Video
Photoshop Goes To the Movies
by Tom Green - 09-Jun-08
Reader Level: 
Who would have ever thought Photoshop CS3 could be a video creation tool? In this article, which kicks off an irregular series designed to show you how the tools in the CS3 Creative Suite integrate with each other, we create a video that starts in Fireworks CS3 and winds up in Flash.
Approximate download size: 8.7MB
Preparing Source Video for Flash Video: Part 2 - Preventing Quality Loss
by Robert Reinhardt - 30-Aug-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 or the AVC/H.264 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 retain the original quality of source footage after you've edited or applied effects to the footage in a tool such as Adobe After Effects.
*On August 23, 2007, Adobe announced its intention to support the popular industry standard AVC/H.264 codec in Flash Player 9 update 3. Currently, Flash Player 9 update 3 is available as a beta 2 version on Adobe Labs.
NOTE: All of the tutorials in this series require Apple QuickTime Player. I recommend 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).
Approximate download size: 18.9MB
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
What AVC/H.264 Means for the Future of Flash Video
by Robert Reinhardt - 27-Aug-07
Reader Level:
During the week of August 20th, Adobe announced its plans to support the AVC/H.264 video standard in the final release of Flash Player 9 update 3. You can currently download beta 2 of Flash Player 9 update 3 on the Adobe Labs site. This beta contains the AVC/H.264 codec, which enables you to test MPEG-4 files using the H.264 codec right now! I won't recap the information already provided by Adobe, but I'll provide a context for this announcement with existing Flash Video codecs and the world of Internet-delivered video.
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
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
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 7
by Rob Williams - 04-Jun-07
Reader Level: 
When it comes to web development there are often a lot of technologies that people are aware of but never really understand or come to use in their daily tasks. XML tends to be one such technology. Most developers have heard of it, and usually have a general idea of what it is, but on the same level most have also almost never used it or understood the purpose of it for their usual projects.
In this series we're going to explore how we can use XML in a practical way to help us develop rather interesting and uniquely controlled/flexible web applications by combining it with AJAX.
In the seventh part of this series we're going to take our "window" system and see how we can combine it with all that we've learned in this series to create a dynamic AJAX photo gallery.
The XML and AJAX Series:
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 1
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 2
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 3
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 4
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 5
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 6
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 7
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 8
XML and AJAX: A New Paradigm - Part 9
Using the CS3 Studio Flash Video Encoder
by Tom Green - 13-Apr-07
Reader Level:
Sporting a brand new look and a feature that will knock your socks off, the CS3 version of the Flash Video Encoder may just be a the sleeper hit of the Studio.
Approximate download size: 8.4MB
Flash Video: Move Over?
by Robert Reinhardt - 27-Mar-07
Reader Level:
In November 2006, I wrote an article title "Flash Video: Why the Other Players Don't Get It", wherein I made a case for Flash Video on the web. Indeed, Flash Video is everywhere on the web, from Google to YouTube to Blip.tv. However, within the last couple of weeks, Flash Video suffered a casualty: ABC.com replaced Flash Video as the video player technology on their showcase Full Episode Streaming site. I initially blogged about the event, chiding Adobe for not moving faster to address widely known concerns about Flash Video streaming on the web, especially by providers who want to protect their content. After my post received over 1000 web views within 12 hours, I got the feeling that I should write more about my thoughts on Flash Video, and how it might suffer more casualties if Adobe doesn't take their customers (especially their big customers, like ABC.com) more seriously. (Or should I be so bold as to say they shouldn't take them for granted?)
NOTE: This article is an editorial reflecting my personal concerns about Flash Video technology, and does not reflect the views and opinions of any other entity.
The Art of Encoding Flash Video - Part 2: Sorenson Squeeze
by Derrick Ypenburg - 13-Feb-07
Reader Level:
If you want to dramatically increase the quality of encoded video, you need to go beyond the free Flash 8 Video Encoder that ships with Flash 8 Professional. Third-party software such as On2 Flix Exporter for Flash and Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 are the best options for encoding video with superior quality. Third-party encoding software also has many options and settings: deinterlacing options, pre-processing filters and greater control of audio/video data rate and compression settings, are all enhanced options that any encoding professional needs to make the best video they can for streaming delivery.
If you want to shake your "money-maker" with top-notch video, then this article is for you. This article will go into detail of all the advanced settings of Sorenson Squeeze and make quality comparisons to video encoded with the Flash 8 Video Encoder.
