Environment & Timeline Lecture Notes -

Objective #1: Understand the Flash Environment

• Stage
  • you can zoom in and out of the stage.
• change the background color & size
• Timeline
  • frames - The default rate at which a Flash movie plays is 12 fps (frames per second). You can change this rate very easily.
  • playhead
  • layers
• Toolbox
  • Pointer tool, Drawing tools, Color tools, etc.
• Be able to close & reopen panels.
• A 21" monitor sure comes in handy when using Flash.

Objective #2: Be able to open a .fla file and play a movie

• Open a Flash file from a demo that you downloaded from the Web and practice playing the movie by:
  • Use the Controller
  • Use the Control/Play menu command or press the Enter key. Some interaction such as buttons may not work.
• Use the Control/Test Movie menu command or press Ctrl + Enter.
• Drag your mouse across the top of the Timeline window.

Objective #3: Be able to create a new Flash movie file and save it as a .fla file.

• follow the instructor's demonstration to create a simple animation with motion tweening

Objective #4: Be able to work with the Layers panel and the Timeline

• realize that multiple layers appear stacked in the Timeline window
• a movie can be divided up into multiple scenes for better organization
• you should place objects, that you want to act independently, into different layers. This does not increase the file size of a published movie.

Objective #5: Appreciate and explain the importance of planning a Flash movie and Flash-produced web site

• Storyboarding a Flash movie with animation is every bit as important as storyboarding the design of a web page.
• Steps for planning a Flash application
  1. State the purpose
  2. Identify the audience
  3. Determine the treatment ("look and feel", tone, approach, & emphasis)
  4. Develop the specifications and storyboard
• Screen design guidelines include balance, unity, & movement
• Interactive design guidelines

Objective #6: Be able to publish and export a Flash movie

• The original Flash movie itself is saved with the file extension .fla. This is a file that retains layers and frames like an "unflattened" Photoshop .psd or Fireworks .png file.
• To use a Flash movie on the Web, you must publish (i.e. export) it as a .swf (pronounced "swiff") file. You also need a .html web page to contain the Flash .swf movie.
• To use a Flash movie in a stand-alone format without a web browser, you can export a movie as a projector.
• Follow the instructor's demonstration to practice publishing a movie for distribution on the Web vs. creating a projector file.