Macromedia Flash Workspace
Flash is a program used mostly for creating movies and animations for the web. Through the use of action script these animations can become interactive.
For all projects you need to open Flash by double clicking on the icon. Select Open New Project from the window that pops up or from the pull down FILE menu.
Flash Workspace
The workspace is divided into 3 main areas
The stage is the white area where the action takes place. Anything drawn outside of this will not be seen. However, the grey space can be useful. For example, a figure can enter realistically onto the stage just as in a theater. You can change the size of the stage
The panels are different windows with tools and elements.
The Timeline allows you to create animation.
These can be accessed from the WINDOW’s pull down menu.
Toolbar
Property Inspector
This panel is used to modify the tools and objects on the stage. You will use this all the time.
If it is not visible go to the WINDOW pull down menu and click on Properties.
Timeline
If it is not visible go to the WINDOW pull down menu and click onTimeline.
Frames are the divisions of the timeline. You will be using a number of kinds of keyframes that will be defined as you use them. Blank Keyframes are marked by a square with an empty dot, a Keyframe and a Frame.
Layers can hold one animation. For multiple animations you add layers.
Saving your work
When you are in the middle of a project and/or want to go back to continue work you save it with the .FLA extension (Flash extension). If you are ready to publish it you save it as a .SWF. To do this you click on FILE/EXPORT/EXPORT MOVIE
Back to the Introduction to Flash Contents