|
Flash is a multimedia, web-based graphics application using a frame-based timeline that allows key framing and tweening. Key framing is an animation technique used to simplify and speed up the animation process. A motion sequence consists of a starting framing in a selected position and an ending frame in another selected, usually different position. The two keyframes are drawn and noted in the program, a direction of movement and change in position or size if required is indicated, and then the program will “tween” the rest of the frames in-between to keyframes by doing the drawing and positioning. A file is created, saved, stored, and publish in a browser much like any web file application, but with few HTML codes. Flash requires minimum programming skills, some knowledge of HTM, some knowledge of basic computer animation, but is nearly WYSIWYG (“what you see is what you get”). The program is much faster than other animation programs and allows interactivity and buttons for insertion of other material. The application supports bidirectional streaming interactivity through the application Action Script, which is similar to, bur different than, Java Script a commonly sued web application.
Drawing images on flash uses vector graphics like illustrator, which gives a clean image that can easily be manipulated including reducing or enlarging forms and shapes without losing clarity or quality of the image. Illustrator may be used with one of two levels of flash, either Lite or CS3 Pro for the more complex projects. Colors is easily accomplished, changing’s shapes much like using Illistrator controls. Sound may be added and edited within the program or created externally and downloaded to the flash file as MP3 files.
|
Participants