3 as it applies to HTML text.
The Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified Series:
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 1: setTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 2: setNewTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 3: Embedding Fonts
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 4: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 5: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 6: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 7: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Avoiding a Common Pitfall with Text-only Buttons
by David Stiller - 30-Nov-06
Reader Level:
Buttons come in all shapes and sizes. Some include text and others don't — and then there are buttons that contain nothing but text. Historically in Flash, text-only buttons have been a bit tricky. Without careful attention to the symbol's Hit frame, such buttons can be very difficult to click, which makes for a frustrating experience to the end user. A change in Flash Player 8 improved matters, but not in all cases. Ultimately, it's up to you, the developer, to ensure that text-only buttons are comfortably usable. This tutorial helps steer you clear of the pitfalls.
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 4: HTML Formatting
by Joseph Balderson - 29-Nov-06
Reader Level:
Ever tried formatting a text field in flash using ActionScript, only to get all tangled up in a myriad of class properties and methods? In Parts 1 & 2 of this series we looked at how to create a text field and format it completely with code. Part 3 will examine dynamic font embedding, Parts 4 & 5 will look at how to use HTML formatting, and Parts 6 & 7 will show you how to use CSS stylesheets in Flash.
The Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified Series:
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 1: setTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 2: setNewTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 3: Embedding Fonts
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 4: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 5: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 6: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 7: Stylesheets Coming Soon
From Concept to Final Product in After Effects 7: Part 2
by Tom Green - 28-Nov-06
Reader Level:
Learn how to add and manipulate a variety of objects and media in an After Effects project destined for Flash playback. This is the second part of Chapter One of From After Effects to Flash: Poetry in Motion Graphics
Simian: A Flash Game of Pattern Recall - Part 2
by David Stiller - 14-Nov-06
Reader Level:
Many of you will remember the Milton Bradley game Simon, immensely popular in the 1980s. This two-part series re-creates the game in Flash.
In the previous article, Part 1, we covered an ActionScript 2.0 class that manages the game's functionality. This class was specifically designed to be realized in a variety of ways. Here in Part 2, we'll prove that by walking through two different implementations — one very much like the Milton Bradley original (lighted buttons and tones), and one that relies on timeline animation, rather than sound.
Approximate download size: 4.7MB
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 6: Using CSS with Shared Fonts
by Robert Reinhardt - 13-Nov-06
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to create and use shared libraries with your Flash movies. Shared libraries can help you optimize your workflow, making it easier to update assets across several Flash movies used for any type of project. In the last tutorial of this series, you learned how to reuse fonts with dynamic text fields created in ActionScript. In this tutorial, you learn how to use a CSS file (cascading stylesheet file) to format ActionScript-generated text fields. Sharing fonts is one of the best ways to trim down SWF file sizes for large projects involving many SWF files.
The Working with Shared Libraries Series:
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 1: Sharing Symbols in Authortime Libraries
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 2: Sharing Symbols in a Runtime Shared Library
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 3: Sharing Fonts with Static Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 4: Sharing Fonts with Dynamic Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 5: Sharing Fonts with Runtime-Created Text Fields
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 6: Using CSS with Shared Fonts
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 7: Sharing Components Coming Soon
Create Weather in Flash
by Tom Green - 10-Nov-06
Reader Level:
Who says creating rain and snow in Flash has to be difficult? Combine Flash and After Effects and you too can be a rain maker or snow maker.
Adding a Timer to the FLVPLayback Component
by Tom Green - 09-Nov-06
Reader Level:
This component has everything but a timer. Here's how to add one...
Approximate download size: 4.2MB
Creating Neon in a Flash
by Tom Green - 07-Nov-06
Reader Level:
Have you ever wondered how to create a flickering neon sign in Flash? Read on....
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 5: Sharing Fonts with Runtime-Created Text Fields
by Robert Reinhardt - 02-Nov-06
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to create and use shared libraries with your Flash movies. Shared libraries can help you optimize your workflow, making it easier to update assets across several Flash movies used for any type of project. In the last tutorial of this series, you learned how to reuse fonts with dynamic text fields in other Flash movies. However, those text fields were placed in the movie at authortime, not with ActionScript at runtime. In this tutorial, you learn how to reuse shared fonts with dynamic text fields created in ActionScript. Sharing fonts is one of the best ways to trim down SWF file sizes for large projects involving many SWF files.
The Working with Shared Libraries Series:
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 1: Sharing Symbols in Authortime Libraries
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 2: Sharing Symbols in a Runtime Shared Library
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 3: Sharing Fonts with Static Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 4: Sharing Fonts with Dynamic Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 5: Sharing Fonts with Runtime-Created Text Fields
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 6: Using CSS with Shared Fonts Coming Soon
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 7: Sharing Components Coming Soon
Simian: A Flash Game of Pattern Recall - Part 1
by David Stiller - 01-Nov-06
Reader Level:
Many of you will remember the Milton Bradley game Simon, immensely popular in the 1980s. In this two-part series, we're going to write an ActionScript 2.0 class that emulates this game (Part 1, this tutorial) and then build a couple sample FLAs that use the class (Part 2, next time).
This class is specifically designed to be realized in a variety of ways. For example, you may want your version to be comprised of eight buttons instead of the original four. In fact, you might aspire to a themed approach, where your buttons are represented by, say, blenders in a smoothie shop or arms on a starfish. The presentation is up to you, and the sky's the limit! Our incarnation — a playfully similar spelling, suggestive of the notion "monkey see, monkey do" — is called Simian.
Warping Video in a Flash
by Tom Green - 30-Oct-06
Reader Level:
Sometimes video needs to be such an odd shape that using a simple mask in Flash just won't solve the issue. In this video tutorial, I show you how to use the bezier Warp tool in After efects 7 to create a video that wraps around a shape. Then I show you how to output the video in After Effects and use that video in Flash.
Playing with Radial Gradients in Flash
by Tom Green - 19-Oct-06
Reader Level:
Ever wondered what mayhem you can unleash with a Radial Gradient in Flash? read on...
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 3
by Derrick Ypenburg - 18-Oct-06
Reader Level:
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, we created an animated drop-down menu that built and populated itself with buttons based on data provided by an array of objects.
In Part 3, we are going to wrap things up by making the menu truly dynamic. As it stands now, the menu data comes from a hard-coded array of objects from the main timeline. Now we will finish things off by feeding the data dynamically into this array of objects from an external XML file.
The Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu Series:
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 1
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 2
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 3
Drawing Gears in Flash
by David Stiller - 16-Oct-06
Reader Level:
When I was very young, I liked to tinker with gadgets. Anything was fair game, including old watches ... as long as the item in question was no longer needed! What impressed me the most about gears were their complexity and symmetry, rolled into a single sharply elegant wheel. I often tried to draw them on paper, but the endeavor was almost overwhelming — all those tiny teeth had to be distributed evenly! Ah, if only I had known then about Flash.
In this tutorial, we'll examine how to use the Transform panel to make this task surprisingly easy. When you're done, you'll be able to use this technique to draw a great variety of gears. You may, in fact, use a similar approach to draw any image that relies on regular distribution around a circle, such as a flower.
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 2
by Derrick Ypenburg - 10-Oct-06
Reader Level:
We will take our basic animated menu arcchitecture we created in Part 1 and add to it it make our menu fully dynamic.
In Part 2, we are going to create a button class to populate our menu with, a data provider to specify how many buttons the menu will have, the labels for the buttons, and where the buttons will link to when pressed. We will also create some "smart" code that will size the menu mask, and calculate the animated mouse-over and mouse-off positions depending on the height of the menu.
Part 3 will wrap things up with populating our menu data from XML and some dynamic menu backgorund drawing using the drawing API.
The Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu Series:
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 1
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 2
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 3
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 3: Embedding Fonts
by Joseph Balderson - 06-Oct-06
Reader Level:
Ever tried formatting a text field in flash using ActionScript, only to get all tangled up in a myriad of class properties and methods? In Parts 1 & 2 of this series we looked at how to create a text field and format it completely with code. Part 3 will examine dynamic font embedding, Parts 4 & 5 will look at how to use HTML formatting, and Parts 6 & 7 will show you how to use CSS stylesheets in Flash.
The Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified Series:
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 1: setTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 2: setNewTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 3: Embedding Fonts
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 4: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 5: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 6: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 7: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 4: Sharing Fonts with Dynamic Text
by Robert Reinhardt - 04-Oct-06
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to create and use shared libraries with your Flash movies. Shared libraries can help you optimize your workflow, making it easier to update assets across several Flash movies used for any type of project.
In the last tutorial of this series, you learned how to create a runtime shared library (RSL) file and share its font assets with static text in other Flash movies. In this tutorial, you learn how to reuse the fonts with dynamic text fields in other Flash movies. Sharing fonts is one of the best ways to trim down SWF file sizes for large projects involving many SWF files.
The Working with Shared Libraries Series:
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 1: Sharing Symbols in Authortime Libraries
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 2: Sharing Symbols in a Runtime Shared Library
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 3: Sharing Fonts with Static Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 4: Sharing Fonts with Dynamic Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 5: Sharing Fonts with Runtime-Created Text Fields
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 6: Using CSS with Shared Fonts Coming Soon
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 7: Sharing Components Coming Soon
Creating a Soft Mask in Flash - Part 2: Flash Player 8 and Later
by David Stiller - 02-Oct-06
Reader Level:
Masking has been available in Flash for as long as I can remember. This feature can be very useful and is easy to implement, either by hand or with ActionScript. The only regrettable point, in fact, is that soft masking (where the edges are blurry) has always required a tricky and tedious workaround ... until now.
This two-part series examines both the historical workaround — that's the tedious one — and a new (as of Flash 8) approach that is much easier. Knowing both will allow you to apply soft masks in SWFs published to just about any version of the Flash Player. Here in Part 2, we'll learn the approach for SWFs published for Flash Player 8 and later.
The Creating a Soft Mask in Flash Series:
Creating a Soft Mask in Flash - Part 1: Flash Player 7 and Earlier
Creating a Soft Mask in Flash - Part 2: Flash Player 8 and Later
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 3: Sharing Fonts with Static Text
by Robert Reinhardt - 27-Sep-06
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to create and use shared libraries with your Flash movies. Shared libraries can help you optimize your workflow, making it easier to update assets across several Flash movies used for any type of project.
In the last tutorial of this series, you learned how to create a runtime shared library (RSL) file and share its graphical assets with other Flash movies. In this tutorial, you learn how to create a runtime shared library containing font symbols, to reuse the fonts with static text fields in other Flash movies. Sharing fonts is one of the best ways to trim down SWF file sizes for large projects involving many SWF files.
The Working with Shared Libraries Series:
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 1: Sharing Symbols in Authortime Libraries
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 2: Sharing Symbols in a Runtime Shared Library
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 3: Sharing Fonts with Static Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 4: Sharing Fonts with Dynamic Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 5: Sharing Fonts with Runtime-Created Text Fields
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 6: Using CSS with Shared Fonts Coming Soon
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 7: Sharing Components Coming Soon
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 2: setNewTextFormat
by Joseph Balderson - 26-Sep-06
Reader Level:
Ever tried formatting a text field in flash using ActionScript, only to get all tangled up in a myriad of class properties and methods? In Parts 1 & 2 of this series we'll look at how to create a text field and format it completely with code. Part 3 will examine dynamic font embedding, Parts 4 and 5 will look at how to use HTML formatting, and Parts 6 and 7 will show you how to use CSS stylesheets in Flash.
The Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified Series:
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 1: setTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 2: setNewTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 3: Embedding Fonts
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 4: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 5: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 6: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 7: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 1
by Derrick Ypenburg - 22-Sep-06
Reader Level:
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how to make a functional, bug-proof, animated drop-down menu instead of having to resort to using a component, well, you know the old saying.
Creating your own animated drop-down menus can be tricky for a number of reasons: The complexity involved with having numerous buttons to roll-over; The roll-over that triggers the menu to slide down and how it can not interfere with the sub buttons in the drop-down; How does the menu animate back up when the user rolls off?
I'm going to break down the creation of creating an animated, drop-down menu from scratch, into 3 articles. In this article we will build the basic shell for the menu that will include: a button that animates the menu down and up, a container that will be animated and that will hold the buttons for the menu, and the basic code to get the menu responsive and working.
Parts 2 and 3 will cover creating button classes for the menu and configuring and populating the menu using XML.
The Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu Series:
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 1
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 2
Building an Animated Drop-Down Menu: Part 3
Creating a Soft Mask in Flash - Part 1: Flash Player 7 and Earlier
by David Stiller - 21-Sep-06
Reader Level:
Masking has been available in Flash for as long as I can remember. This feature can be very useful and is easy to implement, either by hand or with ActionScript. The only regrettable point, in fact, is that soft masking (where the edges are blurry) has always required a tricky and tedious workaround ... until now.
This two-part series examines both the historical workaround — that's the tedious one — and a new (as of Flash 8) approach that is much easier. Knowing both will allow you to apply soft masks in SWFs published to just about any version of the Flash Player. Here in Part 1, we'll take a quick tour of mask basics, then learn the approach for SWFs published for Flash Player 7 and earlier.
The Creating a Soft Mask in Flash Series:
Creating a Soft Mask in Flash - Part 1: Flash Player 7 and Earlier
Creating a Soft Mask in Flash - Part 2: Flash Player 8 and Later Coming Soon
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 2: Sharing Symbols in a Runtime Shared Library
by Robert Reinhardt - 12-Sep-06
Reader Level:
In this "Working with" series, you learn how to create and use shared libraries with your Flash movies. Shared libraries can help you optimize your workflow, making it easier to update assets across several Flash movies used for any type of project. In the last tutorial of this series, you learned how to create an authortime shared library file and add it to the Common Libraries menu in the Flash 8 authoring environment. In this tutorial, you learn how to create a runtime shared library.
The Working with Shared Libraries Series:
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 1: Sharing Symbols in Authortime Libraries
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 2: Sharing Symbols in a Runtime Shared Library
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 3: Sharing Fonts with Static Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 4: Sharing Fonts with Dynamic Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 5: Sharing Fonts with Runtime-Created Text Fields
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 6: Using CSS with Shared Fonts Coming Soon
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 7: Sharing Components Coming Soon
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 1: setTextFormat
by Joseph Balderson - 08-Sep-06
Reader Level:
Ever tried formatting a text field in flash using ActionScript, only to get all tangled up in a myriad of class properties and methods? In Parts 1 & 2 of this series we looked at how to create a text field and format it completely with code. Part 3 will examine dynamic font embedding, Parts 4 & 5 will look at how to use HTML formatting, and Parts 6 & 7 will show you how to use CSS stylesheets in Flash.
The Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified Series:
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 1: setTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 2: setNewTextFormat
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 3: Embedding Fonts
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 4: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 5: HTML Formatting
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 6: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Dynamic Text Formatting Demystified - Part 7: Stylesheets Coming Soon
Building a Drag-and-Drop Jigsaw Puzzle - Part 2
by David Stiller - 06-Sep-06
Reader Level:
Jigsaw puzzles were a mainstay of my youth on rainy afternoons. The earliest puzzles I remember had merely a dozen pieces, but ah, the sense of accomplishment! Piecing together the artwork was always a rewarding experience. One year, my mother found an ad in a magazine for a company that would convert your personal photo into a puzzle — at the time, the notion struck me as incredible! We ordered one and I treasured it for years.
After reading this two-part series, you'll be able to do the same thing on your own computer! Over the course of these tutorials, you will write an ActionScript 2.0 class to build a re-usable jigsaw puzzle engine. Here in Part 2, we resume our efforts and step through the helper methods called by the sizable method introduced last time, buildPuzzle().
The Building a Drag-and-Drop Jigsaw Puzzle Series:
Building a Drag-and-Drop Jigsaw Puzzle - Part 1
Building a Drag-and-Drop Jigsaw Puzzle - Part 2
Informing the End User: Part 2 - Status Messaging and Error Handling for Video Applications
by Derrick Ypenburg - 28-Aug-06
Reader Level:
In Part 1 of this series, we worked on informing the end user by detecting and handling errors in Flash Applications. We will build on that by focusing on informing the user of the status of a video application, as well as errors that can happen duriing video playback. Further, we can use status events of objects used in a video application to manage the playback controls of the player.
In this article, we will take a simple video player application and create "status messaging", informing the user of the state of the video in a player, and errors that happen in a video stream. We will also use these status messages to be the "nerve centre" of the player to toggle and disable player controls depending on the playback state of a video. The status messages we will be using come from the event objects of the NetConnection and NetStream classes.
The Informing the End User Series:
Informing the End User: Part 1 - Handling Errors
Informing the End User: Part 2 - Status Messaging and Error Handling for Video Playback
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 1: Sharing Symbols in Authortime Libraries
by Robert Reinhardt - 24-Aug-06
Reader Level:
In this new "Working with" series, you learn how to create and use shared libraries with your Flash movies. Shared libraries can help you optimize your workflow, making it easier to update assets across several Flash movies used for any type of project. I just finished a large DVD-ROM project for UCLA's Center for International Emergency Medicine, and the use of shared fonts dramatically decreased troubleshooting font issues between Mac and Windows versions of Flash 8.
The Working with Shared Libraries Series:
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 1: Sharing Symbols in Authortime Libraries
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 2: Sharing Symbols in a Runtime Shared Library
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 3: Sharing Fonts with Static Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 4: Sharing Fonts with Dynamic Text
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 5: Sharing Fonts with Runtime-Created Text Fields
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 6: Using CSS with Shared Fonts Coming Soon
Working with Shared Libraries - Part 7: Sharing Components Coming Soon
Create Your Own iPod Ad
by Tom Green - 22-Aug-06
Reader Level:
So Apple creates these really cool ads for the iPod. The ones that have black silhouettes against bright backgrounds. Ever wondered how they do it? They aren't telling but here's one way.
Approximate download size: 15.6MB
Building a Drag-and-Drop Jigsaw Puzzle - Part 1
by David Stiller - 21-Aug-06
Reader Level:
Jigsaw puzzles were a mainstay of my youth on rainy afternoons. The earliest puzzles I remember had merely a dozen pieces, but ah, the sense of accomplishment! Piecing together the artwork was always a rewarding experience. One year, my mother found an ad in a magazine for a company that would convert your personal photo into a puzzle — at the time, the notion struck me as incredible! We ordered one and I treasured it for years.
After reading this two-part series, you'll be able to do the same thing on your own computer! Over the course of these tutorials, you will write an ActionScript 2.0 class to build a re-usable jigsaw puzzle engine. Here in Part 1, we will deconstruct our endeavor into a handful of bite-sized methods and write one large method, CMXJigsawPuzzle.buildPuzzle(), to call those as necessary. The complete code is already included with this tutorial, but the full explanation will span into Part 2.
The Building a Drag-and-Drop Jigsaw Puzzle Series:
Building a Drag-and-Drop Jigsaw Puzzle - Part 1
Building a Drag-and-Drop Jigsaw Puzzle - Part 2
Informing the End User: Part 1 - Handling Errors
by Derrick Ypenburg - 15-Aug-06
Reader Level:
Error handling is one of the biggest oversights in Flash development. There's nothing worse for a user to have something go wrong, or wait for something, and not have a clue what's going on and what to do.
The Informing the End User Series:
Informing the End User: Part 1 - Handling Errors
Informing the End User: Part 2 - Status Messaging and Error Handling for Video Playback
Creating Reflections in Flash 8
by Tom Green - 11-Aug-06
Reader Level:
Things in Flash aren't always as difficult to achieve when you look at them. Objects containing a reflection on the stage is a good example.
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 3
by David Stiller - 09-Aug-06
Reader Level:
As anyone who uses Windows or Macintosh can attest, the double-click is among the most familiar of user interface actions. Curiously, neither buttons nor movie clips in Flash raise an onDoubleClick event in ActionScript 1.0 or 2.0. Despite the many events they do raise, they cannot be instructed to handle double-clicks without custom programming. In Part 1 of this three-part series, we looked at a basic solution to this strange omission. In Part 2, we expanded on that original work to produce a configurable version of the same solution. Here in Part 3, we will conclude by providing for triple-clicks and more.
The Handling Double-Clicks in Flash Series:
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 1
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 2
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 3
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects
by Robert Reinhardt - 08-Aug-06
Reader Level:
In the last installment of this series, you added alpha and color mode effects to the printable certificate. In this tutorial, you learn how to print filter effects added to the certificate, enabling you to create more enhanced graphics. During the process, you learn how to use the new BitmapData class to create a pixel-by-pixel copy of the CourseCert clip. You can preview the finished version of the Flash movie here.
Approximate download size: 1.4MB
The Flash Printing Task Series:
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
by Robert Reinhardt - 04-Aug-06
Reader Level:
In the last installment of this series, you created a color toggle to the preview window for a printable certificate. In this tutorial, you learn how to correctly print alpha and color mode effects added to graphic elements of the certificate. During the process, you learn how to use the printAsBitmap feature of the PrintJob class to faithfully reproduce your certificate on the printed page. You can preview the finished version of the Flash movie here.
The Flash Printing Task Series:
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects Coming Soon
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 2
by David Stiller - 25-Jul-06
Reader Level:
As anyone who uses Windows or Macintosh can attest, the double-click is among the most familiar of user interface actions. Curiously, neither buttons nor movie clips in Flash raise an onDoubleClick event in ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0. Despite the many events they do raise, they cannot be instructed to handle double-clicks without custom programming. In Part 1 of this three-part series, we looked at a basic solution to this strange omission. Here in Part 2, we will step through an intermediate solution, which builds on our previous work. In Part 3, we will expand the capability even further to provide for triple-clicks.
The Handling Double-Clicks in Flash Series:
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 1
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 2
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 3
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 1
by David Stiller - 11-Jul-06
Reader Level:
As anyone who uses Windows or Macintosh can attest, the double-click is among the most familiar of user interface actions. Curiously, neither buttons nor movie clips in Flash raise an onDoubleClick event in ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0. Despite the many events they do raise, they cannot be instructed to handle double-clicks without custom programming.
