Foundation Flash 5 successfully avoids the trap, so common in other instruction books, of an all-encompassing but shallow overview. It successfully does an in-depth treatment of the most essential aspects of using Flash. At the end, you may not know every menu option, but you'll be able to construct your own Flash Web site. The book uses one case study project: a Web site interface with animated buttons, soundtrack and Flash -enabled content. Small-scale lessons within chapters and applying these lessons to the larger scale project help reinforce the material. (Support files for the case study can be downloaded from www.friendsofed.com)

The writing follows a narrative style (longer paragraphs both before and within the numbered steps), managing to be casual and friendly in just the right amounts. Personal anecdotes, when they occur, actually enhance the lessons. Although this style makes hopping around the book and troubleshooting specific problems more difficult, the payoff for reading in a linear, cumulative fashion is a better handle on the pros and cons of Flash's core features. Another plus is that readers can follow along even if they are not sitting at the computer. (Learn Flash on the bus! Why not?) Throughout the book, the authors often point out alternative methods and uses for features, which encourages creative thinking on how to apply the lessons to your own projects. First-time users of Flash as well as experienced users who have put off trying scripting will find this book a good place to start. --Angelynn Grant

Book Description
Foundation Flash 5 gives you all the skills you need to get started in the latest version of Flash. It takes you from your first drawing and animation project in Chapter 1 through to a strong foundation in the sophisticated ActionScripting capabilities now built into Flash 5. It is a thorough and practical, tutorial led book, where each chapter builds into a complete design example - reinforcing what you've learnt in that section and how it can be applied in real design projects. By the end of the book you'll have an expert-level, Flash-rich website, and the skills to develop and modify your own Flash 5 effects. Professional-level design with Flash has taken a quantum step up with Flash 5. Foundation Flash 5 provides you with all the climbing gear you need for the steeper learning curve. You'll break a sweat. But when you get there the view from the top is really worth the effort! Written by the renowned team of Flash experts who bring you the great tutorials on Virtual-FX.net, this book will teach you what you need for designing cutting edge Flash 5 effects.

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