The Art of Encoding Flash Video Series:
The Art of Encoding Flash Video - Part 1: About the FLV Format
The Art of Encoding Flash Video - Part 2: Sorenson Squeeze
The Art of Encoding Flash Video - Part 3: Advanced Compression Settings with Sorenson Squeeze Coming Soon
From Final Product to Upload in Flash Professional 8: Part 2
by Tom Green - 20-Dec-06
Reader Level:
In January, 2007, friendsofED will be releasing a ground breaking book: From After Effects to Flash: Poetry in Motion Graphics. Written by Community MX Partner, Tom Green and Community MX contributer, Tiago Dias, the book is the first exploration of how After Effects and Flash are about to become a motion graphics power house.
Over the next few weeks, we will be presenting the first two chapters of the book. These two chapters are designed to explore the emerging workflow between After Effects and Flash and they take you from concept to upload. In this second excerpt, from Chapter 2, you convert the project created in the previous chapter into an FLV.
Approximate download size: 3.1MB
From Final Product to Upload in Flash Professional 8
by Tom Green - 05-Dec-06
Reader Level:
You have created a video in After Effects. Now it is time to encode it and prepare it for playback through Flash.
Approximate download size: 13.6MB
From After Effects to Flash: Poetry in Motion Graphics
by Tom Green - 01-Dec-06
Reader Level:
In this last installment of Chapter One we examine how to prepare an After Effects Video for encoding in Flash.
Flash Video: Why the Other Players Don't Get It
by Robert Reinhardt - 27-Nov-06
Reader Level:
Flash Video has taken over the web video industry. There should be little doubt by now that Flash Video is a major player—in any sense of the word—with online distribution of video. I've personally worked on several high-profile Flash Video deployments, and you can see the evidence of Flash Video on just about every major video-enhanced web site.
From Concept to Final Product in After Effects 7
by Tom Green - 17-Nov-06
Reader Level:
In January, 2007, friendsofED will be releasing a ground breaking book: From After Effects to Flash: Poetry in Motion Graphics. Written by Community MX Partner, Tom Green and Comunity MX contributer, Tiago Dias, the book is the first exploration of how After Effects and Flash are about to become a motion graphics power house.
Over the next few weeks, we will be presenting the first two chapters of the book. These two chapters are designed to explore the emerging workflow between After Effects and Flash and they take you from concept to upload. In this first excerpt, from Chapter 1, you are introduced to the After Effects work space and how Projects and Compositions are created in After Effects.
The Art of Encoding Flash Video - Part 1: About the FLV Format
by Derrick Ypenburg - 16-Nov-06
Reader Level:
The process of encoding quality streaming video for Flash (or for any video streaming playback delivery for that matter) is the most important process in creating video streaming applications. Any slick-looking video player that you build will only be as good as the quality of the video streaming through it.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of FLV encoding by the encoding software. Understanding this article will help you create higher quality FLV files when it comes to applying settings in an encoder and creating video for encoding.
The Art of Encoding Flash Video Series:
The Art of Encoding Flash Video - Part 1: About the FLV Format
The Art of Encoding Flash Video - Part 2: Sorenson Squeeze
The Art of Encoding Flash Video - Part 3: Advanced Compression Settings with Sorenson Squeeze 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.
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.
Building a Flash Video Kaleidoscope - Part 1: Video Reflection
by Tom Green,Joseph Balderson - 22-Sep-06
Reader Level:
The ideas that sparked this series came about in an unexpected manner.
Having just completed an article on the subject of creating reflections in Flash, I started thinking about how it could be done using video instead of images. In typical Community MX fashion, I bounced my question off of our Flash guy Joseph Balderson, and we rapidly solved the problem. (That's happens when a couple of "Tech weenies" get hold of Flash Video.) By that I mean we have a fascination with what we can do with this technology. As such the two of us starting thinking:, "Yeah that is interesting but, really, what more can we do with this basic technique?"
It turns out there is quite a bit more you can do with the video reflection technique. At one point in our discussion Joe said, "Hey, now that we have one reflection working, why not add a few more? Let's show 'em how to build a video kaleidoscope too!!" And so this series was born.
Approximate download size: 4.2MB
FLV Data Rate and Bandwidth... Demysitifed.
by Tom Green,Scott Fegette - 20-Sep-06
Reader Level:
The issue really isn't getting an FLV to play on your web page. The issue is properly creating that FLV before it hits the browser.