In this three-part series, we will step through a solution to this strange omission and learn a bit about writing ActionScript 2.0 classes in the process. Part 1 of this series looks at a convenient, basic edition solution that stands on its own. Parts 2 and 3 build on this workaround to accommodate additional functionality. At the end of each tutorial, you will have a functioning class that is progressively more useful.
The Handling Double-Clicks in Flash Series:
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 1
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 2
Handling Double-Clicks in Flash - Part 3
Understanding Classpaths
by David Stiller - 30-Jun-06
Reader Level:
All objects in recent versions of ActionScript are defined by something called classes. Think of classes as blueprints that determine the unique combination of characteristics, actions, and reactions that comprises a particular object of a certain type. By "object," we are talking about the familiar things a Flash developer deals with every day: movie clips (the MovieClip class), text fields (the TextField class), buttons, sounds, math functions, components, you name it. They are all defined by classes.
Out of the box, Flash provides hundreds of built-in ActionScript classes. The great part is, you can even write your own! But there's a catch: the Flash compiler, which converts ActionScript into Flash Player bytecode, must be told where new classes are located, or it won't be able to find them. That's what this article is about.
Shape Tweening: Squaring the Circle (and More!)
by David Stiller - 14-Jun-06
Reader Level:
So, you'd like to use a timeline to animate visual elements in Flash? Well, allow me to introduce you to the Tween siblings: Motion and Shape. Motion tweens and shape tweens have been helping designers produce eye-catching animation for years. Their relationship is a little out of balance, though. Sibling rivalry between the two is generally won by Motion Tween, who gets the greater share of lime light in the authoring environment. Let's root for the underdog, then, and take a look at what Shape Tween has to offer.
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
by Robert Reinhardt - 14-Jun-06
Reader Level:
In the last installment of this series, you created a preview window for a printable certificate. In this tutorial, you learn how to add a color toggle to the preview window, enabling the user to preview a black & white (or grayscale) version of the certificate before it is sent to a black & white laser printer. During the process, you learn how to use the new filters property of the MovieClip class in Flash Player. You can preview the finished version of the Flash movie here.
Approximate download size: 887k
The Flash Printing Task Series:
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects Coming Soon
Loaders Demystified - Part 4: Using the CMX GIF Pre-Loader Packs
by Joseph Balderson - 12-Jun-06
Reader Level:
In this tutorial we will look at using the popular CMX GIF Pre-Loader Packs, which contain animation assets for loaders. Using a sample from the series, you will create a custom animated flash loader using a combination of tried-and-true techniques and some of the latest in flash 8 effects.
By the end of this tutorial your loader will look like the following:
Approximate download size: 1.3MB
The Loaders Demystified Series
Loaders Demystified: Part 1 - Usability Guidelines
Loaders Demystified: Part 2 - Creating a Simple Loader
Loaders Demystified: Part 3 - Getting Creative with Progress Indicators
Loaders Demystified: Part 4 - Using the CMX GIF Pre-Loader Packs
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
by Robert Reinhardt - 05-Jun-06
Reader Level:
In the last installment of this series, you built a Flash form that passed information to a dynamically created certificate you could print. In this tutorial, you learn how to create a preview window for the certificate. During the process, you learn how to use the Window component. You can preview the finished version of the Flash movie here.
The Flash Printing Task Series:
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects Coming Soon
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
by Robert Reinhardt - 30-May-06
Reader Level:
Once you have a component that can accept dynamic parameters, you'll want to make a user interface that can easily accept new certificate details and pass the information to the certificate clip. In this tutorial, you learn how to add Label, TextInput, and DateField components to your Flash movie.
Approximate download size: 717k
The Flash Printing Task Series:
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects Coming Soon
Keeping it Small with JPG Compression
by Tom Green - 22-May-06
Reader Level:
Trying to fit a big fat JPG image into a small Flash SWF can be much like trying to stuff five pounds of leaves into a three pound bag. In this article we take a JPG that weighs in at over 100k and, using a few features of Fireworks, slim it dowwn to a "svelte" 10k.
Approximate download size: 481k
Text in Motion With the Wiggler
by Tom Green - 19-May-06
Reader Level:
When you start using After Effects, there will come a time when you look at the presets and think, "Gosh, I am bored with these." That will be the point where you discover Adobe has a wonderful sense of humor and you start using the Wiggler. In the text options, on the timeline, the Wiggly selector can be added to a chunk of text to randomize the values of any of the properties associated with that group. That description may sound rather formal, but when it comes to adding effects, randomness can lead to some happy surprises.
Approximate download size: 541k
Keeping it Small in Flash
by Tom Green - 18-May-06
Reader Level:
If your Flash efforts need to go on some sort of weight loss program, here's a good place to start.
Creating a Blurred Mask
by Tom Green - 18-May-06
Reader Level:
In this exercise you will create a video that blurs the edges of a mask to create the effect of a video that is in focus in a "knock out" area while the remainder of the video, under a black bitmap, is blurred using a Threshold effect. The key to this exercise, is to understand that the shapes you draw are composed of colored pixels. These pixels form a shape and that shape, when the movie is displayed on your screen, is seen by the computer as a bitmap.
Approximate download size: 4.3MB
Masks in Motion
by Tom Green - 17-May-06
Reader Level:
As you know movie clips can be created using ActionScript and they have properties like position and size that can be manipulated. In this exercise we are going have a quite a few masks — up to 30 at any given time — moving across the screen and the color of the video will change based upon the position of the mouse on the screen.
Approximate download size: 2.2MB
Applying Filters and Blends Through ActionScript
by Tom Green - 15-May-06
Reader Level:
Filters and blends can be applied without the use of code. They are all available through the Property Inspector and can be applied singly or in combination with each other. The filters and blends can also be applied through the use of ActionScript.
In the first of two exercises, you will blur a video by dragging your mouse across it. In the second exercise you add a screen blend mode that simulates the effect of a video being projected onto an underlying image… but the image shows through.
Approximate download size: 4.1MB
Looping Flash Video
by Tom Green - 09-May-06
Reader Level:
Of course you can't loop a video in Flash because there is nothing in ActionScript that specifically deals with the issue. Turns out you can indeed do this. All you have to do is to eavesdrop.
Approximate download size: 2.6MB
Loaders Demystified - Part 3: Getting Creative with Progress Indicators
by Joseph Balderson - 09-May-06
Reader Level:
There are many ways to code a loader, and just as many ways to create its look and feel. In this article you will build a style of loader that uses a "shape fill" progress indicator to add that "extra something" to your project.
Approximate download size: 4.5MB
The Loaders Demystified Series
Loaders Demystified: Part 1 - Usability Guidelines
Loaders Demystified: Part 2 - Creating a Simple Loader
Loaders Demystified: Part 3 - Getting Creative with Progress Indicators
Loaders Demystified: Part 4 - Using the CMX GIF Pre-Loader Packs
Create Dynamic Charts & Graphs with PHP/SWF Charts
by Thomas Pletcher - 28-Apr-06
Reader Level:
PHP/SWF Charts is a PHP-based tool to generate Flash charts and graphs from dynamic data. With it, you can create charts that update in real time, right on the same page. This tutorial will show you how to use the free version of PHP/SWF charts (along with PHP and MySQL) to create an opinion poll page where poll results are charted in real time.
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
by Robert Reinhardt - 26-Apr-06
Reader Level:
In the last installment of this series, you learned how to print a certificate template that was created in Adobe Illustrator CS2 and Flash 8. In this next installment, you learn how to specify the name, title and date of the certificate using ActionScript.
The Flash Printing Task Series:
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects Coming Soon
Building a Video Scrub Bar
by Tom Green - 24-Apr-06
Reader Level:
The dreaded "video scrubber" isn't as scary as you may think. In fact, when you really think about it, it isn't that hard to create. You just have to think about the process in a slightly different manner.
In this tutorial you will be creating a scrubber bar that allows you to drag the Progress widget and move forwards and backwards in the currently playing video. When you release the mouse, the video will start playing at that point. Like all of the previous tutorials in this series, we aren't going to dive right into the project. The first thing we are going to do is answer that "Age Old" question: How does the dang thing work?
Approximate download size: 14.7MB
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
by Robert Reinhardt - 21-Apr-06
Reader Level:
In the last installment of this series, you learned how to create a certificate template in Adobe Illustrator CS2 and Flash 8. In this next installment, you learn how to add the appropriate ActionScript to your Flash movie to send output to a printer.
The Flash Printing Task Series:
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects Coming Soon
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
by Robert Reinhardt - 18-Apr-06
Reader Level:
More and more Flash content creators are discovering the power of printing from the Flash Player. Since Flash Player 4, you've had the tools to print content from a Flash movie. Starting with Flash Player 7, a powerful ActionScript class named PrintJob has been on the scene to enable exacting control over printed output from a Flash movie. In this multi-part series, you learn how to build a printable certificate from a Flash movie. In this first installment, you learn how to create the certificate template in Adobe Illustrator CS2 and Flash 8.
The Flash Printing Task Series:
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 1: Building a Certificate Template in Illustrator and Flash
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 2: Basic Printing of the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 3: Adding Dynamic Text to the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 4: Creating a Form for Certificate Information
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 5: Building a Preview for the Certificate
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 6: Creating a Color/Grayscale Toggle for the Certificate Preview Window
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 7: Printing Alpha and Color Mode Effects
Flash Printing Tasks - Part 8: Printing Filter Effects Coming Soon
Showing the Loading Progress of a Video
by Tom Green - 11-Apr-06
Reader Level:
Loading progress and visual clues that a video is actually playing are the focus of this article.
Approximate download size: 14.8MB
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 3: ActionScript Development
by Paul Newman,Michelle Kempner - 03-Apr-06
Reader Level:
In Part 3 of this series, you'll learn how to install the ASDT plugin for Eclipse and set up your environment for ActionScript development. You will also learn how to compile SWFs using MTASC and enable trace statements with Flashout.
The Getting Started with Eclipse Series:
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 1
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 2
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 3
Streaming a Flash Video Through Captivate
by Tom Green - 29-Mar-06
Reader Level:
Not being a huge fan of embedding video into a SWF, when I discovered that was exactly the way it is done in Captivate I thought, "Gosh, there has to be a better way!" There is: embed a SWF into your Captivate movie that calls an FLV into Captivate. Turns out, the bandwidth hit is minimal and Captivate does the preloading duties to boot. Does it get any better than that? You can beat the "video bloat" of an embedded AVI in Captivate simply by using an FLV instead.
Approximate download size: 2.8MB
Teaming up Fireworks and Flash 8 to Create a Custom Video Player
by Tom Green - 27-Mar-06
Reader Level:
When the Flash Video components or pre-rolled buttons don't fit the the project spec, what's a developer to do? How about using Fireworks 8 and Flash 8 to create a custom video player?
In this article I will show you how the drawing tools in both Flash 8 and Fireworks can be used to create a custom video player. We've also included some sweet little buttons created by CMX Partner Gordon Mackay.
In the next article, we will wire the whole thing up using ActionScript.
Approximate download size: 563k
Wiring up the Custom Video Player
by Tom Green - 24-Mar-06
Reader Level:
Wiring up the buttons that control video playback isn't all that difficult to accomplish. You just need to think a bit differently. In the previous installment of this series we created the Player. In this part, we will deal with the ActionScript that makes it all work.
