If you're a Flash designer looking for a solid overview of Flash CS4, this book is for you. Through the use of solid and practical exercises, you will soon master the fundamentals of this latest edition of the Adobe Flash authoring tool. Using a series of carefully developed tutorials, you will be led from basic Flash CS4 techniques to the point where you can create animations, MP3 players, and customized Flash video players in no time. Each chapter focuses on a major aspect of Flash, and then lets you take the reins in a "Your Turn" exercise to create something amazing with what you've learned.
This book focuses on the core skill set you need to feel at home with Flash CS4, and also introduces you to some of the biggest names in today's Flash community through interviews and actual "How To" examples, so you can learn from the masters. You will start by studying the Flash CS4 interface, and while you're at it, you'll be guided toward mastery of the fundamentals, such as movieclips, text, and graphics, which will lead you into some of the more fascinating aspects of Flash, including audio, video, animation, and 3D transformations.
By the time you finish, you will have created an MP3 player and a Flash video player, been introduced to the basics of ActionScript 3.0, learned how to combine Flash with XML, styled Flash text with CSS, created animated scenes, and worked your way through a host of additional projects. All of these exercises are designed to give you the knowledge necessary to master Flash CS4 from the ground up. If you're already a seasoned Flash designer, this book will get you up to speed with the latest version in relatively short order.
This book covers all of the new Flash CS4 features, such as the new animation and 3D tools, the new Adobe Media Encoder, and a pair of the coolest new additions to the Tools panel: a Spray Brush tool and a Deco tool.
You can discover more about this book, download source code, and more at the book's companion website: www.foundationflashcs4.com.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
Good book. Good delivery., October 15, 2009
By
Skeptical Tex (Central, TX USA)
Yeah, just like the title explains, I liked it and I was happy with the turn around time. What more can I say?
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would., April 26, 2009
By
Marc Chelin (clearwater)
The first Flash CS4 book I read was atrocious; the second one was good but still left some gaps (from other authors). This book has blown me away. It is excellent and complete. The authors (Tom Green and David Stiller) meticulously describe every facet of this program and leave no stone unturned. I have read many other books in general on graphics and thought I knew it all. Tom and David showed me things that were never mentioned in other books.
Not only are these guys very knowledgeable in this subject, they are expert at teaching too, something that is rare these days.
Marc
Highly Recommended!, February 12, 2009
By
Stuart Crickmer (Florence, KY USA)
I use Flash to develop simulation games that teach the basics of long-term investing in a fun and engaging manner. I needed to update a Flash version of one of my simulations that I had written in Flash MX or prior (can't really remember). I did not use Flash CS3 much and was intrigued by the new 3D features of Flash CS4. I wanted a book that could get me up to speed quickly while providing practical information on the new features. This book exceeded my expectations in that regard.
The chapters on the interface, creating artwork, symbols and libraries refreshed my memory at the same time they introduced me to new Flash tools. The action script chapter did a nice job of helping me transition from attaching script to buttons and movie clips to using event listeners and other aspects of AS 3.0. The animation and 3D chapters sparked a number of ideas that I'm now beginning to implement. I skimmed the video, CSS, and XML chapters and will return to these in more detail as needed.
As someone who creates educational simulations, I found David and Tom's book to take a very effective approach to getting up to speed on Flash CS4.
Frustrating and Disappointing, December 31, 2008
By
Ted A. Dobbs"Flash CS4 for Designers" contains a wealth of knowledge, however the inconsistencies between the book and downloadable files, as well as the apparent lack of editing made the whole experience frustrating.
Three of the chapters downloadable files refused to download properly from the first link provided in the book. The landing page of the second link stated that the book had no downloadable content. After doing a title search on the publisher's website and drilling down a few levels, I was able to download all of the lesson files. Or so I thought.
As I went through the chapters, I noticed typos and grammatical errors. This isn't a major problem until you start using writing action script or plugging values into to objects, and discover that it's not producing the desired results. I was able to troubleshoot some of the problems having discovered that some of the downloaded files weren't in the starting state that the book indicated. To help with this the publisher did include a completed file for you to compare your work against. In one case, I found that the completed file didn't match the action scripting indicated in the book. Since this was a lesson specifically on action scripting, the completed file provided was useless for checking action scripting on my working file. I do understand that coding can be written many ways to achieve the same results, however if you're teaching the "longhand" version of action scripting then the completed file should reflect the "longhand" version as well.