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
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.
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
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
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
Creating Polls and Surveys in Breeze Presenter
by Kim Cavanaugh - 15-Mar-06
Reader Level:
Online polls are a terrific way to get information from a wide range of people. After all, who doesn't enjoy the opportunity to tell someone else their opinion?
The only problem is, unless you are adept at doing the database programming needed to build an online survey, have a budget to pay for a service that will host it for you, or are willing to accept the limitations of a free service, getting your surveys out there can be a bit frustrating.
That doesn't have to be the case, especially if you have a copy of Breeze Presenter and your own Breeze account. Using Breeze Presenter almost anyone can create and publish their own online surveys. Since most of the work is done directly in PowerPoint and the Breeze Quiz Manager, the process is easy and accessible to anyone who has even basic PowerPoint skills. Combine that with the automation that Breeze provides for the creation of the URL that you need to make your survey available online and the ability to easily examine the responses from the people who take your poll, almost anyone can be up and running and gathering information in no time.
In this series of four Captivate video tutorials you'll learn how to set up the Breeze Quiz Manager environment for creating surveys, how to insert questions, how to publish your files, and how to examine the results as the responses begin pouring in. In all this tutorial provides you with approximately 18 minutes of video instruction on how to create your own surveys using PowerPoint and Breeze presenter.
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.
Cool GoLive Features Part 4: The QuickTime Editor
by Sheri German - 21-Feb-06
Reader Level:
It's really rather surprising. Hidden in Adobe GoLive you get a whole other application: a QuickTime movie maker and editor. It includes everything from Sprite tools to Flash integration to drop-dead simple slide shows. So don't despair if you don't have an expensive, dedicated movie editing program but you do have Adobe CS2. You will be amazed at what you can do with the GoLive QuickTime Editor.
In this first tutorial in the QuickTime series, we'll look at the GoLive QuickTime tools and environment, and then create a slide show movie with picture, sound and text tracks. In upcoming tutorials we will look at Sprites, Flash integration, filters, and other more advanced GoLive QuickTime features.
This tutorial includes a sample MP3 and folder of images so that you can follow along.
Approximate download size: 1.8MB
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?
Getting Movies onto Your iPod
by Paul Newman - 18-Jan-06
Reader Level:
In this article, you'll learn how to rip your DVDs to MPEG-4 format for playback on the fifth-generation iPod Video. You'll also learn how to view your iPod videos on a computer or television.
Alpha Video and HTML: How did they do that?
by Tom Green - 03-Jan-06
Reader Level:
Flash Video containing an Alpha channel can be used to intereact with your web pages. It is surprisingly easy to do.
Blogging 101: Why All the Fuss Over Blogs?
by Kim Cavanaugh - 20-Dec-05
Reader Level:
Blogs.
For a word that didn't even exist a few years ago, the world of blogs and blogging and personal web publishing certainly gets a great deal of attention these days. From LiveJournal blogs where college students are spilling the beans about their love lives, to the serious and frantic world of political blogs, to the professional blogs that companies are using to put a human face on their organization, blogs seem to be everywhere you go.
In this 20 minute Breeze presentation I'll take you through the world of blogs and blogging. You'll learn what blog is, how blogs are being used by different people, and your options for publishing your own blog, or for advising a client on how they might get started with a blog. Finally, the presentation wraps up with some recommendations on how you can become a successful blogger and how to make the most out of the time you invest in your blog.
Using ActionScript to Control the FLVPlayback Component
by Tom Green - 16-Dec-05
Reader Level:
Why use the FLVPlayback component's parameters to add content, skins or otherwise manipulate video in your movie? ActionScript gives you the same control.
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.
Creating a Location Rollover Map with Fireworks
by Kim Cavanaugh - 15-Nov-05
Reader Level:
Many times the best way to learn a technique is to tackle a common design task. In this case, let's imagine that you have clients who have asked for a rollover map for their site showing the locations of their stores in California. There are any number of ways to get this done, but in this case we'll look at one of the easiest methods of all—using Fireworks to create all of the images and interactions in a single composition.
This series of three video tutorials will take you through the process of setting up your Fireworks file, inserting frames to hold the rollover objects, then using slices and hotspots to generate the final Fireworks HTML that can be inserted into your Dreamweaver page. Along the way you'll pick up some valuable tips and techniques for working with interactive images in Fireworks as well as best practices for making short work of a complicated design task.