Approximate download size: 1.8MB
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 4 - Adding Cue Points with Sorenson Squeeze 4.3
by Robert Reinhardt - 22-Mar-06
Reader Level:
When Flash Professional 8 was released in 2005, the only tool available to add embedded cue points to Flash Video (.flv) files was Macromedia's own Flash 8 Video Encoder tool. Now, Sorenson Squeeze 4.3 adds a powerful cue point creation feature to the mix. Read this tutorial to learn how to add navigation cue points to your Flash Video files.
The Flash Video Cue Points Series:
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 1 - Overview of Cue Points
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 2 - Embedded Navigation Cue Points with Flash Pro 8
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 3 - Building a List of Embedded Cue Points
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 4 - Adding Cue Points with Sorenson Squeeze 4.3
Approximate download size: 4.6MB
Loaders Demystified: Part 2 - Creating a Simple Loader
by Joseph Balderson - 16-Mar-06
Reader Level:
The process of creating a loading progress indicator for your Flash movie is more involved than you may think. Here's one way of constructing one that is "bullet proof".
Approximate download size: 2.2MB
The Loaders Demystified Series
Loaders Demystified: Part 1 - Usability Guidelines
Loaders Demystified: Part 2 - Creating a Simple Loader
Loaders Demystified: Part 3 - Getting Creative with Progress Indicators
Loaders Demystified: Part 4 - Using the CMX GIF Pre-Loader Packs
A Flashlight Effect in Flash 8
by Tom Green - 14-Mar-06
Reader Level:
Ever wondered how to create a really cool flashlight effect that lights up a dark image? Read on.
Masking Flash Video
by Tom Green - 08-Mar-06
Reader Level:
Sometimes you are handed a video that is just so good, it should be framed. For instance there was that video shot when Chris Flick, whose career has been built on "slandering" me, and I "hooked up" at TODCON and I did my version of "Kill Chris"! Here's how to put it in a frame and, along the way, you learn how to mask a video.
Flash Video Deployment: A Case Study with TEACHnow.org, Part 1: Video Requirements
by Robert Reinhardt - 07-Mar-06
Reader Level:
Since the release of Flash Player 8, a lot of buzz has been generating about the new and improved quality of Flash Video, thanks to the On2 VP6 codec that is part of the Flash Player 8 plug-in. In Part 1 of this series, the process of deploying a 35-minute documentary with Flash Video is examined.
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 3: A Better Approach
by Paul Newman - 06-Mar-06
Reader Level:
In Part 2 of this series, you learned how to use the built-in EventDispatcher class to dispatch events from AS2 classes. In this part, you'll learn how to implement Danny Patterson's event framework to add event support to your Flash applications.
The Using Events in ActionScript Series:
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 1: Listening for Events — How to define event handlers for Flash UI components
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 2: Dispatching Events — Using the EventDispatcher class to dispatch events from AS2 classes
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 3: A Better Approach — How to implement Danny Patterson's event framework
Loaders Demystified: Part 1 - Usability Guidelines
by Joseph Balderson - 28-Feb-06
Reader Level:
In this series we are going to look at all the different kinds of flash loaders — what they're for, how to build them and when to use them. For those Flash users who think they know everything there is ot know about loaders, we hope to show you some new tricks.
In this tutorial — Part 1 of this series — we will be looking at basic loader concepts and loader usability. In Part 2, we'll go over a variation on the classic frame-based loader, upgraded to ActionScript 2.0 syntax.
The Loaders Demystified Series
Loaders Demystified: Part 1 - Usability Guidelines
Loaders Demystified: Part 2 - Creating a Simple Loader
Loaders Demystified: Part 3 - Getting Creative with Progress Indicators
Loaders Demystified: Part 4 - Using the CMX GIF Pre-Loader Packs
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 2: Dispatching Events
by Paul Newman - 24-Feb-06
Reader Level:
In Part 1 of this series, you learned how to define event handlers for Flash UI components. In this part, you'll learn to use the EventDispatcher class to dispatch events from AS2 classes.
The Using Events in ActionScript Series:
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 1: Listening for Events — How to define event handlers for Flash UI components
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 2: Dispatching Events — Using the EventDispatcher class to dispatch events from AS2 classes
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 3: A Better Approach — How to implement Danny Patterson's event framework
Stupid Web Cam Tricks - Part Two
by Tom Green - 22-Feb-06
Reader Level:
In this installment of Stupiud Web Cam Tricks you are shown how to create a series of blocks with video in them. You are also shown how to create your own stack.
Stupid Web Cam Tricks: Part 1
by Tom Green - 15-Feb-06
Reader Level:
Why wave at the world when you can can turn your web camera into a kaleidoscope?
Adding Flash Video to PowerPoint Presentations
by Kim Cavanaugh - 10-Feb-06
Reader Level:
PowerPoint has been capable of accepting and playing back videos for quite some time, at least as far back as Office 97. In most cases the process is quite simple. Go to the Insert menu, click on Insert Movies, and away you go. At least in theory.
The reality of the situation is that your success with video in PowerPoint may vary wildly. Sometimes things will play back absolutely perfectly, especially if you use the same computer with the same operating system to create and encode the video, create the PowerPoint file, and playback the slide show.
But what happens when you develop your video and PowerPoint show on different machines? Or perhaps you're collaborating with someone else who is producing the video while you create the slide show?
Luckily, there is a solution that works between versions of PowerPoint that eliminates the unknowns and ensures that your video will playback exactly the way you want. By converting your video to Flash Video and inserting the completed file into your PowerPoint show you can be certain that the video will playback regardless of the computer and even the operating system that is being used.
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 2
by Michelle Kempner - 02-Feb-06
Reader Level:
In the second article of this series, you'll learn how to install Eclipse plug-ins for ColdFusion, PHP, and ActionScript.
The Getting Started with Eclipse Series:
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 1
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 2
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 3
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 1: Listening for Events
by Paul Newman - 01-Feb-06
Reader Level:
In this three-part series, you'll learn how to use events in Flash. In Part 1, you'll learn how to define event handlers for Flash UI components. In Part 2, you'll use the EventDispatcher class to dispatch events from an AS2 class. In Part 3, you'll learn how to implement Danny Patterson's event framework.
The Using Events in ActionScript Series:
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 1: Listening for Events — How to define event handlers for Flash UI components
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 2: Dispatching Events — Using the EventDispatcher class to dispatch events from AS2 classes
Using Events in ActionScript - Part 3: A Better Approach — How to implement Danny Patterson's event framework
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 3 - Building a List of Embedded Cue Points
by Robert Reinhardt - 30-Jan-06
Reader Level:
Are you looking for a way to read cue point data from an FLV file you created with the Flash 8 Video Encoder or the Flash Pro 8 Video Import wizard? In this tutorial, learn how to populate a List component with cue point names from a sample FLV file, as shown in the completed Flash movie below. As the video plays, the appropriate cue point highlights in the List component.
The Flash Video Cue Points Series:
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 1 - Overview of Cue Points
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 2 - Embedded Navigation Cue Points with Flash Pro 8
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 3 - Building a List of Embedded Cue Points
Flash Video Cue Points: Part 4 - Adding Cue Points with Sorenson Squeeze 4.3 Coming Soon
Approximate download: 3MB
Flash Text Effects and Adobe After Effects 7
by Tom Green - 25-Jan-06
Reader Level:
Ever wondered how to do a cool motion graphic text effect without knowing how to use Flash or even do a tween? If you have After Effects, a simple drag and drop is all you need to know.
Outlining Architectural Objects in Flash
by Kim Cavanaugh - 13-Jan-06
Reader Level:
A visual effect that has become very popular of late with home builders and mortgage companies uses Flash to draw an outline of an architectural object such as a house before revealing a photograph of the home. It's such a popular effect that one of the subscribers to Community MX recently requested a tutorial showing how it is done.
The creation of this effect is fairly straightforward, if not a little time consuming to achieve. To accomplish the outline of the architectural object you start by drawing directly on top of the image that will ultimately appear, separating each outline into its own layer. Once the outline is created the drawing effect is accomplished by drawing a mask in a new layer over the outline then nibbling away at the masking object until no mask remains. The frames are then reversed and the the mask is applied by changing the property of the layer holding the mask. When all is said and done you'll have a rather impressive little animation that is the topic of this tutorial.
Creating Hyperlinks in Flash
by Paul Newman - 05-Jan-06
Reader Level:
In this article, you'll learn how to create hyperlinks (in Flash Player 7 or higher) using HTML-formatted text fields and the TextArea component. You'll also learn how to format hyperlinks using styles loaded from an external CSS file. Finally, you'll learn how to use the built-in asfunction protocol to invoke a Flash function when the user clicks a hyperlink.
Unobtrusive JavaScript: Dynamically Adding a Flash Music Player to MP3 Links
by Danilo Celic - 04-Jan-06
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This tutorial discusses using JavaScript to dynamically add a small Flash music player control to a page that contains links to MP3 files. With this technique, you'll merely need to link in the appropriate JavaScript to your page, and all MP3 links on a page, such as your latest Podcast, will automatically have player controls added next to them, with no further digging into the code on your part.
The Local File System and Flash
by Danny Patterson - 19-Dec-05
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It seems like Flash developers always want to save data to the user's local file system. For security reasons, Flash does not give a SWF permission to do this. However, with the features found in many of today's top Flash projector tools, you can write to the user's local file system.
In this article, we will examine Zinc, one of the most popular Flash projectors on the market, and see how we can use it to save an XML file to the user's hard drive.
Using ActionScript to Control the FLVPlayback Component
by Tom Green - 16-Dec-05
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Why use the FLVPlayback component's parameters to add content, skins or otherwise manipulate video in your movie? ActionScript gives you the same control.
Circle the Date with Fireworks and Flash
by Kim Cavanaugh - 15-Dec-05
Reader Level:
Have you ever had a calendar date that you wanted to fix in the mind of the viewers of your site? Perhaps it's an important upcoming event that you want to make sure they make note of. A good way to do that is to provide the viewer with a visual representation of a date on a calendar being circled. Even, better, if you make the circle animated you'll add more impact to the reminder and help your viewers really get the message.
Using Fireworks and Flash together you can create an image like this in short order. In this tutorial you'll see how to use the Pie Autoshape in Fireworks to create a segmented circle that is then distributed to frames and readied for transfer over to Flash. Once you're in Flash the animated circle from Fireworks becomes a movie clip that is applied as a mask to small circle. The end result is a circle that appears to be drawn around the date you want to highlight as the mask is revealed. While that might sound complicated, in fact it's quite easy.
Creating an Alpha Video in Adobe After Effects
by Tom Green - 01-Dec-05
Reader Level:
After Effects 6.5 is the tool of choice for creating Alpha Channel video among the pros. Here's how.
Working with SMIL, Part 4: Creating a Video List with XML, SMIL, and the FLVPlayback Component
by Robert Reinhardt - 23-Nov-05
Reader Level:
Learn how to create multiple SMIL files for several pieces of video content, played within the new FLVPlayback component shipping with Flash Pro 8. Use the List component with XML data to specify each clip, which in turn loads a SMIL file responsible for the FLV files associated with the video content.
