Best PracticesGetting to Know the Tools


Once you become comfortable with the Tools in Flash, you may find that Flash is a great environment for quickly sketching out ideas. Whether you're a designer, a coder, or a combination of the two, the ability to quickly draft the visual elements of a Flash application will serve you well.

The best way to get to know the tools in Flash is to practice. Try each tool, and see what you can do with it. Then try to accomplish a specific drawing task. If it's not going well, set the project aside for a while and come back to it later.

If you're accustomed to other graphics programs, try to suspend your expectations as you learn the Flash tools. One of the things I have come to treasure in Flash is the ability to directly select and interact with the visual elements in any layer that is visible on the stage.

Compared to other graphics programs I've used, Flash is more sculptural in terms of the artistic process. In fact, the only other applications I've worked with that have had more of a sculptural process have been 3D authoring tools. By sculptural, I mean that you can push and pull the parts. The parts can be nested within each other. They can also have mechanics inside of them (in the form of ActionScript).

While the possibilities of what you envision may outpace your skills for a while, be patient. With practice, your skills can indeed catch up to your visions in Flash.



Special Edition Using Macromedia Studio 8
Special Edition Using Macromedia Studio 8
ISBN: 0789733854
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 337

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