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...
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...
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.
Five Little Things to Love About Fireworks 8
by Kim Cavanaugh - 10-Oct-05
Reader Level:
It could be argued that there hasn't been a serious overhaul of Fireworks since the release of Fireworks MX. In that version of Fireworks major changes to the interface were introduced as Macromedia aligned all of the tools in their web production suite. While Fireworks MX 2004 made some minor improvements to the software, nothing profound was really added. Now with the release of Fireworks 8 the same kinds of complaints are being heard.
In my humble opinion there's plenty to like in Fireworks 8. But sometimes it's the little things that matter, and in this release I've found lots of nice little changes that make my work easier and allow me to work more productively. No, they aren't ground-shaking changes, but several have been on my wish list for some time, while others fall into the "Gee, I wish they'd done this sooner" category.
In this series of five short Captivate video demonstrations I'll show you what's different in Fireworks 8 and contrast these changes with the way things used to be done. By the end of these short clips you'll have a better idea of what the little things are that I really like about Fireworks 8.
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.
Create Great Attention Grabbers in Fireworks
by Kim Cavanaugh - 01-Sep-05
Reader Level:
Recently I needed to send out one of those e-mail messages that contains specific instructions on what the recipient should do on their computer. You know the ones. "First, CLICK HERE, then read the instructions posted on the next page." Of course the challenge with these kinds of messages is that you never know if the person reading the instructions will really be paying attention, or will even understand what it is you want them to do. In an attempt to make it perfectly clear what they should do I decided to highlight the items with big bold graphics that catch the eye. In short, I needed an attention grabber, and for that I turned to Fireworks
In these two Captivate video tutorials you'll see how I created the two objects I used--a red circle that appears to be brushed onto the image, and a bold curved arrow.
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.
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.
Creating a Curvy Interface in Fireworks
by Kim Cavanaugh - 05-Aug-05
Reader Level:
Creating a curvy web interface is a simple enough task to perform in Fireworks, if you know the right steps to take to get the job done. By combining simple shapes and a few basic techniques you too can make one of those nicely rounded designs that provide an attractive viewport for framing your web content—whether it be a web page, a Flash video, or Flash media player.
In total this series of Captivate video tutorials will provide you with nearly 20 minutes of video instruction on the use of Fireworks for creating your own design and will show you common techniques used for the creation of vector objects, how shapes are modified and combined to create a design, and demonstrate some ways that you can position, modify, and apply styles to an object to complete a design task.
Flash Video: Your Playback Options
by Tom Green - 01-Aug-05
Reader Level:
If you have been following this series, Part 1 explained how the video file is created and Part 2 walked you through the creation of the FLV file that will deliver the video. In this, the final installment, I review the end game: "How the heck do I get video to play in my Flash movie?"
At first glance that may seem to be a dumb question. It isn't. In fact, it is one of the most common questions asked of me when I talk about video in class or at a variety of speaking engagements. If you take the time to really think through the question you quickly come to the realization it is a two-parter:
- Do I use FLV or a SWF?
- Which video delivery option is best for me?
The answer to the first question depends upon how the video is to be delivered. If it is to be streamed either from your web server or a Flash Communication Server then FLV is the best route. All other scenarios will most likely require a SWF.
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.
Create an iPod Shuffle Rollover Button
by Kim Cavanaugh - 09-Jun-05
Reader Level:
For my wife's recent birthday I indoctrinated her into the Holy Order of the iPod by getting her an iPod Shuffle. Yes, the Shuffle is a gateway device, but since my daughter and I are both hooked it seemed only fair that my wife should join the other Pod People in the house.
As I unwrapped the package and admired the usual design genius found in Apple products I thought that a small little rollover button like the switch on the back of the Shuffle would make for a nice effect, and a good lesson in using the Swap Image behavior. In this series of Captivate video tutorials you'll learn how to make a rollover button with not one but two animated GIFs, how to compose it all in Fireworks, and how to complete the button in Dreamweaver.
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.
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.
A Quest for Flash Communication Server Magic
by Tom Green - 11-Apr-05
Reader Level:
In this tale of deception, deceit and a quest for knowledge, you will follow me as I discover that using the Flash Communication Server isn't as easy at it appears and learn, at the end of my quest, "something I wish I would have known" before I started.