The Working with SMIL Series:
Working with SMIL - Part 1: The FLVPlayback Component and Progressive FLV Files
Working with SMIL - Part 2: Detecting Bandwidth with Progressive FLV Files
Working with SMIL - Part 3: Real-time Streaming FLVs with the FLVPlayback Component
Working with SMIL - Part 4: Creating a Video List with XML, SMIL, and the FLVPlayback Component
Buttonizing Movie Clips
by Paul Newman - 22-Nov-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, you'll learn a little-known feature of Flash that makes your movie clips behave like buttons.
Create a Talking Head Video Using Adobe Premiere Pro and Flash Professional 8
by Tom Green - 14-Nov-05
Reader Level:
The ability to use video with an Alpha Channel is new to Flash Professional 8. This articles shows how to create the video and then place it in Flash. Ever wondered how they create those talking head videos and cool banner ads on the Macromedia site? Read on...
Building an Image Uploader/Downloader in Flash 8
by Danny Patterson - 11-Nov-05
Reader Level:
Perhaps the most requested feature for Flash by developers is the ability to upload and download files right from inside Flash. For years developers have been writing "workarounds" for this feature using Javascript and HTML. Now with Flash 8, developers can use this funtionality from within Flash. In this article we will examine this new feature and build a simple Image Uploader/Dowloader application; all without any Javascript.
Working with SMIL, Part 3: Real-time Streaming FLVs with the FLVPlayback Component
by Robert Reinhardt - 11-Nov-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, you learn how to take advantage of SMIL to easily integrate data-rate specific Flash Video content with your Flash Media Server (or Flash Communciation Server) applications. These server technologies take the guesswork and hassle out of determining the Flash client's available bandwidth.
The Working with SMIL Series:
Working with SMIL - Part 1: The FLVPlayback Component and Progressive FLV Files
Working with SMIL - Part 2: Detecting Bandwidth with Progressive FLV Files
Working with SMIL - Part 3: Real-time Streaming FLVs with the FLVPlayback Component
Working with SMIL - Part 4: Creating a Video List with XML, SMIL, and the FLVPlayback Component
Flash Component Series: RadioButton
by Paul Newman - 08-Nov-05
Reader Level:
In this article, you'll learn how to use the Macromedia RadioButton component in your Flash applications. To demonstrate, we'll create a simple quiz with three radio buttons and define them as members of the same radio button group. We'll also create a listener for the RadioButtonGroup.click event, and respond to the user's selection by displaying the corresponding movie on IMDB.com.
The Flash Component Series:
Flash Component Series: Tab Bar
Flash Component Series: Data Connection Wizard
Flash Component Series: Flash Remoting 2004
Flash Component Series: MenuBar
Flash Component Series: Tree - Part 1
Flash Component Series: Tree - Part 2
Flash Component Series: Creating an Editable DataGrid
Flash Component Series: PopUpManager
Flash Component Series: ComboBox
Flash Component Series: RadioButton
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 1
by Michelle Kempner - 02-Nov-05
Reader Level:
Eclipse is an open-source IDE widely used for Java development and developed by the Eclipse Foundation. Eclipse, in conjunction with plug-ins, can be used as an environment for any number of programming languages. There are plugins for ColdFusion, .NET, PHP, and even Ada and LISP. In addition, Macromedia is joining the Eclipse Foundation and has built a Flex IDE, formerly code-named Zorn, based on the Eclipse editor.
In this article, you'll learn how to download and install Eclipse, define a workspace, and create and debug a "Hello world!" application in Java.
The Getting Started with Eclipse Series:
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 1
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 2
Getting Started with Eclipse - Part 3
Working with SMIL, Part 2: Detecting Bandwidth with Progressive FLV Files
by Robert Reinhardt - 28-Oct-05
Reader Level:
If you use a SMIL file to list a variety of specific data rate FLV files for the FLVPlayback component, you need to know how to determine the Flash client's available bandwidth. Once the bandwidth is calculated, the FLVPlayback component can select the appropriate FLV file to play. This tutorial enhances the Flash movie you created in Part 1 of this series.
The Working with SMIL Series:
Working with SMIL - Part 1: The FLVPlayback Component and Progressive FLV Files
Working with SMIL - Part 2: Detecting Bandwidth with Progressive FLV Files
Working with SMIL - Part 3: Real-time Streaming FLVs with the FLVPlayback Component
Working with SMIL - Part 4: Creating a Video List with XML, SMIL, and the FLVPlayback Component
Alpha Video Tricks
by Tom Green - 26-Oct-05
Reader Level:
Looking to do some cool video stuff in Flash Professional 8 such as adding a drop shadow or having the background "project" onto the subject? Read on...
Working with Dates - Part 2
by Paul Newman - 24-Oct-05
Reader Level:
In Part 1 of this series, you learned how to use the built-in Date class to create and manipulate date objects in Flash. In this article, you'll learn how to use dates with the Flash DateField component.
The DateField component is a combination of the Macromedia TextInput and DateChooser components. It helps ensure correctly formatted date input by popping up an instance of the DateChooser component when the users clicks on the TextInput component.
The Working with Dates Series:
Working with Dates - Part 1
Working with Dates - Part 2
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 3
by Joey Lott - 20-Oct-05
Reader Level:
In Part 3 of this series learn how to copy content from movie clips and video to BitmapData objects.
The Flash 8 Bitmap API Series:
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 1
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 2
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 3
Working with SMIL - Part 1: The FLVPlayback Component and Progressive FLV Files
by Robert Reinhardt - 13-Oct-05
Reader Level:
One of the most talked about features of Flash Professional 8 is the new FLVPlayback component. In this tutorial, you learn how to use SMIL files with the FLVPlayback component to enhance the quality of the video playback experience for a range of target data rates.
The Working with SMIL Series:
Working with SMIL - Part 1: The FLVPlayback Component and Progressive FLV Files
Working with SMIL - Part 2: Detecting Bandwidth with Progressive FLV Files
Working with SMIL - Part 3: Real-time Streaming FLVs with the FLVPlayback Component
Working with SMIL - Part 4: Creating a Video List with XML, SMIL, and the FLVPlayback Component
Adding Flash Video to Dreamweaver 8
by Tom Green - 12-Oct-05
Reader Level:
Web video is suddenly all the rage thanks to Flash Professional 8, those wonderful people at On2 and Sorenson and the folks at Adobe who provide the video editing software. It is enough to make a web developer's head spin. Suddenly we are confronted with putting web video in our web pages because clients see the neat stuff the "Cool Kids" over on the Flash side of the street are doing and we get caught with a "Me too!" The guys at Macromedia must have anticipated this because they did something with Flash Video in Dreamweaver 8 that is rather amazing; they made it even easier to use. Best off all, it is free.
Prior to the release of Dreamweaver 8, the Flash Video Kit for Dreamweaver MX 2004 was a spending decision on your part if you wanted to add Flash video to your pages. Mind you, the "Kit" included a copy of Sorenson Squeeze Lite and it is still an integral FLV creation tool if you didn't purchase either Studio 8 or Flash Professional 8. The Video Kit is now bundled with the application and is even better than the retail version of the Video Kit.
Macromedia has pulled off a rather amazing feat with Dreamweaver 8. They made adding video to your web pages even easier than ever.
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 2
by Joey Lott - 10-Oct-05
Reader Level:
In Part 2 of the Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API series learn how to apply noise using the built-in methods of the BitmapData class.
The Flash 8 Bitmap API Series:
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 1
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 2
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 3
Working with Dates - Part 1
by Paul Newman - 05-Oct-05
Reader Level:
In Part 1 of this series, you'll learn how to use the methods of the built-in Date class to create and manipulate date objects in Flash. You'll also learn how to display dates in a more readable format in your applications.
The Working with Dates Series:
Working with Dates - Part 1
Working with Dates - Part 2
Using the Scale 9 Feature in Flash 8
by Danny Patterson - 04-Oct-05
Reader Level:
Scale 9 is a new feature of Flash 8 that allows you to specify how you want a MovieClip to scale. A great example of how you can use this is to preserve the rounded corners of a box. In this tutorial, we will examine two ways of using scale 9 in your projects.
Choosing a Video Codec for Your Flash 8 Movie
by Robert Reinhardt - 28-Sep-05
Reader Level:
By now, you've probably heard about--and seen--the new On2 VP6 codec featured in Flash Player 8. While the codec offers image quality that is far superior to Sorenson Spark, On2 VP6 is not always the best choice for your video content. In this article, you learn how to determine which codec will offer the best experience to your audience.
Using Script Assist in Flash Professional 8
by Tom Green - 27-Sep-05
Reader Level:
It vanished in Flash MX 2004 but has been returned, all spiffed up and using a a new name in Flash Professional 8. Script Assist is a great way to learn how to use ActionScript in Flash. Script Assist won't write your code, but it is a great addition to Flash 8 if you are just getting into writing ActionScript.
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 1
by Joey Lott - 26-Sep-05
Reader Level:
In the Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API series learn how to work with the BitmapData class in order to achieve a variety of effects. In Part 1 learn the basics such as how to construct a BitmapData object and display it on the stage.
The Flash 8 Bitmap API Series:
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 1
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 2
Working with the Flash 8 Bitmap API - Part 3
Loading Assets into Flash with MovieClipLoader
by Paul Newman - 19-Sep-05
Reader Level:
In this article, you'll learn how to use the MovieClipLoader class to load external assets, such as SWFs and JPEGs, into Flash movies. Unlike loadMovie(), the MovieClipLoader class enables you to monitor the loading progress of a download to display feedback to the user. With MovieClipLoader, you can also use a single instance to load multiple assets.
Flash Capabilities Detection: Part 2 - Frame Rate
by Joey Lott - 15-Sep-05
Reader Level:
In this article you will learn how to detect a user's frame rate capabilities. Frame rate detection is helpful in determining whether or not the user will be able to playback content as intended. Often you can use frame rate detection in order to provide the user with the optimal content specifically designed to playback at their frame rate capabilities. This article looks at both SWF timeline frame rate and FLV frame rate detection.
The Flash Capabilities Detection Series:
Flash Capabilities Detection: Part 1 - Bandwith
Flash Capabilities Detection: Part 2 - Frame Rate
Distributing a Class Library: Part 2
by Danny Patterson - 09-Sep-05
Reader Level:
Continuing with the series on distributing ActionScript classes, this article will examine creating documentation for your classes. We will comment our classes with Doc-Style documentation. Then we will use a product called BLDoc created by B-Line Express. This tool will parse our classes and generate help files that we will then include in our installation package. This will make the documentation available right inside the Help Panel of the Flash authoring environment.
The Distributing ActionScript Classes Series:
Distributing ActionScript Classes - Part 1
Distributing a Class Library: Part 2
Flash Component Series: ComboBox
by Paul Newman - 07-Sep-05
Reader Level:
In this article, you'll learn how to define an array as the data provider for a combo box, and how to add and remove items using the ComboBox.addItem() and ComboBox.removeItemAt() methods. You'll also learn how to display icons in a ComboBox or List component using the List.iconField property, and how to expand and collapse the ComboBox using its open and close methods.