While a lot of the problems I encountered centered around the provided files not being available or just in various states of completion that didn't correspond with the text, sloppiness is the underlying problem for the book as a whole. As an unexpected bonus, you will learni trouble-shooting just to get through the book.
An important thing to note is that I purchased this book in mid-December 2008, and the copyright date on the inside cover is 2009. Perhaps the book was intended to go through an editor one last time pushing the release back to 2009.
I have written to the publisher to make them aware of the poor quality of "Flash CS4 for Designers", and they are looking into the problems. Hopefully, future editions of the book will be much more professional.
While I wouldn't recommend "Flash CS4 for Designers" I would recommend reading "Adobe Flash CS4 Classroom in a Book" which I read prior to this publication. It isn't as in depth, but there are no consistency issues to make the learning process more frustrating.
Recommended for Designers!, December 31, 2008
By
Marlon Ceballos (Bogotá, Colombia)
The books of the series Foundation offer solid concepts for each application and in this case of Flash. This book cover almost all major aspects of Flash offer a clear and comprehensive explanation of each concept through examples that the reader can follow through the files can be downloaded from the website of the publisher.
The book includes the new characteristics of the version CS4 of Flash such as the Motion Tween, the 3D, Spray and Deco tools and the Adobe Media Encoder.
Designers who do not want to bother programming interfaces be grateful for the chapter destined to the components, however the topics such as the basics of ActionScript 3, applying styles with CSS, working with video and dynamic data management through XML will provide an step ahead of the simple animation in time line.
Although in general the entire book contains important topics, personally emphasized the last two chapters: "Building Stuff" and "Optimizing and Publishing Flash Movies". "Building Stuff" focuses on typical real-world examples such as a preload, a slideshow and an MP3 player using AS3 and XML, the latter is probably the most interesting example that you will find and you will can make. "Optimizing and Publishing Flash Movies" focuses on best practices to create and publish Flash movies in various formats.
Foundation Flash CS4 for Designers is definitely a book that can take advantage the novice user of Flash and also the experience user that want to know the news tools in Flash CS4 and more specialized topics such as CSS and XML.
=============
Los libros de la serie Foundation ofrecen conceptos o fundamentos sólidos de cada aplicación y en este caso, de Flash. Este libro cobre casi todos los aspectos fundamentales de Flash ofreciendo una explicación clara y extensa de cada concepto por medio de ejemplos que el lector puede seguir mediante los archivos que puede descargar de la página web de la editorial.
El libro incluye las nuevas caracteríticas de la versión CS4 de Flash tales como el Motion Tween, la herramientas de 3D, Spray y Deco y el Adobe Media Encoder.
Los diseñadores que no quieren molestarse en la programación de interfaces agradecerán el capítulo destinado a los componentes, sin embargo los temas como los fundamentos de ActionScript 3, aplicación de estilos con CSS, trabajo con video y el manejo de datos dinámicos mediante XML que permitirán dar un paso más adelante de la simple animación en línea de tiempo.
Aunque en general todo el libro contiene temas importantes, personalmente resalto los dos últimos capítulos: "Building Stuff" y "Optimizing and Publishing Flash Movies". "Building Stuff" se enfoca en ejemplos típicos del mundo real tales como una precarga, un slideshow y un reproductor MP3 mediante AS3 y XML, éste último es problablemente el ejemplo más interesante que usted encontrará y que podrá realizar. "Optimizing and Publishing Flash Movies" se enfoca en las mejores prácticas para generar películas Flash y publicarlas en diversos formatos.
Foundation Flash CS4 for Designers es en definitiva un libro que podrá aprovechar el usuario novato de Flash y también el usuario con experiencia que quiere conocer las novedades de Flash CS4 y temas más especilizados como CSS y XML.
========
Marlon Ceballos
Colombia Adobe User Group Manager
