Adobe Flash Cs5 Professional Includes Exercise Files And Training Videos, 2012.

1

Introduction

Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 was developed so that user can create, import, and manipulate many types of media, such as audio, video, and text. In this module, students will be introduced to the main interface of Adobe Flash CS5. The module will begin by telling the key benefits of Flash CS5, differentiate the types of Flash applications, the Flash file types and its Player, and showing how to use the Space Layouts of the Flash program. It guides and introduces you to the Adobe Flash CS5.

By the end of this section of the practical, the students should be able to:

 List the key benefits of using Flash CS5,

 Identify the different types of Flash applications,

 Identify the different Flash file types and its Player,

 Identify the features available at the main interface of Flash CS5, and

 Work using the Space Layouts of Flash CS5.

1.1 Why use Flash CS5

Flash has several key benefits, including small file sizes, fast download speeds, precise visual control, and advanced interactivity, the capability to combine bitmap and vector graphics and include video and animation, and scalable and streaming content.

 File Size and download Speed: Flash content often smaller than HTML content because it uses its own compression scheme, which optimizes vector and bitmap content differently than GIFs or JPEGs.

 Visual Control: Flash CS5 gives complete and accurate control over position, colour, fonts, and other aspects of the screen regardless of the delivery platform or browser.

 Enhanced Interactivity: Flash CS5 provides powerful scripting capabilities that make it possible to create complex presentation well beyond the capability of standard HTML or JavaScript.

 Combine Vectors and Bitmaps: Can create and display large vector images and animations without increasing file size.

 Video: Embedding video in SWF files is a huge plus for creating media-rich Web sites, and Adobe has enhanced the video capabilities even further in this release of Flash.

 Scalability: You can set Flash CS5 content to scale dynamically within the browser window.

1.1.1 Flash, Flash Player, or Flash Lite

Adobe uses the word to mean Flash as authoring tool, Flash as player, and Flash Lite (the player for mobile devices).

Adobe Flash Application

Application Description

Flash The Flash software application creates and edits artworks, animation, audio, and other interactive elements, storing the results in the Flash project file format (FLA). Any changes to the Flash movie must be edited in the production of FLA file. FLA files are exported in the SWF file format, which is typically embedded in an HTML document and published to the Web.

Flash Player The Flash player plays the publishing SWF files. The Flash-Player plug-in for browsers must be installed in order for users to see Flash content on the Web. This plug-in comes preinstalled in most current browsers.

Flash Lite Flash Lite is the version of the Flash Player for use on mobile devices. The latest version (2.0) supports ActionScript 2.0.

The most common types of Flash CS5 files are project files, movie files, video files, action script files, and published files.

Flash File Types

File Type Description

Project file (.fla) This is the master project file format, sometimes referred to as production file. The file stores all the settings and resources for Flash CS5 project. (.fla stands for FLAsh)

Movie file (.swf) The movie format sometimes referred as the published file or optimized file. This can be embedded in Web pages for Web-based Flash presentations. These files are generally not editable in Flash. (.swf stands for Small Web File.)

Video file (.flv) This is the Flash video file format, which is usually embedded in a SWF file. Encoding video as FLA file, using Flash’s stand-alone Video Encoder or another program, results in better compatibility with Flash project.

Action Script file (.as) This file contains the source code for a project file or movie. Action Script also can resides directly within a SWF file, but on occasion it will be exported separately.

Windows Projector file (.exe) and MacProjector file (.app)

This is a stand-alone projector file that can play on any computer without the need for a Flash player. Flash CS5 writes both Windows and Mac format projector files.

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

1.1.3 Player for Flash

Timeline

Stage Stage pasteboard

Property Inspector

Panels

Edit bar

Tools panel

Adobe Players

Player Description

Flash Player The Flash Player is used for viewing Flash content on the Web.

Shockwave Player The Shockwave Player is used for viewing Director content on the Web.

1.2 Interface Overview

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

 Timeline: Controls all the elements in a project file, including layers, frames, the play-head, and the status bar.

 Stage: Display animations, image, and other content. It is the area visible to users after publish or export a finished project.

 Stage pasteboard: Light grey area around the Stage. The contents of the Stage pasteboard are not visible to users when export or publish project.

 Edit bar: display current location inside the project file, including the name of the current scene. It also provides controls for editing scenes and symbols and let change the magnification using Zoom box.

 Tools panel: Contains tool for creating and editing artwork. This long vertical bar gives access just about to every tool need in order to create and modify objects.

 Panels: Each panel has unique set of tools or information for viewing or modifying specific files elements.

 Property inspector: The Property inspector is not just another panel in Flash. It is used for naming object instances, adding animations and sounds to Timeline, and much more.

1.2.1 Creating and Saving Workspace Layouts

By using Flash CS5, we can create different workspace layout for drawing, animating, or working with Action Script. The following steps walk you through the process of saving a custom workspace layout:

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

1. Click the Workspace button in the edit bar, and choose Save Current. Or, choose Window > Workspace to open the Save Workspace layout dialog box.

2. Type a name in the Name field, and click OK.

1.2.2 Switching Workspace Layouts

To switch between different workspace layouts, click the Workspace button in edit bar, and choose a workspace layout; alternatively, choose Window > Workspace, and choose a workspace layout.

1.2.3 Renaming and Deleting Workspace Layouts

1. Click the Workspace button in edit bar and choose Manage (or choose Window > Workspace > Manage) to open the Manage Workspace Layouts dialog box.

2. To delete a workspace layout, select it, and then click Delete. Click Yes to accept the change, and then click OK to close the Manage Workspace Layouts dialog box.