The Flash Component Series:
Flash Component Series: Tab Bar
Flash Component Series: Data Connection Wizard
Flash Component Series: Flash Remoting 2004
Flash Component Series: MenuBar
Flash Component Series: Tree - Part 1
Flash Component Series: Tree - Part 2
Flash Component Series: Creating an Editable DataGrid
Flash Component Series: PopUpManager
Flash Component Series: ComboBox
Flash Component Series: RadioButton
Bitmap Versus Vector: Part II
by Kim Dudley - 07-Sep-05
Reader Level:
As the line between vector and bitmap applications become more blurred it is very important to understand the difference between vector and bitmap artwork. Part I of this two-part series dealt with the pros and cons of bitmap and vector artwork.
This article will discuss when it is best to use each and look at how some Macromedia applications work with bitmap and vector artwork. In addition we will check out the applications that contain both vector and bitmap tools and discuss what to watch out for when using them.
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 4: Creating a Button Class
by Robert Reinhardt - 02-Sep-05
Reader Level:
Do you think components are evil? The work of crazy people who intentionally want to bloat your Flash movie file sizes? This tutorial shows you that you can create your own style of Button component that doesn't eat eat up 20 or more KB in your Flash movie. Learn how to take the frame script from the previous tutorial and convert it into a full-blown ActionScript 2.0 class associated with a component clip in the library.
The Better Practices for Flash Designers Series:
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 1: Coding Buttons
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 2: Using Shared Fonts
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 3: Building Better Buttons
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 4: Creating a Button Class
Creating an XML Configuration File for your Flash Application
by Danny Patterson - 01-Sep-05
Reader Level:
Creating an XML Configuration file can prove to be a big time saver when it comes to maintaining your application. There are many constants in an application that you should be able to change without re-compiling your SWF. That is one of the main advantages of using an external configuration file. Since its not compiled into the final application, you can change it without recompiling. XML is the preferred format for this file because it can be read by many different technologies.
In this article we will look at creating an XML configuration file, an XML Schema file for validating the configuration file's format, and finally we will create a Settings class for managing the loading and retrieval of the configuration constants.
Flash Capabilities Detection: Part 1 - Bandwidth
by Joey Lott - 30-Aug-05
Reader Level:
In this article you'll learn how to detect a client computer's bandwidth capabilities using Flash. Bandwidth detection can be useful in many applications. Once you've detected the bandwidth you can optimize the application and assets for the client based on the detected bandwidth. You learn how to build the necessary elements and write the code that checks the bandwidth.
The Flash Capabilities Detection Series:
Flash Capabilities Detection: Part 1 - Bandwidth
Flash Capabilities Detection: Part 2 - Frame Rate
Creating a Video Player in Flash Professional 8
by Tom Green - 29-Aug-05
Reader Level:
Macromedia seems to have pulled off a magic trick: Make Flash video more complex but easier than ever to use.
In the first part of this overview of the new video features of Flash Professional 8, I showed you how to use the new tools in Flash Professional 8 — The Wizard and the Flash 8 Video Encoder — to create the FLV file. In this installment I will walk you through the use of the new FLVPlayback component and the new FLV Custom PlayBack UI components.
Flash Remoting Made Simple - Part 2
by Joey Lott - 26-Aug-05
Reader Level:
In Part 1 you learned how to use the NetConnection to make low-level Flash Remoting calls. However, when you use NetConnection directly there is no built-in debugging functionality. In Part 2 learn how to add debugging functionality similar to that of the NetConnection Debugger that is part of the Macromedia Flash Remoting components.
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 3: Building Better Buttons
by Robert Reinhardt - 26-Aug-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, you learn how to create Movie Clip buttons with tweening transitions between over and out states, and how to write Movie Clip button handlers in ActionScript. Get a sneak peek at Flash 8's Glow filter in the works as well!
The Better Practices for Flash Designers Series:
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 1: Coding Buttons
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 2: Using Shared Fonts
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 3: Building Better Buttons
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 4: Creating a Button Class
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 2: Using Shared Fonts
by Robert Reinhardt - 18-Aug-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, you learn how to setup a runtime shared library, or RSL, to reuse font assets with several Flash movies. RSLs can greatly optimize your Flash workflow and reduce the file size of font-heavy Flash projects.
The Better Practices for Flash Designers Series:
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 1: Coding Buttons
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 2: Using Shared Fonts
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 3: Building Better Buttons
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 4: Creating a Button Class
Flash Remoting Made Simple - Part 1
by Joey Lott - 15-Aug-05
Reader Level:
Flash Remoting is an extremely useful and effective technolgoy, and it is simpler than you might think. In this article learn how to make Flash Remoting calls and handle responses using ActionScript functionality that is built into Flash Player.
Applying Filters Programmatically in Flash 8
by Paul Newman - 10-Aug-05
Reader Level:
If you read Tom Green's article, Getting Expressive with Flash 8 Professional, you learned about the new filters — Drop Shadow, Blur, Glow, etc. — that you can apply to movie clips and text at authoring time. In this article, you'll learn how to apply the new filters to movie clips and text fields at runtime using ActionScript.
FLV Creation in Flash Professional 8
by Tom Green - 09-Aug-05
Reader Level:
Creating Flash video was a rather mysterious process until Macromedia added the Flash 8 Video Encoder to the product. In the process they did something amazing: Complicated the process and made it even easier to create an FLV.
Getting Started With Flash Lite
by Paul Wilson - 04-Aug-05
Reader Level:
Flash Lite is the version of the Macromedia Flash Player that has been specifically designed for use on mobile phones. This article aims to give you an introduction to developing content for mobile devices and the tools you need to start building applications using Flash Lite.
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 1: Coding Buttons
by Robert Reinhardt - 03-Aug-05
Reader Level:
One of the many beauties of Flash is that you can create interactive movies with a variety of techniques and ActionScript code, each accommodating a specific user's level of comfort and familiarity with the Flash toolset. In this tutorial, you learn how to expand your use of ActionScript to better organize and write your code for buttons.
The Better Practices for Flash Designers Series:
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 1: Coding Buttons
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 2: Using Shared Fonts
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 3: Building Better Buttons
Better Practices for Flash Designers - Part 4: Creating a Button Class
Flash Component Series: PopUpManager
by Paul Newman - 26-Jul-05
Reader Level:
Flash MX 2004 ships with two UI Components that enable you to display modal and nonmodal alerts and windows: the Alert component and the Window component. The Alert component displays a centered dialog box with a title bar, message, and optional icon and buttons. The Window component features a title bar, optional close button, and the ability to display content loaded from a movie clip in the library, a SWF file, or a JPEG.
In this article, you'll learn how to display alerts using the Alert.show() method, and how to show and hide windows using methods of the PopUpManager class.
The Flash Component Series:
Flash Component Series: Tab Bar
Flash Component Series: Data Connection Wizard
Flash Component Series: Flash Remoting 2004
Flash Component Series: MenuBar
Flash Component Series: Tree - Part 1
Flash Component Series: Tree - Part 2
Flash Component Series: Creating an Editable DataGrid
Flash Component Series: PopUpManager
Flash Component Series: ComboBox
Flash Component Series: RadioButton
The Basics of Using Math with ActionScript: Part 1
by Derrick Ypenburg - 20-Jul-05
Reader Level:
Fear of math is more than common with beginner Flash developers (and completely understandable). What most beginner Flash developers don't realize at first is that they can get very far using just the basic math they learned in public school to create more advanced Flash movies. ActionScript functions, classes and methods can only take you so far. To expand on ActionScript, math is needed to create logic, affect object properties, and create artificial intelligence in a Flash movie. This two-part article will help make using math in Flash a bit more comfortable for you to work with.
Data Binding in Flash MX 2004 - Part 5: Coding XMLConnector and List Components
by Robert Reinhardt - 19-Jul-05
Reader Level:
In past tutorials of this series, the new Binding and Schema tabs of the Component Inspector panel were used to create associations between data and events among MX 2004 components. In this tutorial, you learn how to write your own data-binding code to accomplish the same tasks.
The DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 Series:
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 1: Visual Binding with the List and MediaPlayback Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 2: Using the XMLConnector Component to Populate a List
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 3: Loading Text with the XMLConnector Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 4: Styling Label and TextArea Components
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 5: Coding XMLConnector and List Components
Using CSS with Flash MX 2004 UI Components
by Robert Reinhardt - 01-Jul-05
Reader Level:
Most Flash designers and developers use CSS in Flash movies to control the styling of text within Flash dynamic textfields. You can also use CSS to style just about anything else in Flash movies, including UI components. In this tutorial, you learn how to create a simple stylesheet that controls the look of a ComboBox component.
Debugging Flash Applications with AdminTool
by Paul Newman - 27-Jun-05
Reader Level:
As Flash applications become more and more complex, it's difficult to debug them using only trace() statements and the built-in Flash Debugger. To address this, a number of Flash developers have begun creating their own debug tools using the LocalConnection class. Of these, the clear standout is John Grden's AdminTool.
In this article, you'll learn two different ways to use AdminTool with your Flash projects:
- The AdminTool Connector component — This Flash MX 2004 extension enables you to integrate AdminTool simply by adding the component to your FLA library.
- The AdminTool Connector package — This ActionScript class, com.acmewebworks.admintool.Connector.as, loads an external SWF called ConnectorOnly_as2.swf. This approach is a little more complicated because you have to import the class and create a listener for the Connector.adminToolLoadComplete event.
The support files include examples of both approaches: a component demo, and an ActionScript class demo.
Loading External SWF Files and JPEGs Into Flash Movies
by Derrick Ypenburg - 24-Jun-05
Reader Level:
Have you ever been seated in a restaurant only to have to wait 15 minutes to even get your menu? That's how a lot of Flash sites are still being developed. Visiting a slow loading site can be quite frustrating and eventually the user will leave the site. Why make people wait just to make a choice? Why make me wait just to see what's on the menu before I make a decision?
By using the loadMovie() function in Flash, we can become better waiters and deliver options faster and only make the user wait once they've made a decision to be somewhere.
Data Binding in Flash MX 2004 - Part 4: Styling Label and TextArea Components
by Robert Reinhardt - 23-Jun-05
Reader Level:
Using the data binding features of Flash MX 2004 UI components doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a unique look-and-feel for your Flash movies. In this next tutorial of the data binding series, you learn how to use the setStyle() method of the UI components to control text formatting in a variety of scopes, from document-wide to individual instances.
The DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 Series:
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 1: Visual Binding with the List and MediaPlayback Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 2: Using the XMLConnector Component to Populate a List
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 3: Loading Text with the XMLConnector Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 4: Styling Label and TextArea Components
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 5: Coding XMLConnector and List Components
Digital Video: What Happens Before the FLV?
by Tom Green - 20-Jun-05
Reader Level:
You are handed a QuickTime movie and told, "Get it ready for web playback." Here's what you have to know about that video, how it was created, and why, sometimes, video simply doesn't work.