A Photo Correction Case Study
by Kim Cavanaugh - 29-Mar-05
Reader Level:
You thought you'd taken the perfect picture with your digital camera, only to find that when it was examined on your computer that there were some serious flaws. In this Captivate video case study you'll follow along with me as I fix a family photo that was taken recently. How can Fireworks be used to remove those flaws using the Rubber Stamp tool? What settings work best in certain situations, and what other tools can you use to help speed things along? This 3-part video tutorial with 15 minutes of instruction answers those questions and more as you follow along with the steps I took to fix my photograph.
Slicing and Exporting Multiple Buttons in Fireworks
by Kim Cavanaugh - 18-Feb-05
Reader Level:
Slicing images in Fireworks is one of those fundamental skills that every user of the software has to get a handle on at one time or the other. Sure, you can use Fireworks only for creating images, but that isn't really what it was made to do. Fireworks is a web production tool and understanding different methods for doing production work is part and parcel of learning how to work with this fabulous tool.
In this set of four Captivate video tutorials you'll have the opportunity to see one method for creating a simple rollover navigation bar like the one below.
A JumpStarts Case Study: Replacing Page Design Elements
by Kim Cavanaugh - 07-Jan-05
Reader Level:
One of the things that I really love about the JumpStart designs from Community MX is the fact that I don't need to worry about the little tweaks and hacks that are so common when attempting fully validated CSS-P designs that are compatible across multiple browsers and platforms. Frankly, I just don't have the time to remember all the little things that need to be done to make a CSS-P design work, and having the CSS wizards at Community MX doing that part of the work allows me to concentrate on the things that do matter to me, like getting a design completed to meet my client's requirements. OK, they're only imaginary clients at this point, but imagine the all-too-real instance of a client saying that they like the overall design that you've worked out, but that things are just a "little too purple". This part of the series shows you how to locate all those other elements of your JumpStart design, how to change them to create a unique design, and how to use Fireworks to help in the process.
Note to non-subscribers purchasing this tutorial: The download file for this tutorial is approximately 39MB. If a download of this size is too large for you, please send an email to info@communitymx.com after your purchase and a link will be sent to you where you may download each video contained in the article separately. Please include the email address that is associated with the PayPal account used to make the purchase. For subscribers, there will be links at the end of the tutorial itself giving you the same options.
Building a Text Chat Application in Flash Comm Server
by Tom Green - 03-Dec-04
Reader Level:
In Part one of this series, we reviewed the concept behind the project, determined the plan and the assets needed and went on a tour of the Flash Communication Server. In this installment we build the Text Chat using the Communication Components in Flash MX Professional and test it locally using the Comm Server.
Getting connected to the Flash Communication Server involves nothing more than knowing where a couple of components are located and how to use a keyboard.
Flash Communication Server for the Rest of Us
by Tom Green - 02-Dec-04
Reader Level:
If you are at all interested in creating streaming media applications a familiarity with the Flash Communication Server is important. In this series we will use the Comm Server to create a Chat Room. We will start by gaining an understanding of how to use the Comm Server.
Welcome to Florida: The Plywood State
by Kim Cavanaugh - 30-Sep-04
Reader Level:
After Hurricane Frances became the third storm to hit Florida this year there were all sorts of cartoons and re-worked images floating into my Inbox at work. One of my favorites was a map of Florida covered with pieces of plywood and with the caption "Welcome to the Plywood State". I thought it would be a good exercise to recreate that faux postcard, and this tutorial shows you how to use Fireworks to do just that.
This tutorial contains five video demos.
Flash Video Kit for Dreamweaver MX 2004
by Tom Green - 17-Sep-04
Reader Level:
In typical Macromedia fashion, the Flash Video Kit has been quietly introduced and, based on my first impressions, they have a sleeper hit on their hands.This thing is an absolute breeze to use and doesn't require you to know anything about video in Flash. No components. No "netConnections". No "netStreams". No video objects. No intimate knowledge of Actionscript 2.0. Nothing. Nadda. If you can access a menu item in Dreamweaver, you can now add video to your web pages.
Vodafone For the Rest Of Us: How Did They Do It? - Part 2
by Tom Green - 18-Aug-04
Reader Level:
Just because you don't have the resources to pick up a copy of Flash Professional is no reason to be shut out of the web video game. Here's how to create the Vodafone Video Bracelet using Flash MX 2004.
Accessible Forms With Dreamweaver
by Tricia Littlefield - 10-Aug-04
Reader Level:
Customer interaction through forms is vital. Are your forms accessible? Topics include making changes in Dreamweaver's preferences to help you build an accessible form, grouping form elements with fieldset and optgroup elements, choosing the appropriate input elements for disabled users, and keeping your label tags associated with your form elements.
