Product Description

Flash is the most ubiquitous technology today for creating and deploying dynamic content on the Web. From button rollovers to video animations, Flash not only brings pizzazz to the Web but also makes difficult concepts easier to understand through illustrations, diagrams, and so on. Now that Flash CS3 Professional is part of the Adobe family, users new to the software as well as veteran users unfamiliar with added Adobe feature need quick access to key features and fundamental techniques. Adobe Flash CS3 Professional: 100 Essential Techniques provides users with what they need to know to start working in Flash. Each technique is presented in a self-contained unit of one or two pages so users can dive in and start working right away, unencumbered by lengthy descriptions or technical detail. For example, if readers want to know how to use Flash’s new QuickTime export feature, they can turn directly to that page, quickly grasp the technique, as well as pick up a few tips along the way.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8534 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-07
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

About the Author
Mark Schaeffer directs the digital media program at Chabot College in Hayward, California, where he teaches courses in Flash, ActionScript, and related topics. Prior to that, he spent 25 years as a writer, designer, and producer of educational and training materials in print, video, and computer-based media. His projects have included interactive demos for Apple and Compaq, web pages for Levi Strauss and Kaiser Permanente, and video animation for educational publishers such as Houghton Mifflin and McGraw-Hill.

Customer Reviews

OK for a first book on Flash
Frankly, I had hoped that a book on "100 Essential Techniques" would be more useful than this. Basically, if you have ANY other book on Flash, then you don't need this one.

Imagine a book on "100 Essential Driving Techniques" that includes separate listings for "Unlocking the car door", "Adjusting the mirror", etc. and you'll get an idea of what this book covers...

A fast way to get started with Flash.
Sometimes, I think we get so wrapped around the axle about ActionScript programming that we forget about what Flash can do as a creative tool. This book is here to remind us. Aimed squarely at the Flash program, the book includes a tour of the interface along with techniques for using the drawing tools, getting started with keyframe animation, using filters and fills, importing artwork from various sources, working with sounds and bitmaps, and working with and exporting video in Flash and Quicktime formats, exporting still images, etc. The book ends with some instruction on using ActionScript, the Script Assist, and debugger. It includes lots of useful techniques designed to get people started right away and to help people get the most out of the program. Well worth the money, but not much here for advanced users.

The Perfect Way to Learn Flash!
I have been trying to learn flash for a few months now. I first used another book by Todd Perkins about flash and I found it very confusing. The tutorials and instructions it told me to follow often didn't work like I expected and I was forced to read the book page by page, paragraph by paragraph to gain any sort of understanding. On a whim, I bought THIS book to see if it was helpful at all. And it was so helpful. It gives you the essential information, without giving you information overload. Each lesson is a stand-alone lesson, so you can apply the teachings to your current project or follow along with the book. It is organized in such a manner that it gives you a complete and straight-forward understanding of the program. I was so confused by the program after reading that other book and this book cleared up any misunderstandings I had and made the program seem so much easier and more accessible than I ever thought it could be. I highly recommend it