Flash Webcam Fun!

~~ Click Here to take a look at the tutorial and play around with it's source file :) ~~

Script Your Life Away.

Flash uses what's called the "actionscript" in conjunction with the graphics/movie clip/buttons in your Library, this is my most favorite part of using flash, if you don't know already, I'm not a programmer, so I've had no previous experience with scripting what so ever, but in creating flash files more and more, I've found it easy to control, once you know how you want your movie/game to react after being published.

Since we're using flash here, and it's geared towards user friendly, it's greatest benefit with learning actionscript, is the "behavior", it opens another window like the "library". In the "behavior", it have tons of pre-built actions, with each sucessful action, you can view the original script in the "actionscript" window, this is exceptionally helpful especially if you were like me with no knowledge of any type of scripting at all.

Once you're played enough with the behavior, you can basically start learning how to actionscript from scratch, there are a few things you have to remember, the main thing is to keep it neat.

Here's a few things to keep in mind

1. having the script within an object is different then having the script in a frame, usually, most of the scripting is written within the frames, but on occasion, it's easier to leave the script in the object
2. Understand how each script will be read, different actions will have different ways for flash to read the script, think for a moment, do you need the specific action to happen in a loop or just once or on release of a certain button
• Scripting in a frame, look up "onEnterFrame" or "onLoad" or "onRelease"
  
• Scripting in an object, look up "onClipEvent"
• Then again, if you only need the script to look once, you can always just script it without having all the handler to begin

Everything takes time to be perfected, and remember there's always someone on the web willing to help you out if you have questions.

Online Flash Comic Strips

This is not just any ordinary comic strip site, this is a place where you're allowed to create your own comic using vector graphics, it has a variety of built in graphics to make everything happen, all the tools are displayed clear and easy to use.

The ability to share with your friends from the site makes it easier on the user, and if given permission, other users on the site are able to duplicate your comic, and edit it, with different colors, background, character pose, even the camera angle.

~~Click Here to enter the site and give it a try =)

Flash Game: Line Rider

If you haven't tried a neat flash game called Line Rider, then you missed out on a lot of fun, it's more addictive when you understand how to play, it's just simple physics, but this is one great game created from Flash. There are tons of youtube videos of how it's played, and even tutorials.

Click Here to Play the Game Online

Here's two videos I like the most, and the music just makes you want to go and try out the game.




Click Here to view the tutorial of how to create this game

Who doesn’t use shortcuts?

I’ve always found it easy to use shortcuts on programs I use most, like Flash, Photoshop, on my Mac, it always makes my life easier, being able to finish my task faster and more efficient have given me more free time to finish other tasks.

So in Flash, what you can also do is customize your own settings, make it more efficient for you, but I’m too lazy to change shortcuts, I mainly memorize the keys I use most often. A really cool feature about Flash, is that you can have the shortcuts similar to Photoshop, and Illustrator or even Fireworks.

If you’re not sure where to change the settings, go to edit => keyboard shortcuts, it also allows you to save the shortcuts as an HTML file, for you to print off or view separately. Great help, but only if you know what you need, and well the list is just too long. Export it, and see it for yourself.

Here are some of the shortcuts I mainly use:
F5 = add frame
F6 = add key frame
F7 = add blank frame
F8 = convert to symbol
Crtl + F8 = create new symbol
Q = free transform
V = arrow
SHIFT + right = move object in an interval
Crtl + = = zoom in
Crtl + - = zoom out
Crtl + 1 = zoom at 100%
Crtl + S = save
Crtl + C = copy object
Crtl + X = cut object
Crtl + V = paste object
Crtl + SHIFT + V = paste object at same XY coordinate as when copied

Not an art person?

Well, if you're like me, with no art skills, but can imagine and able to put things together, you can always import already drawn image files, the best file type I like is PNG, with alpha channel, this is so there's no background in the PNG image file when imported into Flash.

If you're reading this, then that means you have a steady online access, so that means you're able to get free money, what I mean is search up on the web for already made images. If you have other programs, like Poser, or 3D Max, or Cinema 4D, then that's even better, because there's plenty of source files on the web, it maybe free or at a cost, and with that, your success of the project becomes greater! Just download, open and export as an image file.

"If money can solve the problem, then it's not a problem."

Motion Guides and Tweens Video Tutorial

Here's a good tutorial to start off on :)

Click to view video on Motion Guides and Tweens

Newbie's Nightmares

Everything in life, you need to start with basics, like a baby needs to learn to crawl, stand, walk, maybe fall down, then run. Well so does flash, start with the basic, understanding how to use the timeline, key points, create tween, create a symbol. The more you play around with the settings, and experiment different motions, it'll help you better when you advance to the next level.

One of the nightmares I found are symbols that are created by flash because something was missing, I wish I had someone to tell me these are just a pain in the ass!

This problem can be solved by creating a new symbol with vector graphics, then create tweening.

I remember when I was a newbie, and after creating a flash movie, I would have over 20 to 30 Tween Graphic Symbols, and it annoys me because I have no clue which is which.

Something to remember by, name everything! you can have a flash file, with more then 100 symbols, seriously, if you don't name them properly, you're screwed at the end! It'll be a waste of time looking for something, it'll also be a waste of disc space and memory, remember, the more organized you are, the faster the file will run, but you really have to test out every way to learn what's the fastest and easiest for you.

I'm no expert, I'm still learning, actionscript is what you're aiming to do later on, but it won't help if you can't even create a simple animation.

My Intro to Flash

Flash is an extremely powerful program that can create movies, games, banners, etc, although the learning curve is long, but easy to use for both programmers and artists. I'm a graphics designer, I have no experience in programming, and I can't draw, but still, it's fun putting your thoughts into a finished piece for others to view.

"Let the keyboard&mouse do the thinking."

Flash uses "actionscript", and vector graphics, you can also import image files, and music files, and combine your imagination together. So if you're a beginner like I was, start with the basics and work your way up.

There are tons of tutorials on the web, take a look at the links on the left, there are many more tutorials on other sites, and best of all, it's FREE!!!

Flash came out with many versions over the years, it became easier and easier to use, but of course, more scripting to learn, the most recent one is Flash CS3, I'm using the previous versions Flash MX and Flash8.