3. To rename a workspace layout, select it, and then click Rename. This opens the Rename Workspace Layout dialog box. Type new name in the Name field, and click OK to close the dialog box. Click OK again to close the Manage Workspaces Layouts dialog box.

1.3 Exercise: Keyboard Shortcuts

1.

Choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows) or Flash > Keyboard Shortcuts (Mac) to open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box.

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

2. In the upper-right corner of the dialog box, click the Duplicate Set button to open the Duplicate dialog box. From here, you can create a copy of the current keyboard shortcut set, ensuring you don’t make permanent changes to the original keyboard shortcut set.

3. Type a name for new the keyboard shortcut set in the Duplicate name field. Try to stick to a meaningful name you can recall later. Click OK.

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

4. Back in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box, choose an option (such as Drawing Menu Commands) from the Commands pop-up menu. A view of the first-level commands will appear. Click the plus sign (Window) or the arrow (Mac) next to a command to drill down and display additional commands. Click to select the command for which you want to change the keyboard shortcut.

5. Click the + (Add Shortcut) or (Remove Shortcut) button to add or delete the currently selected keyboard shortcut.

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

6. Press the keys you want to use as the keyboard shortcut to assign the shortcut to the option. Notice the shortcut key appears in the Press Key text box. Click Change to confirm your selection and assign it to the menu item. Click OK to close the Keyboard Shortcuts menu.

The most common types of Flash CS5 files are project files, movie files, video files, action script files, and published files.

Flash File Types

File Type Description

Project file (.fla) This is the master project file format, sometimes referred to as production file. The file stores all the settings and resources for Flash CS5 project. (.fla stands for FLAsh) Movie file (.swf) The movie format sometimes referred as the published file

or optimized file. This can be embedded in Web pages for Web-based Flash presentations. These files are generally not editable in Flash. (.swf stands for Small Web File.) Video file (.flv) This is the Flash video file format, which is usually

embedded in a SWF file. Encoding video as FLA file, using Flash’s stand-alone Video Encoder or another program, results in better compatibility with Flash project.

Action Script file (.as) This file contains the source code for a project file or movie. Action Script also can resides directly within a SWF file, but on occasion it will be exported separately.

Windows Projector file (.exe) and MacProjector file (.app)

This is a stand-alone projector file that can play on any computer without the need for a Flash player. Flash CS5 writes both Windows and Mac format projector files.

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

Timeline

Stage Stage pasteboard

Property Inspector

Panels

Edit bar

Tools panel

Adobe Players

Player Description

Flash Player The Flash Player is used for viewing Flash content on the Web.

Shockwave Player The Shockwave Player is used for viewing Director content on the Web.

1.2 Interface Overview

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

 Timeline: Controls all the elements in a project file, including layers, frames, the play-head, and the status bar.

 Stage: Display animations, image, and other content. It is the area visible to users after publish or export a finished project.

 Stage pasteboard: Light grey area around the Stage. The contents of the Stage pasteboard are not visible to users when export or publish project.

 Edit bar: display current location inside the project file, including the name of the current scene. It also provides controls for editing scenes and symbols and let change the magnification using Zoom box.

 Tools panel: Contains tool for creating and editing artwork. This long vertical bar gives access just about to every tool need in order to create and modify objects.

 Panels: Each panel has unique set of tools or information for viewing or modifying specific files elements.

 Property inspector: The Property inspector is not just another panel in Flash. It is used for naming object instances, adding animations and sounds to

Timeline, and much more.

1.2.1 Creating and Saving Workspace Layouts

By using Flash CS5, we can create different workspace layout for drawing, animating, or working with Action Script. The following steps walk you through the process of saving a custom workspace layout:

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

1. Click the Workspace button in the edit bar, and choose Save Current. Or, choose Window > Workspace to open the Save Workspace layout dialog box. 2. Type a name in the Name field, and click OK.

1.2.2 Switching Workspace Layouts

To switch between different workspace layouts, click the Workspace button in edit bar, and choose a workspace layout; alternatively, choose Window > Workspace, and choose a workspace layout.

1.2.3 Renaming and Deleting Workspace Layouts

1. Click the Workspace button in edit bar and choose Manage (or choose

Window > Workspace > Manage) to open the Manage Workspace Layouts

dialog box.

2. To delete a workspace layout, select it, and then click Delete. Click Yes to accept the change, and then click OK to close the Manage Workspace Layouts

dialog box.

3. To rename a workspace layout, select it, and then click Rename. This opens the

Rename Workspace Layout dialog box. Type new name in the Name field, and click OK to close the dialog box. Click OK again to close the Manage Workspaces Layouts dialog box.

1.3 Exercise: Keyboard Shortcuts

1.

Choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows) or Flash > Keyboard Shortcuts (Mac) to open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box.

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

2. In the upper-right corner of the dialog box, click the Duplicate Set button to open the Duplicate dialog box. From here, you can create a copy of the current keyboard shortcut set, ensuring you don’t make permanent changes to the original keyboard shortcut set.

3. Type a name for new the keyboard shortcut set in the Duplicate name field. Try to stick to a meaningful name you can recall later. Click OK.

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

4. Back in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box, choose an option (such as

Drawing Menu Commands) from the Commands pop-up menu. A view of the first-level commands will appear. Click the plus sign (Window) or the arrow

(Mac) next to a command to drill down and display additional commands. Click to select the command for which you want to change the keyboard shortcut. 5. Click the + (Add Shortcut) or (Remove Shortcut) button to add or delete the

Courtesy of Adobe® Flash Professional CS5 Software

6. Press the keys you want to use as the keyboard shortcut to assign the shortcut to the option. Notice the shortcut key appears in the Press Key text box. Click

Change to confirm your selection and assign it to the menu item. Click OK to close the Keyboard Shortcuts menu.