Masking Flash Video
by Tom Green - 20-Jul-04
Reader Level:
When Macromedia suggests sticking Flash video in the Sony JumboTron on Times Square in New York, the normal response might be "Huh?" This article goes them one better and shows how, through the use of Masking in Flash, to create a "Blade Runner" effect (using video and a web cam), just a little up the Square from the JumboTron.
Fireworks Slicing Technique #3--Creating Seamless Backgrounds
by Kim Cavanaugh - 19-Jul-04
Reader Level:
In this third set of tutorials on slicing in Fireworks, you'll take a look at different methods for working with repeating graphics. If you need to create a header, footer, or sidebar in your design and wish to set a background image to tile across the containing element, understanding how to create slices that tile seamlessly is an essential skill. This series looks at four different scenarios and describes how to create the slice, export the slice, check to see that the image is sliced correctly, and incorporate the sliced images in the CSS of a web page.
Immersive Imaging - Part 2 - Adding A QTVR File To A Web Page
by Jim Babbage - 12-Jul-04
Reader Level:
In Part One of this two-part series, we looked at the basics of creating panoramic images for use in QuickTime VR (QTVR). In Part Two, we'll look at bringing the panoramic image into your web page as a QTVR movie.
Also included in this tutorial, is a video that shows the process of embedding the QTVR movie into a web page, and adding various parameters to the movie via Dreamweaver.
More Money - Same Workload
by Tricia Littlefield - 12-Jul-04
Reader Level:
Using a simple time and billing program helped me make more money, make better business decisions and bid on flat fee projects more accurately. Best of all, the software was easy to use and blended into my workflow problem-free. Read how a time and billing software program can help you and then watch a video on how to use one such program.
Creating Great Curves in Fireworks
by Kim Cavanaugh - 07-Jul-04
Reader Level:
One of the common chores facing a graphic designer is the transformation of a basic primitive shape into something more complex. In these video tutorials you'll learn how to begin with basic shapes such as lines and rectangles, add new anchor points with the pen tool, and transform the shape into curvy little masterpieces by adjusting anchor point properties.
Create a Web Photo Album With Dreamweaver and Fireworks
by Tricia Littlefield - 30-Jun-04
Reader Level:
Use Dreamweaver and Fireworks to create a web photo album. Great for sites showcasing a lot of products. Dreamweaver creates a thumbnail page and links each thumbnail to a larger image on a separate page. This behavior is very easy to use, and a great time saver since Dreamweaver and Fireworks do all the work.
Administering Contribute
by Kim Cavanaugh - 25-Jun-04
Reader Level:
In this Breeze presentation, you'll learn how to set up a web site for use with Macromedia Contribute. Whether you're working with an existing client, work as part of a larger organization, or want to begin offering services centered around offering Contribute as a method for adding and maintaining site content, then this presentation will help point you in the right direction.
Flash Component Series: Flash Remoting 2004
by Paul Newman - 23-Jun-04
Reader Level:
In these three video tutorials, you'll learn how to use the new Flash Remoting components for Flash MX 2004 and ActionScript 2.0 to work with Flash Remoting visually and programatically.
In the first video, you'll learn about the new components, documentation, and samples installed with the Flash Remoting components.
In the second video, you'll work with Flash Remoting using the new RemotingConnector component and visual data binding.
In the third video, you'll learn how to use the new Flash Remoting classes in ActionScript.
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
Using Flash Resource Manager
by Paul Newman - 17-Jun-04
Reader Level:
How to install and customize Mike Chambers' Flash Resource Manager to view and search Macromedia documentation, web sites, and more.
Fireworks Slicing Technique #2--Slicing Page Compositions
by Kim Cavanaugh - 08-Jun-04
Reader Level:
In this second set of video tutorials on slicing in Fireworks, you'll take a look at a method for working with complex page compositions. Fireworks is a great program for creating design concepts, and with the appropriate and efficient use of slices you can take that design idea and turn it into a full-blown page in Dreamweaver while maintaining small file weights.
Flash Component Series: Data Connection Wizard
by Paul Newman - 28-May-04
Reader Level:
In these video tutorials, you'll learn how to use Macromedia's Data Connection Wizard to connect to web services and XML data sources with Flash MX 2004 and return the results in a data grid. You'll also learn how to format the data grid's columns using the DataGrid Column Editor.
