Foundation ActionScript 3.0 Image Effects discusses the ins and outs of graphical manipulation through code of all the different elements available in a Flash project, from vectors to bitmaps to videos, from animated text effects to dynamic video filters. Flash 8 introduced a vast array of image features, such as blend modes and filters as well as ActionScript's powerful BitmapData object, and this book covers all those effects in their CS4 form, as well as the graphical options that are available, such as the Pixel Bender Toolkit. It also details the many possible effects that can be achieved and the associated practical applications, with a focus on strong object-oriented programming methodologies to make the code more modular and reusable across projects.Gives detailed information on all of the image manipulation abilities of Flash CS4 Covers complex technology, such as the Pixel Bender Toolkit There is no other book like it, covering the same topics in as much depth What you'll learn Practice image manipulation using modular, object-oriented techniques Includes a comprehensive library of image effects classes Explore the bitmap manipulation classes in depth Applicable to most if not all of the Flash "disciplines" Provides a multitude of practical examples, not just theory Learn the Pixel Bender language Who this book is for

This book is a great resource for any reader with an intermediate-to-advanced knowledge of ActionScript developing Flash games, applications and interfaces, animations or Websites, as the effects detailed are applicable across multiple disciplines. If you understand the best practicesobject-oriented programmingsyntax and know how to manipulate a Flash movie beyond the basics, you will be able to pick up the book and apply its lessons in your own work, as it clearly points out how the effects discussed have practical applications for amateurs and professionals alike.

If you want to create exciting dynamic web sites that will amaze your online audience, then the Flash platform is a great way to go, with it's many features, including powerful graphical and sound and video capabilities. To really harness the power of Flash though, you need to make use of ActionScript to provide dynamic effects, enable user interaction, and manipulate data.

ActionScript 3.0, the Flash Platform's scripting language, offers a lot of new and powerful features. ActionScript is now a full-fledged programming language, with complete object-oriented capabilities, improved event handling, sound and video support, drawing capabilities, support for regular expressions, and much more.

Whether you are a Flash designer wishing to add to your skill set or an experienced ActionScript developer who wants to get up to speed with the latest version, you'll find all you need to know in Foundation ActionScript 3.0 with Flash CS3 and Flex.

This book covers all the essential techniques from the ground up, allowing you to get up and running quickly and easily. Starting with the fundamentals, you'll learn about using ActionScript objects, manipulating sound and video, and harnessing the power of regular expressions and XML.

The book concludes with two case studies to consolidate what you've learned and to introduce some more advanced techniques. This will give you some grounding in the new and exciting world of ActionScript 3.0 and show you how it all fits together in larger applications, allowing you to go on and build your own professional sites.

The sensible layout of the book makes it easy to find information about specific techniques. It doesn't aim to be an exhaustive reference, but rather focuses on the essential skills that will enable you to get up and running more quickly. With this book as your guide, you'll be creating killer Flash applications before you know it

With the release of Macromedia Flash 8, Flash is now the most powerful and widely used client software for the web, and its the only one that runs on virtually every browser, on every platform. It also features ActionScript, a scripting language with great object-oriented support. As such, Flash is the ideal platform for producing sophisticated object-oriented web applications. Complex applications demand a solid understanding of object-oriented programming (OOP) techniques, regardless of the language and platform used, and this book will provide all you need. Object-Oriented ActionScript For Flash 8 teaches the theory and practice of OOP with ActionScript. You do not need any extensive prior programming experience, you just need to want to go beyond the usual Flash interfaces. Authors, and working Flash developers, Peter Elst and Todd Yard take you through the complete development cycle of a series of related applications, using numerous step-by-step instructions. Youll be able to develop highly reusable applications and services that leverage the dynamic features in Flash. This book demonstrates professional OOP skills and techniques that are completely transferable to other programming languages and technologies, including Inheritance, Polymorphism, managing classes, component development, consuming web services, and much more. It also includes some cutting edge ActionScript programming techniques, and animation and effects classes. Summary of Contents: PART ONE: OOP AND ACTIONSCRIPT Chapter 1: Introduction to OOP Chapter 2: Programming Concepts Chapter 3: ActionScript 2.0 Programming PART TWO: FLASH OOP GUIDELINES Chapter 4: Planning Chapter 5: Project Workflow Chapter 6: BestPractices PART THREE: CORE OOP CONCEPTS Chapter 7: Encapsulation Chapter 8: Classes Chapter 9: Inheritance Chapter 10: Polymorphism Chapter 11: Interfaces Chapter 12: Design Patterns Chapter 13: Case Study: An OOP Media Player PART FOUR: BUILDING AND EXTENDING A DYNAMIC FRAMEWORK Chapter 14: Framework Overview Chapter 15: Manager Classes Chapter 16: UI Widgets Chapter 17: OOP Animation and Effects PART FIVE: DATA INTEGRATION Chapter 18: Interrelationships and Interactions Between Components Chapter 19: Communication Between Flash and the Browser Chapter 20: Server Communication (XML and Web Services) Chapter 21: Case Study: Time Sheet Application

