I am a digital animator – a Digimator if you will. I learned how to animate using a computer. Any animation program can have a mechanical feel to it since we work by selecting options from menus much of the time. The trick I have learned is how to make a software program like Flash feel more organic, as if it were a ball of clay, starting with a basic shape and pushing and pulling it into something unique. If this book teaches anything, I hope it teaches you to think differently as to how you approach Flash. Just because the Help docs, online resources or even other books tell you how something can or should be done, don’t take that as carved in stone. Take it as carved in clay, meaning, you can continue to expand upon the ways the tools are used, even beyond what you may have read elsewhere.
The first few chapters focus on some of the basics of using Flash in real-world situations. I do not explain the rudimentary features of Flash, such as how to convert objects to symbols and what the differences are between Movie Clips and Graphic symbols. That is what the Help docs are for and are simply a keystroke away (F1). You bought this book to learn what goes beyond the Help docs and what can only be learned through the span of several years of experience using Flash. For you, this is the true essence of “cheating” because this book condenses those years into about 300 pages.
Any page that includes a CD icon means that the Flash file (FLA) is included on the CD. You can open these files and analyze how each file was designed but keep in mind just about all source files are protected by copyright or trademark, preventing them from being used commercially. However, I do hope they will provide a source of education and inspiration for you. All files can be opened in Flash CS3 and CS4. Some tutorials will include a “CS4” icon which means that Flash CS4 is required due to CS4-specific features. If you do not have Flash CS4, a free trial version is available from Adobe’s website (www.adobe.com/products/flash).
You are not alone either. If you have a question or a technique you would like to share, visit the official book forum accessed through my Keyframer website:
There’s no such thing as a dumb question and you may find yourself answering a few as well. I am easily accessible as the forum administrator and I welcome your comments and questions regarding this book and the Flash platform in general. It’s a great way to meet other Flash users from around the world and keep yourself updated with the latest Flash news and events.