In the first video, you'll connect to a CMX web service. In the second video, you'll consume a CMX RSS feed that returns the 30 most recent articles.
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
Fireworks Slicing Technique #1--Inserting Rollovers
by Kim Cavanaugh - 12-May-04
Reader Level:
In the first of a series of Camtasia video tutorials, we'll look at a simple method for inserting slices over an existing navigation bar, creating a rollover effect, and some best practices for working with Fireworks slices. Along the way you'll learn about arranging and organizing your slices, naming slices, and some tips on exporting sliced graphics for use in Dreamweaver.
Creating Desktop Recordings with Camtasia Studio 2
by Paul Newman - 30-Apr-04
Reader Level:
If you've spent some time on CommunityMX.com, you probably already know that we offer video
tutorials. What you may not know is that we use Camtasia Studio 2 to create them.
In this tutorial, you'll learn how to record screen actions with Camtasia Studio 2, assemble the elements of your project, and publish the completed video to Flash SWF format.
CMX Insert Camtasia Video
by Paul Newman - 30-Apr-04
Reader Level:
This extension for Dreamweaver MX and Dreamweaver MX 2004 greatly simplifies inserting Camtasia videos into HTML documents. Simply click the Camtasia Video button on the Common tab of the Insert bar, and you're prompted for the location of your controller and configuration files. The extension takes care of the rest.
Video Capture in FlashMX 2004
by Tom Green - 21-Apr-04
Reader Level:
This past week I picked up an iSight for my Mac. Once I got over the initial thrill of having iChat play "All Tom, All the time", I started wondering: "What can I do with the video feed from the camera." It turns out, if you have Flash MX 2004, the answer is "Quite a bit."
Instant Replay Part 2--Flash
by Kim Cavanaugh - 14-Apr-04
Reader Level:
The History panel, new to Flash MX 2004, allows you to track each step you take in your Flash document and then use the Replay button to repeat the steps. In this tutorial you'll see how to take some of the drudgery out of creating repeating objects, as well as how to use this new feature for making interesting graphical objects and simple animations.
Instant Replay Part 1--Fireworks
by Kim Cavanaugh - 09-Apr-04
Reader Level:
No striped shirts or trips to the replay booth are required when you use the Replay button in Fireworks. Instead, you can make short work of repetitive tasks, and even use the power of this nifty little feature for some fascinating creative effects--all with the click of a button. This 3-part video tutorial demonstrates the creative uses of the History panel and the Replay button and shows how you can use them to achieve some creative results.
Creating a Banner Graphic
by Jim Babbage - 30-Mar-04
Reader Level:
Requested by one of our subscribers, this tutorial demonstrates - with video - how to create a banner or header graphic using only vectors and native Fireworks effects. We'll also discuss how to slice this image for creating a "stretchy" graphic for flexible web pages.
Using Smart Shapes in Fireworks MX 2004
by Kim Cavanaugh - 16-Mar-04
Reader Level:
If you've been waiting to upgrade to Fireworks MX 2004 you're missing out on one of the really fascinating new capabilities that the program has. With Smart Shapes you can easily create complex objects like arrows, stars, rounded rectangle, and even 3-dimensional objects with click and drag ease. What's really cool is how easy it is to modify these objects once they're on you canvas, as you'll see in this introductory video tutorial.
Preloading Components in Flash MX 2004 - Part 2
by Paul Newman - 11-Mar-04
Reader Level:
In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to implement the preloader from Macromedia's Flash Video Gallery in your own applications, and save it to Flash's Common Library for reuse. This enables you to preload movies that use Flash components by placing a preloader on Frame 1, and exporting your ActionScript classes on Frame 2.
Working with Microsoft's Query Analyser
by Adrian Senior - 13-Feb-04
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, we will take a look at Microsoft's Query Analyser and Enterprise Manager.
We will use the Query Analyzer to create a database, and then to create and relate tables. We will also look at the different start-up options we can use with our instance of SQL Server. This tutorial contains video demos.
Streaming Video in Flash MX Professional 2004
by Tom Green - 09-Feb-04
Reader Level:
If you can enter an absolute web address, you can add streaming video to your web site.
Database Design: Introducing Relationships and Queries
by Adrian Senior - 05-Feb-04
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, we will look at some of the problems we may encounter when designing our database, we will investigate primary keys, foreign keys and how we can avoid NULL values. We will also look at the WHERE clause and see how we can filter our information by using variables.
