Part I: Getting to Know Flash

Chapter List

Chapter 1: Introduction to Flash

Chapter 2: What's New in Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004

Chapter 3: A Tour of the Flash Interface and Getting Started on Your Movie

Hands On 1: Creating your Own Custom Panel Layout

Part Overview

Flash began its career humbly as a great tool for adding low-bandwidth animations to websites. Since those hallowed days, the application has grown by leaps and bounds! Yes, Flash can still animate, but it can also be used to create amazingly complex, interactive products, dynamic and data-driven websites and online applications, cartoon serials, online (and offline) games , music videos , music players, instant messengers the list goes on and on. Flash has evolved from "simple animator" to "multimedia authoring juggernaut " in no less than 7 years . In fact, it would be hard to imagine the Internet today without Flash and what it offers to the world of interactive digital media.

Part I of this book will take you on a guided tour of Flash. You'll learn about the history of the software, explore its role in interactive digital media today, and get a brief glimpse of the directions the application might take in the future. Of course, you'll also be introduced to Macromedia's latest additions to the Flash pedigree: Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004. Whether you're a veteran Flash developer or a first-time user , this section of the book will show you the now, then, and possibly the tomorrow of Flash.