Using the Macromedia Flash / JavaScript Integration Kit
by Danny Patterson - 17-Jun-05
Reader Level:
The Flash/JavaScript Integration Kit was developed by Christian Cantrell and Mike Chambers at Macromedia. It was developed to make the communication between Flash and JavaScript easier to implement. This isn't a new technology, but it's a straightforward way to implement this type of communication between these different pieces of your application. This article discusses the benefits of the Integration Kit and gives a simple demonstration of how it can be used.
Talking to Flash with JavaScript
by Paul Newman - 16-Jun-05
Reader Level:
At the time of this writing — Flash Player 7 — there is no consistently reliable method for talking to Flash with JavaScript. But there is a workaround. In this article, you'll learn how to use FlashVars and the LocalConnection class to send messages to a Flash movie embedded in an HTML document. This technique should work in virtually every browser and platform, provided the user hasn't disabled JavaScript.
The Basics of Sound in Flash MX 2004 - Part 2
by Tom Green - 08-Jun-05
Reader Level:
Maybe Hillman Curtis was on to something when he stressed to any Flash developer that would listen: "Pay attention to the pipe". With sound, you can clog the pipe even before you open Flash!
In the previous article in this series I dealt with the basics of sound in Flash. In this one, we move to the next step in the process — importing sound and working with it in a variety of locations ranging from the Library to the Property inspector.
Importing PNG Files with Masks and Transparency Info into Flash
by Derrick Ypenburg - 07-Jun-05
Reader Level:
Masking images in Flash can sometimes be a frustrating task. I find you cannot mask an image in Flash as well as you can mask an image in Photoshop or Fireworks. Masks in Flash do work well for creating certain effects, but for masking images that need a transparent background around detailed shapes, especially images that require feathering around their edges, Flash just doesn't cut it.
What's the solution then? Well Photoshop and Fireworks have much more powerful tools and masking capabilities. Plus, they can both export files in PNG (Portable Network Graphics) format. PNG files are capabele of retaining the mask and transparency information of an image.
Data Binding in Flash MX 2004 - Part 3: Loading Text with the XMLConnector Component
by Robert Reinhardt - 06-Jun-05
Reader Level:
Many designers and developers who use Flash want to know how to load text from a text file and display it in a Flash movie at runtime. In this tutorial, you learn how to store text in an XML file, load into a Flash movie with the XMLConnector component, and bind the data to Label, TextArea, and Loader components.
The DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 Series:
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 1: Visual Binding with the List and MediaPlayback Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 2: Using the XMLConnector Component to Populate a List
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 3: Loading Text with the XMLConnector Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 4: Styling Label and TextArea Components
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 5: Coding XMLConnector and List Components
CMX JumpStart: Vegas
by Stephanie Sullivan,Linda Rathgeber-Stewart - 02-Jun-05
Reader Level:
Las Vegas, entertainment capital of the world, inspired this exciting JumpStart design. As with all the JumpStarts, you can use and modify the design in any way you see fit, for commercial work or otherwise.
Two pages, a home page and contact page, are included in this JumpStart. Both pages feature a fixed width, centered design using a faux column technique. The home page includes a customizable Flash Slideshow component that includes a demonstration of images loaded using an XML file. This JumpStart features the cutting edge and accessible sIFR technique. sIFR allows you to use any font currently on your computer to create your headings. The contact page features a styled form using fieldset and legend. The pages are constructed using valid XHTML 1.0 markup and formatted using valid CSS 2 styling. We provide an extensively commented style sheet so you know what each piece does and how to change it to suit your design. Vegas also follows the WAI and Section 508 accessibility guidelines to provide you with a solid foundation for your work and give your users the best experience possible.
We've included the PNG file used to create the layout so you can adapt it with your own look and colors. It features masks that allow you to easily replace our graphics with your own, enabling you to adapt this design for any number of uses or clients. It includes the CMX Flash Slideshow component and the graphic and code techniques used to create Vegas are explained fully in the 13 tutorials that we've included in your download. Those techniques that are not covered in the bundle are explained here, providing you with not only a robust template, but a learning tool giving you insite into the web design process as well.
If you'd like a more detailed look at the Vegas Jumpstart, as well as seeing a modified Vegas design, check out Sheri German's CMX JumpStart Vegas: An Introduction.
Creating a Custom Look for the CMX Slideshow Extension Using Fireworks
by Jim Babbage - 31-May-05
Reader Level:
I'm an Ultra-Noob when it comes to Flash. Frankly, the application overwhelms me, most likely because I over think the process. So one thing that CMX has helped me with is to learn a bit about this program, by working with some of the cool extensions and tutorials created by our Flash Experts.
Case in point: In the past few weeks, I have had TWO requests from clients for an automated slide show for their web sites. In the past I have built these as semi-interactive photo galleries, making use of other extensions and then hammering them into submission until the gallery fit in the page the way I wanted. After reading Paul Newman's article on his CMX Slide show Flash Extension I was not only intrigued, but completely hooked. I could DO this.
And I did, in less than an afternoon, including image selection and batch processing. Let me tell you, I was tickled pink that this worked. Not only did I do something in Flash, I also had an answer for two clients - which means more work and happy customers!
After my initial elation wore off, the designer part of me kicked in. I started wondering how I could jazz up the slide show. I glanced nervously at the drawing tools in Flash, but my hand knew better. Fireworks was launching before I even thought about it.
Paul's excellent tutorial gives you all the info you need to make his extension work. This tutorial will look at how easy it can be to design-ify a Flash interface, by working seamlessly with Flash and Fireworks. What we will be doing is creating a custom frame that surrounds the slide show. area. We will customize the frame so that it looks a bit more organic, and then bring the design into Flash.
The Basics of Sound in Flash MX 2004 - Part 1
by Tom Green - 26-May-05
Reader Level:
There are a lot of articles at Community MX that deal with the use of sound in Flash.
If you are new to Flash, or even sound, this article - the first of a two-part series - is designed to get you going.
Data Binding in Flash MX 2004 - Part 2: Using the XMLConnector Component to Populate a List
by Robert Reinhardt - 25-May-05
Reader Level:
In the last tutorial of this series, you learned how to use the new visual data binding features of Flash MX Pro 2004 to add interactive behaviors to the List and MediaPlayback components. In this tutorial, you learn how to add the XMLConnector component to the mix. Instead of putting all of the FLV file data directly on the List component via the Property inspector (or the Component Inspector panel), you will create an XML file storing the data. You'll use the XMLConnector component to load and parse the XML file into information that the List component will understand.
The DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 Series:
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 1: Visual Binding with the List and MediaPlayback Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 2: Using the XMLConnector Component to Populate a List
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 3: Loading Text with the XMLConnector Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 4: Styling Label and TextArea Components
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 5: Coding XMLConnector and List Components
Flash Fundamentals: Using Wrapper Movie Clips
by Derrick Ypenburg - 24-May-05
Reader Level:
A "wrapper" movie clip is essentially a main movie clip for a Flash movie that has all other movie clips and functionality of the movie nested within it. Wrapper movie clips are not built into Flash, it is just a terminology for a fundamental technique when working with a Flash movie and all of its elements and objects.
This article will cover the basics of working with wrapper movie clips and the value they add to the overall production and functionality of a project.
Monitor Changes Using the Object.Watch Feature in Flash
by Danny Patterson - 18-May-05
Reader Level:
My last article covered a lesser-known feature of the native Object class in Flash for resolving undefined properties and methods: Resolving Undefined Methods and Properties Within a Flash Object. This article is also going to explore a lesser-known feature of the Object class called watch/unwatch. The feature allows you to monitor an object's properties for changes. In this article we examine the feature and show how to use it. We will also cover a real-world example of how this feature could be used to make your development efforts easier.
Data Binding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 1: Visual Binding with the List and MediaPlayback Component
by Robert Reinhardt - 17-May-05
Reader Level:
Flash MX Professional 2004 enables you to quickly bind two or more components together with interactive behaviors using the new Bindings and Schema tabs of the Component Inspector. In this tutorial, you learn how to add a list of FLV files to the List component and bind the selected item's data to the MediaPlayback component.
The DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 Series:
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 1: Visual Binding with the List and MediaPlayback Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 2: Using the XMLConnector Component to Populate a List
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 3: Loading Text with the XMLConnector Component
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 4: Styling Label and TextArea Components
DataBinding in Flash MX Pro 2004 - Part 5: Coding XMLConnector and List Components
Testing ColdFusion Forms
by Paul Newman - 16-May-05
Reader Level:
One of the most frequent problems that arises when developing ColdFusion applications is form processing. Often, forms don't work because they don't return the expected results. In this article, you'll learn how to create a form tester page that you can use to view the results of forms submitted via GET and POST. These can be regular HTML forms, or forms created using the cfform tag. You can even test Flash forms in ColdFusion MX 7.
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server - Part 8: Playing Streams from Virtual Directories
by Robert Reinhardt - 11-May-05
Reader Level:
In this installment of the "Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server" series, you learn how to apply the knowledge from Part 7 to the Flash UI you started building in Part 6. In the following sections, you will accomplish the following tasks:
- Setup a virtual directory for your music MP3 files, so that your FlashCom applications can access them.
- Edit the ColdFusion component (CFC file) created in Part 5 to return a FlashCom-friendly URI to the Flash UI. The MP3 file locations stored in the MP3 database file are local paths (e.g. C:\MP3\Johnny Cash), which cannot be used for runtime playback in the Flash UI.
- Create NetConnection and NetStream instances within the Flash UI to play a MP3 file that is selected in the songs list.
This tutorial assumes that you have read and completed Parts 5, 6, and 7. Please review these other tutorials before you proceed with this tutorial.
The Streaming MP3s Series:
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 1 - Streaming Basics
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 2 - Creating an MP3 Component
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 3 - Adding a Playlist to the MP3 Component
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 4 - Using Other Playback Components
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 5 - Creating an MP3 Database
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 6 - Displaying Dynamic MP3 Data in a Flash UI
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 7 - Linking MP3 Directories to the FCS App
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 8 - Playing Streams from Virtual Directories
ActionScript Drawing API Part 3: Making a Paintbrush
by Derrick Ypenburg - 10-May-05
Reader Level:
In Part 3 of the ActionScript Drawing API, I will cover how to program and create a doodle board/white board application. This drawing application will include brush color, brush alpha and brush thickness options for the user.
A Flash Animation Case Study: Animate a Company Logo - Part 2
by Kim Cavanaugh - 09-May-05
Reader Level:
Clients can come up with the darndest ideas. Imagine this scenario - your client wants to add an animated splash screen to their site. As much as you dislike those kinds of things, your client really wants this done, and is of course, willing to pay for your time and expertise. Not being one to either (A) make your client angry or (B) turn down a paying job, you agree to do the animation for them. In this Captivate video case study you'll follow along with the steps I took when presented with just this challenge.
Laszlo: Part 2 - Installation
by Arman Danesh - 04-May-05
Reader Level:
OpenLaszlo is an open-source, Java-based application server which can be used to deliver Flash-based Web sites entirely built with a server-side tagging language. This installment in our series on Laszlo covers the installation of the server on Mac OS X and Windows.
