TECH6.0

webwizzy · #1 17-02-2008, 06:23 PM

Time Line : Contains the frames in your Flash movie. You are able to assign specific attributes to points in the timeline by using key frames. In the final Flash Movie the timeline plays to the last frame or keyframe and then lops back to the start. You can control the timeline with actionscripting such as: stop, or goto.
All the tools and their modifiers : This refers to the drawing and text tools as well as the selection tool and free transform tool. Most tools have a modifier that determines specific aspects such as stroke, fill, color, or size.
The Stage : The size on the stage is determined by you in the Modify Document dialog box. You can also except the default stage size when you start the program. Any items on the stage will be visible when you publish the final flash movie. Any items off the stage will not be seen. You can create an animation that moves from off the stage, to the stage, and then off the stage again. This could look like a car driving away.
The work area : This includes the stage and the area outside the stage or off the stage.
The property inspector : This is one of the most important panels in the program. It takes an intuitive approach to your work. Any object that you are creating or manipulating on the stage or the timeline will be reflected in the properties inspector. Draw a square and the property inspector will display the square's fill color, stroke color, thickness of stroke and type of stroke. Any of these attributes can be changed from the properties inspector.
The panels : Includes the tool bar, the property inspector, the actions panel, a color mixer and components panel. Flash has a lot of panels and most should be closed to give you more workspace real state.
Scenes : Flash can have multiple scenes. Like a Shakespearean play each scene has a beginning and an end. A new scene will give you a new timeline starting at frame 1 and a blank stage. Scenes play in the order that they appear in the scene panel not the order that their names say. Objects in scene one do not appear in scene 2.
Frame rate : This is the rate that the time line plays Frames Per Second (FPS). Film is 24 FPS. Flash's default rate is 12 FPS. Any slower and tween animations won't look as good. To slow an animation make it last longer on the timeline by adding more frames.
Intro : A fancy flash animation that precedes the launching of a site.
. fla : The flash source file. Only opened with the program Marcomedia Flash.
. swf : The type of file that is created when a flash movie is tested or published. This is the type of file that is inserted into a webpage and uploaded to the internet.
Key frames : Insertion points within a timeline where and object can be added to the stage. Use keyframes to create animations and control the tint, transparency, or rotation of an animated object. Use keyframes to change the content from the previous keyframe.
Frames: The timeline is made of empty frames. A frame will contain the objects and all the object's properties from the previous keyframe but can't be changed without changing the look of all previous frames.
Symbols including buttons, graphics, and movies : All your objects should be converted into symbols. This helps with download time because a flash symbol only needs to be downloaded once to the browser while a non symbol will need to be downloaded each time the page is loaded. Symbols can be used over and over again in Flash but only needs to download once. No animation can be created without using a symbol. If you create an animation without a symbol flash will create it for you. New to Flash MX Movies can function as buttons and buttons can function as movies. For our workshop puposes, Buttons and movies are very different. A button is clicked and has four frame timeline identifying the four stages: up, over, down, and hit. The movie symbol has a timeline identical to the flash timeline which allows us to create a movie within a movie. Such as movie wheels of a school bus.
Motion tweens: Animations along the timeline that appears as motion. Color, size, tint, and transparency can also be changed here.
Shape tweens: Animations along the timeline that include all of the above as well as the shape. For example turning a circle into a square.
Publish Settings: Publishing the flash file has many options including the self playing projector file.
The text tool: Allows you to enter text boxes. There are three kinds of text boxes static, input, and dynamic.
The Modify Menu: Allows you to modify all objects including the document itself. This might include the frame rate, the background color, the stage size.
Layers: The timeline can have multiple layers. Layers are like acetate paper. They allow you to place an object on top of another object keeping it hidden below.
The Library: The Library panel is where the symbols are stored.
Actionscript: Macromedia's proprietary programming language. Easy to use using the action panel. Abel to launch webpages, play and stop movies, and others.
Play Head : Designates the frame in the timeline that is currently active.
If you have no experience with drawing tools and panels then you will need to become familiar with these first. The drawing tools and panels is the same technology that is used in every high end computer program from Flash to Photoshop even Microsoft Word on a very simple level.
If you go to the help menu in Flash and select Lessons you can participate in some very useful lessons on using these tools.

iBlake · #2 20-05-2008, 03:25 AM

Is this like a glossary. I really don't understand it. Please explain.

webwizzy · #3 20-05-2008, 11:43 AM

yess.. its just like a simple explanation of general terms related with Adobe's Flash !!

KarKess · #4 26-06-2008, 01:58 AM

I wish I had a clue. Maybe you should make a really good tutorial that can walk people thru simple graphics, so we have a place to start.:thumbup:

webwizzy · #5 26-06-2008, 02:36 AM

ya I'll soon put up one, this was just a basic terminology of Flash software.

KarKess · #6 26-06-2008, 09:17 AM

Perhaps you can make it a video tutorial that you can narrate. Because I can't take reading page after page of this does that and don't do this, and if you push this button while clicking on this, it will create a time vortex changing the quantum physics of the relative world around you and in turn create a worm hole that upon entering will take you to.......

KarKess · #7 26-06-2008, 09:18 AM

......Whoa! Just got back! I was told that I can't tell another living being where I was or they'll come and erase my entire existence, including these posts.:thumbup:

foodland · #8 28-06-2008, 10:23 AM

nice keep on post

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TECH6.0

A Flash MX Lexicon