How does your work stand up in the freshly competitive environment of the Flash MX marketplace? How can you streamline your ideas to give them greater usability? Where can you take your ideas next? Macromedia Flash MX Studio takes your raw Flash talent and multiplies its potency by focusing it on real-world web design situations. In the heady days of the late 1990s, designers were trying their hand at anything and everything they could lay their hands on. Now the marketplace is seriously focused, and serious Flash designers have to know exactly what theyire doing and why. These days itis all about functionality over experimentation, justification over style. Itis all about Maturity. The design must fit the job spec, and this book shows the reader how to fulfil these requirements and more. This book examines all the avenues open to professional or aspiring professional Flash MX designers. It takes a look at advanced uses of the new MX features, such as components and the Drawing API, and gives guidance on building whole new structures for animation, Dynamic Content, PHP, ColdFusion MX, XML, video, audio and audiovisual formats. book is designed to put that power in your hands. Book Info Based around a single hands-on project for readers to build-constructing an effective Flash web site from scratch for a major commercial client. Softcover. CD-ROM included. From the Publisher Macromedia Flash MX Studio has been broken into four sections to address the most common needs for the Flash designer. First off, Jamie McDonald provides five chapters on site presentation and the principles of web design. These opening chapters take a look at how to create slick, professional-level sites, involving Flash MXis new drawing and motion capabilities and interactive techniques. The second section concentrates on ActionScript. Flashis resident coding environment is crucial to master, and taps into Flashis great strength n intuitive and interactive applications. Keith Peters and Todd Yard have buddied up on this section, and examine some of the most advanced ActionScript techniques around. Be warned n this section is not for the faint-hearted Section three takes a look at Flash MXis greatly improved visual, audio and audiovisual capabilities. building a single site aimed at displaying rich media content. The final section is devoted to expounding a few myths about dynamic content using Flash. Its four chapters talk about general practice, before focusing in on specific areas, including introductions to PHP and XML, together with a look at Macromediais brand new ColdFusion MX.

The days of Flash as a creative luxury are long gone. After months of downsizing, Flash creativity has been on a huge rationalization program. It is no longer enough to present animation in millions of colors and a hundred transparencies. It is no longer sufficient to provide interactivity and dynamism for their own sake. The purpose of this collection is to show how designers have taken Flash and made it work for its supper. What we discover is a series of creations that place Flash at the hub of cutting edge web content. The end result is a snapshot of Flash as the ideal medium. In these amazing examples, we see the software pushed to its limits to create unbeatable applications-a collapsible family tree, an interactive video learning system, and a drawing tool, capable of running online! Beyond this, we dip into the back-end capabilities to look at how to improve Flash still further. Some staple XML and PHP routines are brought in to add a bit of spice, while Flash's mysterious sharedObject command is hunted down and tamed to create a hybrid Tamagotchi houseplant-perfectly suited to lure surfers back to your website!

The absolute cutting edge for application development at the moment is using Macromedia's Flash MX (the premier software for designing fantastic looking interfaces) with Microsoft's .NET framework (tremendously powerful server-side technology).

Combining these technologies has been greatly aided by the release of Macromedia's Flash Remoting MX, which is covered fully in this book. Designers and developers involved in the creation of this technology impart their knowledge to you in this book through extensive case studies.

Flash Remoting is not the only way to combine these technologies, however, so this book will fully cover Flash/.NET integration using ASP.NET.

This book is for readers who are looking to integrate their Flash movies with a .NET-enabled back-end. It assumes no prior knowledge of server-side technologies, but does require knowledge of Flash MX and ActionScript.

Digital 3D is a tricky area &emdash; and until the day someone makes 3D TV commercially viable, its going to remain a tricky area. What is 3D? Can you genuinely render 3D on a flat screen? Do you have to spend a years wages to get a dedicated piece of 3D software? Do you have to conjure up a bunch of complex math techniques to make the grade? Is anyone going to answer these interminable questions? Well, listen: were not out to work ourselves into the ground here. We want 3D and we want it fast, and we want to use Flash to get it. In a series of clear and concise demonstrations, this book shows you exactly what can be achieved in Web 3D. Some of the most cunning designers around have put their heads together to present these: the most wanted 3D cheats in Flash. This book will show you that you can: Lie your way into 3D with simple drawing techniques Cheat a 3D interface with cunning use of light and shadow Fool Flash into thinking it can render genuine 3D, and con the Internet into delivering it for us in double-quick time Hoodwink visitors into thinking theyre witnessing focus and depth of field Improve your depth of deception with an innovative slice engine to create convincing 3D objects Trick users into thinking theyre moving through a 3D space Summary of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction to Flash 3D Chapter 2 Light and Shadow Chapter 3 Scaling for 3D Chapter 4 Isometric 3D Chapter 5 Focus and Depth of Field Chapter 6 Parallax Scrolling Chapter 7 Text Effects in 3D Space Chapter 8 Drawing API and Math for 3D Chapter 9 3D Slice Engine Chapter 10 Departure Lounge: Moving beyond Flash 3D

Some friends of ED books concentrate on more serious aspects of Flash - this one concentrates on the fun. Flash can be used for many purposes, but making visually stunning effects to impress your boss, your friends, and anyone who looks at your site is one of the most rewarding. friends of ED have scoured the web and the Flash community, discovering the most requested and popular Flash effects in action today. We have investigated the visual effects and actual design techniques that Flash beginners have been asking for. The visual inspiration and detailed explanations of how to recreate these effects are combined together in this book. The eight leading designers in this full color book take these effects apart, showing you how to adapt your basic Flash knowledge to achieve results exceeding anything you thought possible. The effects stay true to the tried and tested friends of ED design-centric approach, with full exercises and explanations for each effect. Topics include: ground-breaking site navigation; a dynamic MP3 jukebox; cartoon animation; and Flash math visual effects. All you need to use this book is a knowledge of the Flash MX interface, and some imagination. So sit back, relax, and open up your mind to the visual potential of Flash MX. As with all books from friends of ED our support is fast, friendly and free. Your queries will be passed onto the editors and authors who put the book together.