We will use the repeat region server behavior and look at how we can use and set up dynamic list menus. Further to this we will also look at the ColdFusion isdefined function to ensure that information is only displayed to our end user at the appropriate time.
This tutorial contains written and video instruction.
Coding for Flash with PrimalScript
by Paul Newman - 03-Feb-04
Reader Level:
With the introduction of ActionScript 2.0, Flash MX 2004 makes creating and extending classes easier than ever. However, the Flash IDE is not ideal for working with ActionScript 2.0 classes.
In these three video tutorials, you'll learn how to use Sapien PrimalScript to code for Flash. The first video explains how to set up workspaces and projects in PrimalScript. The second video shows you how to use PrimalSense and the class browser. The final video explains how to integrate a command-line compiler with PrimalScript, so you can publish your SWFs with the touch of a button.
Understanding the Pen Tool
by Kim Cavanaugh - 02-Feb-04
Reader Level:
Ah, the Pen tool. This incredibly versatile drawing tool is also one of the most difficult tools to learn. Why don't things look the way I expect? How do I create anchor points that act the way I want? And what the heck is a Bezier curve anyway? All these questions and more are answered in the five video tutorials that you'll find here.
Creating a 3-D Pie Chart in Fireworks MX 2004
by Kim Cavanaugh - 27-Jan-04
Reader Level:
One of the great new additions to Fireworks MX 2004 are the Smart Shape tools and objects that ship with the program. With these nifty little objects you can create and edit complex shapes on the fly. In this set of three video tutorials you'll see how to use and edit the Pie Smart Shape and then apply additional effects to create a 3-D chart.
Dynamic Web Development - The Basics: Creating Dynamic List Menus
by Adrian Senior - 22-Jan-04
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, we will look at how we can create an inline dynamic list menu, complete with a tabindex.
We will also look at how we can filter page content based on a url variable.
This tutorial contains video demos.
Dynamic Web Development - The Basics: Creating a ColdFusion Datasource
by Adrian Senior - 16-Jan-04
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, we will look at how we can set up a datasource in the ColdFusion administrator and access it in Dreamweaver. This tutorial contains video demos.
Dynamic Web Development - The Basics: Creating a Join and Log In Application.
by Adrian Senior - 14-Jan-04
Reader Level:
In this tutorial we will use the native Dreamweaver behaviours to create a join and log in application for our users.
We will design the database tables, and the insert and log in pages. As this tutorial only uses the native Dreamweaver behaviours the server-side language you use is irrelevant. We will let Dreamweaver insert all the code that is required and of course that code will be defined by your site definition. This tutorial contains video demos.
Dynamic Web Development - The Basics: Filtering Recordsets
by Adrian Senior - 01-Jan-04
Reader Level:
In this tutorial, we will learn how we can filter specific data from our database. We will look at doing this using both form and url variables. This tutorial contains video demos.
In Part two of this mini-series we will look at catching errors that may be generated from missing recordset content.
Using the Log In Server Behavior
by Adrian Senior - 29-Dec-03
Reader Level:
In this tutorial we will be learning about the standard Log In Server Behavior that ships with Dreamweaver.
We will be looking at this Server Behavior in its basic form, in a language independent way.
This tutorial is aimed at beginners who are new to Server side development and looking to to be able to show unique content on a user group by user group basis. Tutorial contains video demos.
Bye Bye Quicktime
by Tom Green - 14-Oct-03
Reader Level:
Does the release of Flash 7 make 3rd party media apps such as Quicktime, RealPlayer and Windows Media unneccessary?
Using Flash Elements in Dreamweaver MX 2004
by Paul Newman - 01-Oct-03
Reader Level:
One of the coolest new features of Dreamweaver MX 2004 is Flash Elements. In this tutorial, we will insert the Image Viewer Flash Element into a Dreamweaver MX 2004 document, and edit its parameters using the new Tag inspector. Image Viewer enables you to create image slide shows embedded in Flash Player 7, complete with captions, hyperlinks, and transitions. This tutorial contains Camtasia videos which will play through the Flash Player.
The Basics of Animation with ActionScript
by Branden Hall - 23-Sep-03
Reader Level:
So you want to learn the basics of animating with ActionScript? Well, here you go - a step-by-step video walkthrough that teaches all the basic concepts you need to know to start making animation entirely with code.