The Laszlo Series:
Laszlo: Part 1 - Overview
Laszlo: Part 2 - Installation
Laszlo: Part 3 - Hello World
Laszlo: Part 4 - Laszlo Widgets and Elements
Laszlo: Part 5 - Managing Layouts
Laszlo: Part 6 - Working With Data Coming Soon
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server - Part 7: Linking MP3 Directories to the FCS App
by Robert Reinhardt - 03-May-05
Reader Level:
In this installment of the FCS series, you learn how to create virtual directories on the FlashCom Server. Virtual directories enable you to stream MP3 or FLV files from folders or network locations not directly created in the FlashCom application folder.
The Streaming MP3s Series:
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 1 - Streaming Basics
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 2 - Creating an MP3 Component
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 3 - Adding a Playlist to the MP3 Component
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 4 - Using Other Playback Components
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 5 - Creating an MP3 Database
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 6 - Displaying Dynamic MP3 Data in a Flash UI
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 7 - Linking MP3 Directories to the FCS App
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 8 - Playing Streams from Virtual Directories Coming Soon
The Transition Class in Flash MX 2004
by Derrick Ypenburg - 27-Apr-05
Reader Level:
The Transition class is a pre-built set of classes that ship with Flash MX 2004. Transitions in Flash are used to create dramatic and appealing exits and intros to images, sections and other objects within a Flash movie. Just think about how one shot goes to another on TV and in movies, transitions serve the same purpose in Flash.
A Flash Animation Case Study: Animate a Company Logo--Part 1
by Kim Cavanaugh - 25-Apr-05
Reader Level:
Clients always seem to want the darndest things. In this case study you'll follow along with an actual design challenge that I was presented with--taking a static company logo and converting it to a Flash animation. Along the way you'll learn some tips for recreating an image with vector objects so they can be animated, some best practices for organizing a Flash movie, and some production tips to make the whole project get finished more quickly, and to you client's liking. This project also serves as am excellent introduction to Flash animation techniques for those who are just getting started in working with Flash and its animation tools.
CMX JumpStarts: New Orleans
by Paul Newman,Zoe Gillenwater - 21-Apr-05
Reader Level:
The New Orleans JumpStart has been designed with the Umoja String
Quartet and their jazzy feel at the center. Two pages, a home page and
contact page, are included in this JumpStart. Both pages feature a fixed
width, centered design with a scrollable content area. The home page
includes a customizable MP3 player built in Flash that includes music
from from two Umoja String Quartet CDs: "Songs of Our Fathers" and
"Things Ain't What They Used To Be."
The pages are constructed using valid XHTML 1.0 markup and formatted
using valid CSS 2.1 styling. We provide an extensively commented style
sheet so you know what each piece does and how to change it to suit your
design, as well as another version of the style sheet with the comments
stripped out so you don't have to cut out all those extra kilobytes by
hand when you're ready to go live! New Orleans also follows the WAI and
Section 508 accessibility guidelines to provide you with a solid
foundation for your work.
Beyond just the pages, we've also included all the source files used to
create both of the layouts, both PNG and Flash. All layers in the PNG
file are organized and labeled so that it's easy to make any
modifications you need.
The graphic and code techniques used to create New Orleans are explained
fully in the 14 tutorials that we've included in your download. Those
techniques that are not covered in the bundled tutorials are explained
in this article.
If you'd like a more detailed look at the New Orleans Jumpstart, as well
as seeing a modified New Orleans design, check out Sheri German's CMX
JumpStart New Orleans: An Introduction.
Programmatic Sizing and Placement of Flash Movies for Different Browser and Screen Sizes
by Derrick Ypenburg - 14-Apr-05
Reader Level:
Cascading Styles Sheets and regular web pages do it. So why not have your Flash movies be capable of re-sizing themselves selectively for the various screen sizes and browser window sizes out there? As web developers, we've all noticed how some websites are created to re-size themselves to always fill the browser window. The CMX site is an immediate example. If you re-size your browser window right now, you'll notice this column grows and shrinks depending on how much space is opened up or taken away by re-sizing the browser. Notice at the same time that the Nav bar on the left stays consistent and the Nav bar and banner up top re-position themselves but do not scale. We can get this same control with our Flash movies by using the Stage class.
ColdFusion 7: Using ActionScript in Flash Forms
by Paul Newman - 13-Apr-05
Reader Level:
Recently, some of our subscribers have asked how they can manipulate Flash forms — a new feature of ColdFusion MX 7 — using ActionScript. At first glance, support for ActionScript in Flash forms seems limited. However, Flash forms are generated on ColdFusion 7 using a modified version of Flex Server, so if you know a little about Flex and ActionScript, you can get your Flash forms to perform some amazing tricks.
In this article, we're going to use ActionScript to resolve two issues posted on the Community MX Forums: how to create interdependent combo boxes using <cfselect>, and how to set focus to text fields (<cfinput>) in an accordion control.
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server - Part 6: Displaying Dynamic MP3 Data in a Flash UI
by Robert Reinhardt - 06-Apr-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, you learn how to create Flash MP3 browser which uses a series of List and RemotingConnector components. These components enable the interface to fetch MP3 artist, album, and song information for a ColdFusion CFC, accessed over the built-in Flash Remoting gateway available on ColdFusion servers.
The Streaming MP3s Series:
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 1 - Streaming Basics
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 2 - Creating an MP3 Component
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 3 - Adding a Playlist to the MP3 Component
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 4 - Using Other Playback Components
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 5 - Creating an MP3 Database
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 6 - Displaying Dynamic MP3 Data in a Flash UI
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 7 - Linking MP3 Directories to the FCS App
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 8 - Playing Streams from Virtual Directories Coming Soon
ActionScript Drawing API Part 2: Masks and Transitions
by Derrick Ypenburg - 30-Mar-05
Reader Level:
In Part 1 of this tutorial, ActionScript Drawing API: Part 1 - Basic Lines, Shapes and Fills, we learned how to create basic squares, curves and lines and fill them with a color. I was thinking about what I should cover first for Part 2 of the ActionScript Drawing API and I thought it might make sense to actually show an applicable use of the drawing API before I move on to more advanced topics.
Programmatic masking is a great example of the drawing API in action. In this article, we will cover the drawing of shapes to be used as masks and the manipulation of these shapes over time to create some really cool masking transitions for use in your projects. Once you know the basics, you can get more fancy with your code and create some really interesting shapes and animations to create more robust masks and transitions.
ActionScript Drawing API: Part 1 - Basic Lines, Shapes and Fills
by Derrick Ypenburg - 17-Mar-05
Reader Level:
The Drawing API (Application Programming Interface) was first introduced in Flash MX. Simply put, the Drawing API gives you the ability to create lines and shapes using ActionScript. Drawing shapes programmatically is beneficial in any application that is built dynamically and programmatically, such as games and whiteboard applications. Further, dynamic masking using programmatically-drawn shapes as the masks can create unique and dynamic masking effects.
Part 1 in this series of tutorials on the Drawing API will cover the creation of lines and basic shapes and fills. Content that will be covered in further tutorials is mentioned at the end of the article.
Flash Component Series: Creating an Editable DataGrid
by Paul Newman - 08-Mar-05
Reader Level:
In this article, you'll learn how to use an editable DataGrid component to update an external XML file and save the changes back to the server using XML.sendAndLoad and ColdFusion.
In addition, you'll learn how to create a listener for the DataProvider.modelChanged event to detect when items are added, updated, and removed from the data grid.
Includes: employees.xml, updateXML.as, updateXML.cfm, updateXML.fla
The Flash Component Series:
Flash Component Series: Tab Bar
Flash Component Series: Data Connection Wizard
Flash Component Series: Flash Remoting 2004
Flash Component Series: MenuBar
Flash Component Series: Tree - Part 1
Flash Component Series: Tree - Part 2
Flash Component Series: Creating an Editable DataGrid
Flash Component Series: PopUpManager
Flash Component Series: ComboBox
Flash Component Series: RadioButton
Discovering CFMX 7: Flash Forms - Part 2
by Adrian Senior - 07-Mar-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, we will be looking at how we can create a more compact flash form by using the accordion interface. We will look at setting up required fields and how we can then validate them using ColdFusion.
We will also investigate the use of the datefield control. This control adds an icon to your form that when clicked allows a user to select a date from a scrollable flash calendar.
Loading FlashPaper 2 Documents into Your Own Flash Movies
by Robert Reinhardt - 03-Mar-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, you'll learn how to build Flash movies that can load external FlashPaper 2 SWF files. This technique enables you to control the context of your FlashPaper viewing environment without using traditional layout tags in an HTML page.
Discovering CFMX 7: Flash Forms - Part 1
by Adrian Senior - 25-Feb-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, we will be looking at how ColdFusion MX 7 makes it very easy for us to use and create flash forms in our work.
We will be looking at how to set up the forms and we'll investigate tabbed navigation and paging. Breaking our forms down into manageable chunks can be very helpful for our users, particularly on large forms. CFMX 7 makes it very easy for us to do this.
Finally we will look at skinning our flash forms and the skins that are natively available on the CFMX 7 server.
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server - Part 5: Creating a MP3 Database
by Robert Reinhardt - 17-Feb-05
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, you learn how to use MP3 Observer Pro to quickly create a Microsoft Access database describing a collection of MP3 files. This database will be set up as a datasource for ColdFusion. You will then create a ColdFusion component (CFC file) that can select artist, album, and song names from the datasource. In a later tutorial, you learn how use this datasource over a Flash Remoting gateway.
The Streaming MP3s Series:
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 1 - Streaming Basics
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 2 - Creating an MP3 Component
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 3 - Adding a Playlist to the MP3 Component
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 4 - Using Other Playback Components
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 5 - Creating an MP3 Database
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 6 - Displaying Dynamic MP3 Data in a Flash UI
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 7 - Linking MP3 Directories to the FCS App
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server: Part 8 - Playing Streams from Virtual Directories Coming Soon
Creating an Electronic Scrolling Text Marquee
by Derrick Ypenburg - 16-Feb-05
Reader Level:
Display announcements on the side of a building for the world to see. Just like at Radio City Music Hall and the world's greatest theatres, you too can see your name in lights.
Knobs, Sliders and Flash, Oh My! Sound Controls in Flash MX 2004
by Tom Green - 15-Feb-05
Reader Level:
Though the Flash purists tend to look down their noses and snort derisively into their lattes about the use of the knobs and sliders in the Flash library, if they are there, why not use them? In this tutorial I demonstrate how the Pan knob, a couple of buttons and the Gain slider in the Flash library can be used to control sound playback.
Captioning Flash Video - Part 2
by Joey Lott - 08-Feb-05
Reader Level:
In Part 1 you learned the basics of adding captions to Flash video. In Part 2 you'll use slightly different (and more advanced) techniques to apply captions. Using the Video and NetStream classes you'll playback the video without using the media components, and you'll learn how to make the captions scroll.
Streaming MP3s with Flash Communication Server - Part 4: Using Other Playback Components
by Robert Reinhardt - 04-Feb-05
Reader Level:
You can use the MediaPlayback component to stream content, including MP3 files, from your FlashCom Server. In this tutorial, you learn how to specify URIs for FlashCom-served MP3 files and how to combine the functionality of a listbox with the MediaPlayback component.
The Streaming MP3s Series: