Learning Flash

Macromedia's software comes with a lot of tutorials, as well as a very useful help library. I personally have used the help library, but never the tutorials, I have a couple of friends who taught themselves from the tutorials though. Flash is only a little tough to dive into... But I've been using it for years now and I'm still not particularly good with it, I guess I just don't have the artistic talent necessary.

 

http://www.webmonkey.com has some great tutorials for flash beginners.

 

You can use external text files as a source for your text in Flash. so in case you need to edit those text often, you just need to edit those text files and flash will read them in.

 

I used Kirupa when learning flash for my final year project at uni.

its a great little resource, and the forums are superb, people are just as friendly there as they are here.

theres also Flashkit which is quite good. Then when you get a bit more into it, and want to start learning Actionscript, try Actionscript.org

Flash can be frustrating sometimes while your learning it, but start off with the Tutorials included with Flash, and you'll be off to a good start!

Have fun!

 

I like Macromedia's Flash MX professional book (by Macromedia).

It runs you through an entire project start to finish. Not necessarily the most comprehensive, but gives one a good start.

 

Fully compatable with Suitcase last I checked.

 

Ah yes, the PC problem.

Got me there, dear.

 

I've found if you like going through books that the Friends of Ed Flash books are by far the best out there. They have a great site and forum for questions, but even if you get the two foundation books, regular and action scripting you'll be very happy with the results.

Friends of ED (ED is Every Designer)

http://www.friendsofed.com/
http://www.friendsofed.com/books/1590593030/
http://www.friendsofed.com/books/1590593057/

good luck

D

 

If you're using static text - just typing onto the "page" - Flash will render the outlines. If you load in the text dynamically, you have to embed the font outines or you lose the antialiasing. You then have the option to export as a mac or pc executable; I've never tested the mac export, but if you are embedding fonts, there should be no problem using truetypes.
Friends of ED do good, readable books, but I found that the Sams books by Philip Kerman are more thorough. I definitely had more success with those.
I second the recommendation for Kirupa; great effects and scripts, well explained.

 

wow, that's a great resource and easy to get around, I really like it and I wish I had known about it earlier....

D

 

Beat me to it fella!! I couldn't agree more, they're the only Flash publications I've ever had success with... stuff the rest, go with FoED without a doubt.

PS. I'm more a Director developer than Flash and still have to re-think Flash everytime I crack open the app. -- I find it incredibly unintuitive!!!

Good luck nonetheless

 

Well as far as Flash goes, PCs are far from a problem. Flash is the one thing I wish worked on Macs as well as it works on PCs- I assume that why you'll be running it on one.

As long as your fonts are embedded, you won't have any problems. Flash will tell you when you export a preview if it had any problems embedding the fonts.

The best way to learn is definitely dissecting examples of other work and running through tutorials to see how things work. There are MILLIONS of FLAs and accomplanying tutorials online being shared by others. I warn you though that once you get the hang of actionscript, it will suck you in. Many a weekend gone in a blur...

 

I do my titles in Illustrator and then bring them into Flash. Works well.

 

http://www.were-here.com

Got to the forums at:

http://www.were-here.com

This site is brilliant. I've learned a load from this site. Books are quickly outdated and don't answer the specific questions you need answered. These guys have an archive going back almost a decade.

Stutz
www.strongmountain.net