I want to do some flash programming to create a proper website for myself, and a pro website for a company which hires out musicians . . .
Is there a freeware / shareware program that would help me ? Or do I have to buy a program ? Any thoughts on good solutions etc.
Also, how easy is it ?
Any help appreciated, cheers,
Will.
Flash programming
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Nestor
- Posts: 6683
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- Location: Fourth Dimension Paradise, Cloud Nine!
If you want to build Flash animations without the hassle, and if you don’t have time, I strongly recommend you to use Swish, which is a program created by Macromedia as well, the same company that made Flash.
http://www.swishzone.com/
It’s a fantastic program, try it out. And of course, its much cheaper than Flash.
http://www.swishzone.com/
It’s a fantastic program, try it out. And of course, its much cheaper than Flash.
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marcuspocus
- Posts: 2310
- Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2001 4:00 pm
- Location: Canada/France
Yeah, Swish is good, but it's absolutely hopeless at streaming anything and especially hopeless at streaming sound.
But it's certainly a good way to get started and to build simple objects.
These forums cover most of the main Flash programs and there specialised spinoffs whch cover text effects, video, audio, 3D etc
http://www.flashkit.com/board/index.php
(I post sometimes in the Wildform Flix board which is a video-to-swf conversion program).
I went the long route starting with Flash 4 then 5 then Flash MX, then found Swish and a host of other Flash-based apps. Flash is a fantastic tool, but in the wrong hands can turn out horribly bloated bits of too-clever garbage.
But I'm happy to say I earn my living with Flash
and hopefully have lately avoided turning out bloated garbage.
If I were to give a one-sentence bit of advice to someone who wanted the quick way into good-looking Flash, then I'd suggest buying Swish and also Wildform's Linx. Both are cheap.
Swish is the poor man's Flash - but it is also much easier to learn than MX.
Linx is a "swf file assembler" (my description). Instead of trying to piece together mutliple scenes in Swish, I'd export small swf files and use Linx to assemble them. With Linx you can scale, crop, recolour, move, control the timeline, and perhaps most importantly, wrap everything up in an adaptive preloader.
Anyway, I could burble on for hours with this. If you've a specific question please ask !
Good luck.
But it's certainly a good way to get started and to build simple objects.
These forums cover most of the main Flash programs and there specialised spinoffs whch cover text effects, video, audio, 3D etc
http://www.flashkit.com/board/index.php
(I post sometimes in the Wildform Flix board which is a video-to-swf conversion program).
I went the long route starting with Flash 4 then 5 then Flash MX, then found Swish and a host of other Flash-based apps. Flash is a fantastic tool, but in the wrong hands can turn out horribly bloated bits of too-clever garbage.
But I'm happy to say I earn my living with Flash
and hopefully have lately avoided turning out bloated garbage.If I were to give a one-sentence bit of advice to someone who wanted the quick way into good-looking Flash, then I'd suggest buying Swish and also Wildform's Linx. Both are cheap.
Swish is the poor man's Flash - but it is also much easier to learn than MX.
Linx is a "swf file assembler" (my description). Instead of trying to piece together mutliple scenes in Swish, I'd export small swf files and use Linx to assemble them. With Linx you can scale, crop, recolour, move, control the timeline, and perhaps most importantly, wrap everything up in an adaptive preloader.
Anyway, I could burble on for hours with this. If you've a specific question please ask !
Good luck.
Thanks people. I'll definitely check out swish, and don't worry, I know the rules, I just wanted to have something that looked really good, not that pissed anyone off !
I suppose if I bought a really good desktop publisher then I could import drawings from that and achieve a good effect that way.
But I'll look into all the options.
Will.
I suppose if I bought a really good desktop publisher then I could import drawings from that and achieve a good effect that way.
But I'll look into all the options.
Will.
For avi's to swf I prefer Video to Flash Converter. Before I tried a lot of different tools and now stoped at this one becouse all I need is only good quality flash's.
http://www.geovid.com/video_to_flash_converter/
http://www.geovid.com/video_to_flash_converter/
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paulrmartin
- Posts: 2445
- Joined: Sun May 20, 2001 4:00 pm
- Location: Montreal, Canada
[Business flash]
Earlier this week, Adobe bought Macromedia:
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/invrela ... media.html
Earlier this month, Adobe, second company after Microsoft, announced it is implementing the new Belgian digital ID card into their software.
[/Business flash]
Earlier this week, Adobe bought Macromedia:
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/invrela ... media.html
Earlier this month, Adobe, second company after Microsoft, announced it is implementing the new Belgian digital ID card into their software.
[/Business flash]
Paul, another problem is that flash is a bit more complicated to edit than HTML. This makes sure you call the webadmin from time to time.
I prefer html big time, also because it doesn't need some specific plugin that has you wait before you can view the website.
I prefer html big time, also because it doesn't need some specific plugin that has you wait before you can view the website.
more has been done with less
https://soundcloud.com/at0m-studio
https://soundcloud.com/at0m-studio
Oh no, not again! Flash is evil!
Here's some backgrounders: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20001029.html
Web standards are the way to go. Flash is not OPEN standard.
