Re: FLASH: How did you all get started?

[Bobbi Ragon]

You'll save a lot of money that you can spend on software if you try to

learn various programs on your own as much as you can. It can be hard to

learn from books (hard to keep motivated to slog through all the exercises

on your own), rather than classes, but you get used to it.


I just learned Flash from the book 'Flash 4 for Windows and Macintosh:

Visual Quickstart Guide', by Katherine Ulrich. The Visual Quickstart Guides

are outstanding - only about $20.00 each, and they have lots of practice

exercises (like a workbook format, basically). You can find out more about

them from the Peachpit Press site at http://www.peachpit.com. Peachpit has

so many different kinds of software books! The latest: 'The Little Audio CD

Book'. It's cool! (Especially for someone who knows absolutely nothing about

MP3s, like me.)


After you go through the VQS book, then you should get the Flash 4 Bible.

It's a really thick book and can seem overwhelming at first. It's probably

best just for reference now and then. Also, it's great for its list of

various Flash technical forums and Websites that include Flash tutorials.


Also, you should keep in mind that in addition to this Flash mailing list,

some other great sources of technical info are the Usenet newsgroup

alt.macromedia.flash and the Macromedia newsgroup macromedia.flash (you get

to macromedia.flash you have to access a separate Macromedia newsreader, via

the macromedia site at http://www.macromedia.com).


Incidentally (if it helps, as background/general info), I just set up some

Flash clips for the first time a few weeks ago. After creating some

semi-basic clips and getting frustrated about their slightly choppy effect,

I posted to various forums asking for help. I found out from some really

nice, helpful people at alt.macromedia.flash that to make the clips run more

smoothly, I really needed to add a fading-in-and-out effect not to the

images themselves, but to a white rectangle added on a separate layer in

front of each image (and also I had to apply the 'modify/break apart'

command to each jpg image). Neat trick! And my Flash clips do run more

smoothly, so it does actually work! I don't remember such a technique

mentioned in either the VQS book or the Flash 4 Bible (though I haven't read

all of the Flash 4 Bible yet - just some chapters).


Hope that helps! Good luck!  :)



Bobbi R.

RGB Notes

http://www.rgbnotes.com

(Flash clips on main page and Photo Gallery page)



Amnesty Chapter 536 (Adams-Morgan and Dupont Circle, Washington, DC)

http://www.amnesty-volunteer.org/usa/group536/

(Flash clip on main page)





on 8/17/00 3:23 PM, Patrick at

pmwctech [dot] net

 wrote:


> Hey guys,

> 

> I am really interested into learning Flash to it's fullest extent and wanted

> to know the direction I should go in.  Should I take classes, or read books?

> If I should take some classes, are there any classes in the Bay Area (San Jose

> mainly) that are really good and informative?  And if I should get books, what

> are some good Flash books out there that will help me with most of my

> questions?

> 

> Also, if you guys can give me some pointers I would appreciate it.  Thanks a

> bunch!

> 

> Patrick




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