What started as a simple animation tool has evolved into a full-fledged Web development environment. Which means that if you're like many of today's Flash developers, you may know little about actually creating animations and effects with the program. Here to solve that dilemma is a hands-on guide from one of today's leading Flash experts. By showing you how to create 10 projects based on real-world Web solutions, author Jen deHaan provides a thorough grounding in all of Flash's effects and animation fundamentals. Each chapter represents a single project with simple step-by-step instructions for re-creating the cool Web elements pictured in these pages: an animated character, a Flash interface that uses transitions to "page" through different areas of a site, an animated gallery, a dynamic menu that animates using the Tween classes, a simple game, button effects, Timeline animations, scripted effects, text effects, and more! Ten real-world projects reveal the magic behind the most useful Flash-produced animations and effects, and a companion CD includes lesson files and sample software.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 8 Ratings

Good Overview of Basic Flash - 2005-11-28
Reviewer Rating:
The book might not be perfect but gives a very clear overview of Flash MX 2004 and its animation techniques. I find it very useful for teaching with, as it supplements my class structure. It doesn't over complicate the description and helps a beginner to understand Flash.
It doesn't focus only on one aspect of the program but highlights the major elements.

Examples are not clear. - 2005-10-25
Reviewer Rating:
I attempted to read through this book but quickly got lost. The examples were incomplete and the accompanying text referred to practically useless examples.I found this book to be quite confusing.

I would not recommend this book to any level of reader. A beginner (like me) would be confused and an advanced programmer would already be aware of the techniques. You are better off with online tutorials or other books (e.g. the Visual Quickstart series or perhaps the Flash Hacks book.)

Good reference for animation and effects in Flash MX 2004 - 2005-10-20
Reviewer Rating:
In her book, Animation and Effects with Macromedia Flash MX 2004, Jen DeHaan covered the animation effects techniques in Flash MX 2004.
Jen started her book with a fast introduction to Flash MX 2004, and then she moved on to the animation techniques in Flash, motion tweening, shape tweening and frame by frame animation.

Also, she did not miss to mention the animation using action script. And in the end of the book, she included useful appendixes about publishing SWF, time line effects and keyboard shortcuts.

However, this book is a good reference for intermediate designers and developers that want to get a solid background on the animation in Flash MX 2004.

Animation and Effects - 2005-10-17
Reviewer Rating:
I read earlier reviews and agree that there is little to be gained from this book that isn't documented in the base tutorials.

it has good tutorials - 2005-07-24
Reviewer Rating:
I just finished the last chapter and I am happy with what I learned now. I got through each chapter tutorial and I didn't find all those errors that they see, only maybe a small thing or two. I came here cause I was really happy with this book, very surprised to see those comments. I see some things that are confusing in Flash, but I got all the chapters to work well and seem to understand it too.

it shows you how to do animations with timeline and with code and you learn a lot. It does show you all the steps and how to do cool things in tutorials which is not too easy but Flash isn't easy. I really look forward to doing my own things now beacuse of the tutorials.

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