XHTML, CSS, EcmaScript and DOM are the way to go. Look at here http://www.dhtmlcentral.com/script/sear ... =animation what one can achieve. (Note, as you see, the site is 4 years old now! If that was possible THEN, imagine what one can do today...)
Another example, do you use PowerPoint? Why not use standard web pages instead: http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/tools/s5/testbed/
Here's info about that http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/tools/s5/
I've spoken.
Here's some backgrounders: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20001029.html
Web standards are the way to go. Flash is not OPEN standard.
XHTML, CSS, EcmaScript and DOM are the way to go. Look at here http://www.dhtmlcentral.com/script/sear ... =animation what one can achieve. (Note, as you see, the site is 4 years old now! If that was possible THEN, imagine what one can do today...)
Another example, do you use PowerPoint? Why not use standard web pages instead: http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/tools/s5/testbed/
Here's info about that http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/tools/s5/
I've spoken.
Ah, so Flash is part of another evil conspiracy...
Flash is everywhere and still growing. To fight against it is as useless and futile as whipping the ocean to stop the tides. The Flash format is part of the established online presentation trio: jpeg, gif, swf.
Flash can be used well or badly just like everything else. Most Flash you wouldn't even know it was there and can be indistinguishable from jpegs or gifs unless you investigate.
The big push now seems to be to expand its video powers as a serious competitor to Quicktime, WMV and Mpeg.
Flash is everywhere and still growing. To fight against it is as useless and futile as whipping the ocean to stop the tides. The Flash format is part of the established online presentation trio: jpeg, gif, swf.
Flash can be used well or badly just like everything else. Most Flash you wouldn't even know it was there and can be indistinguishable from jpegs or gifs unless you investigate.
The big push now seems to be to expand its video powers as a serious competitor to Quicktime, WMV and Mpeg.
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Nestor
- Posts: 6683
- Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2001 4:00 pm
- Location: Fourth Dimension Paradise, Cloud Nine!
Flash Pro has already taken this path; it is possible to handle video with no problem. In fact, there are thousands of companies that have started publishing flash videos instead of doing it through other mayor and popular formats. Not only that, they have set a standard to publish Flash content into virtually any kind of digital device, as they have implemented specialized flash players for endless products like cellular phones, palm, etc.
Flash Pro has been compared, in terms of programming power, to any of the big program languages most used today… ActionScript2 is something fairly deep today.
The end of HTML as we know it, is already here, and the era of Flash has began.
HTML will be replaced by XML, this is already happening.
Flash is a truly great program, and not only that, a fantastic platform to implement multimedia and all kind of interactive, ALIVE content into the net, and into any kind of electronic publications.
As Spirit states, Flash by itself, means nothing, comparisons in term of cosmetic fashionable content, is not fair. Would you judge Pulsar as a bad board because you don’t like the music somebody is doing with it? That is not fair. Detaching oneself from the erroneous concept that Flash is “bad” or “cheesy”, is the first step to understand what it is.
More:
Now Flash can work flawlessly with Director MX 2004. You can interact with both programs to create truly amazing programs and ultra-dynamic content. The marriage of Director with Flash is similar to the incredible powerful marriage of a good sequencer with a good sound card. If you were to have only Pulsar, you would be in trouble when composing by yourself; the sequencer gives you thousands of new possibilities and exploits the potential that exists in Pulsar. Pulsar by the way, takes advantage of all the facilities of your sequencer, and that means a tremendous creative power, immense, as you well know.
The problem with Flash is that it is judge not by its code line and power, but by those silly designers that make a page so full of little things moving around, that you get crazy… It is a bit like those kids that use “ALL” VST plug-ins in the same song, sounding like a mass of distorted rock. But, in the same way you can find many good programmers in musical terms, you’ll find more and more, very good and skilled people in Flash, as the platform is growing by the day, and very good forums are coming up every month.
More:
Flash Pro can now handle, and quite extensively, data bases… so there is a new world in your hands with this possibility.
Most people using Flash MX or even Flash Pro, do not know AcntionScript, and even less, ActionScript2. People use Flash with its front panel and the tools they have at hand, period. But the power of Flash lies in its programming language, namely ActionScript2. It is just amazing HOW MUCH you can do with this simple, but effective language.
More:
Now you can also handle JavaSript language in Director MX 2004 instate of Lingo language. Macromedia has done it for you to get rid of Lingo, which is useful “only” in Director, so not very attractive you could say... Lingo is a particular language used, for years already, exclusively by Director, since the first version. The company want to open the door to people that already know JavaScript, to Director. It is an intelligent move. Well, without going into how the company works and take advantage when opening new markets, I want to keep saying that the important thing here is to understand that, this gives yet another BIG step into creativity.
Director with Flash can now create DVD content as well, can handle 3D objects without problem, and can also handle surround sound of course.
I am sure that the net is going to be swallowed by Flash, and that the marriage of Director with Flash will bring amazing results to those great programmers out there, that already know JavaScript.
Perhaps, all this facts will change your mind, and the mind of those who say to hate Flash, without getting to know the product in depth.
_________________
Music is the most Powerful Language in the world! *INDEED*
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Nestor on 2005-04-23 07:28 ]</font>
Flash Pro has been compared, in terms of programming power, to any of the big program languages most used today… ActionScript2 is something fairly deep today.
The end of HTML as we know it, is already here, and the era of Flash has began.
HTML will be replaced by XML, this is already happening.
Flash is a truly great program, and not only that, a fantastic platform to implement multimedia and all kind of interactive, ALIVE content into the net, and into any kind of electronic publications.
As Spirit states, Flash by itself, means nothing, comparisons in term of cosmetic fashionable content, is not fair. Would you judge Pulsar as a bad board because you don’t like the music somebody is doing with it? That is not fair. Detaching oneself from the erroneous concept that Flash is “bad” or “cheesy”, is the first step to understand what it is.
More:
Now Flash can work flawlessly with Director MX 2004. You can interact with both programs to create truly amazing programs and ultra-dynamic content. The marriage of Director with Flash is similar to the incredible powerful marriage of a good sequencer with a good sound card. If you were to have only Pulsar, you would be in trouble when composing by yourself; the sequencer gives you thousands of new possibilities and exploits the potential that exists in Pulsar. Pulsar by the way, takes advantage of all the facilities of your sequencer, and that means a tremendous creative power, immense, as you well know.
The problem with Flash is that it is judge not by its code line and power, but by those silly designers that make a page so full of little things moving around, that you get crazy… It is a bit like those kids that use “ALL” VST plug-ins in the same song, sounding like a mass of distorted rock. But, in the same way you can find many good programmers in musical terms, you’ll find more and more, very good and skilled people in Flash, as the platform is growing by the day, and very good forums are coming up every month.
More:
Flash Pro can now handle, and quite extensively, data bases… so there is a new world in your hands with this possibility.
Most people using Flash MX or even Flash Pro, do not know AcntionScript, and even less, ActionScript2. People use Flash with its front panel and the tools they have at hand, period. But the power of Flash lies in its programming language, namely ActionScript2. It is just amazing HOW MUCH you can do with this simple, but effective language.
More:
Now you can also handle JavaSript language in Director MX 2004 instate of Lingo language. Macromedia has done it for you to get rid of Lingo, which is useful “only” in Director, so not very attractive you could say... Lingo is a particular language used, for years already, exclusively by Director, since the first version. The company want to open the door to people that already know JavaScript, to Director. It is an intelligent move. Well, without going into how the company works and take advantage when opening new markets, I want to keep saying that the important thing here is to understand that, this gives yet another BIG step into creativity.
Director with Flash can now create DVD content as well, can handle 3D objects without problem, and can also handle surround sound of course.
I am sure that the net is going to be swallowed by Flash, and that the marriage of Director with Flash will bring amazing results to those great programmers out there, that already know JavaScript.
Perhaps, all this facts will change your mind, and the mind of those who say to hate Flash, without getting to know the product in depth.
_________________
Music is the most Powerful Language in the world! *INDEED*
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Nestor on 2005-04-23 07:28 ]</font>
Who spoke about conspiracies? You did.On 2005-04-23 03:43, Spirit wrote:
Ah, so Flash is part of another evil conspiracy...
No. Fighting (not physically) for good things in life is never useless. And many good things have been accomplished by "fighting".Flash is everywhere and still growing. To fight against it is as useless and futile as whipping the ocean to stop the tides.
Huh, what has swf to do with gif anf jpg? And you even missed png.The Flash format is part of the established online presentation trio: jpeg, gif, swf.
Except browsers begin to cry: "Gimme some some plugin to display this". Or, if I ware using screen reader, speech synthesis, or mobile phone, or... or...Flash can be used well or badly just like everything else. Most Flash you wouldn't even know it was there and can be indistinguishable from jpegs or gifs unless you investigate.
That may be acceptable though. I've nothing against Flash in itself. But I strictly criticize displaying textual information (or other critical parts of web site, like navigation) through Flash.The big push now seems to be to expand its video powers as a serious competitor to Quicktime, WMV and Mpeg.
That's nonsense! (Luckily) many big companies have started to remake their web sites open web standards compatible.On 2005-04-23 07:43, Nestor wrote:
The end of HTML as we know it, is already here, and the era of Flash has began.
Yes, it has happened many years ago, that's where XHTML steps in.HTML will be replaced by XML, this is already happening.
Agree. Good for that. But nothing else.Flash is a truly great program, and not only that, a fantastic platform to implement multimedia and all kind of interactive, ALIVE content into the net, and into any kind of electronic publications.
Well, I know Flash and many more. And I know that it's not the future of displaying information.Perhaps, all this facts will change your mind, and the mind of those who say to hate Flash, without getting to know the product in depth.
This one I can fully agreeMusic is the most Powerful Language in the world!
Oh, speaking of conspiracies... who tells you, that flash player will be free tomorrow? After Macromedia (or now Adobe) starts to ask money for it, who will be interested in Flash animations...
Actually I don't believe this to happen, they are happy to sell the authoring tools $$$
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BingoTheClowno
- Posts: 1722
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:00 pm
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Talking about Flash, this is a very cool flash:
http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/?HDPictures.com
http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/?HDPictures.com