Flash CS4 Professional

We currently offer the following Flash workshops:

   Flash CS4 Professional, Level 1 (9-hour workshop)
   Flash CS4 Professional, Level 2 (ActionScript)  (10-hour workshop)

Flash CS4 Professional

Flash is an extremely powerful graphics program that allows you to create dynamic, interactive animated content for everything from basic linear animations to entire web sites.

Flash provides Web developers and designers with greater control over the display of their works than would otherwise be possible.  When designing Web pages without Flash, the end result is at the mercy of the browser on which the user views the site.  Using Flash allows the designer to determine exactly how the site will function and appear, regardless of the browser used.

Why?  Because it's the "Flash Player" that's responsible for displaying your Flash files, and not the individual browser software.  Over 95% of Web browsers are now "enabled" with a version of the Flash player, which for several years has been included in major Web browsers, system software, and often ships standard on new computers, as well as being easily downloaded from the Macromedia site.   Flash movie files are often smaller in size than other graphic formats, leading to faster download times.

With Flash, not only can you create animated movies from scratch, but you can also import graphic content created with other programs and use Flash to animate it.  Adobe Illustrator, in particular, has very comprehensive and flexible Flash output options.

Flash CS4 Professional, Level 1

Our expanded (9-hour) "Level 1" Flash workshop is suitable both for first time users AND for those who wish to brush up or add to their basic Flash skills (and a few not-so-basic skills as well!)

Since Flash is in part a graphics program, after a general introduction, we'll introduce Flash's graphic tools, importing and creating graphics, custom colors, and converting graphics to symbols. We'll also work with text, including "input text" that allows the viewer to enter information via the keyboard.

With all these objects and text on your stage, learning to work with "layers" in your Flash movie is essential.  You'll create multiple layers, and be able to lock/unlock your layers, as well as work with layers in both "outline" and "mask" modes.  If this all sounds similar so far to what you can do with programs such as  Adobe Illustrator, you're absolutely right.  In fact, Illustrator can be used to create the objects (and layers) that you later animate in Flash.

We'll then move on to animation by creating several types of animation, from the "simplest" frame-by-frame animation, through "motion-tweened" and "shape-tweened" animations (in which Flash does most of the work), and see how Flash CS4 has dramatically simplified working with "motion paths." A brief introduction to ActionScript (Flash's "programming language") will bring the Level 1 workshop to a close.

General outline of topics to be covered:

• Exploring the Adobe Flash Environment
  • Define Flash
  • Explore the Flash Interface
  • Explore and Customize the Panels in Flash
• Working with Drawing and Painting Tools
  • Compare the Drawing Modes of Flash
  • Use Drawing and Painting Tools
  • Use the Pen Tool
• Manipulating Objects
  • Use the Selection Tools
  • Overview of Layers
  • Work with Interacting Objects
  • Transform Objects
• Understanding Vector and Bitmap Images
  • Compare Vector Images and Bitmap Images
  • Work with Bitmap Images
• Working with Text
  • Overview of Text Fields and Attributes
  • Create Text Fields
  • Convert Text into Shapes
• Working with Symbols and Instances
  • Create a Symbol
  • Create a Symbol Instance
• Using Animation Basics to Create Animations
  • Create Animations with Frames and Keyframes
  • Work with Frames
  • Create a Motion Tween Animation
  • Create a Shape Tween Animation
• Using Layers
  • Work with Multiple Layers
  • Create a Mask Layer
• A Brief Introduction to ActionScript
  • Understand the Basics of ActionScript
  • Use ActionScript Elements

Flash CS4 Professional, Level 1
also applicable for users of earlier versions

Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of using your PC (Windows or Mac)
Instructor: Peter Kimble, Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)
Hours: 9
UIUC CEUs: 0.9
CPDUs: 9 (Illinois teachers are eligible to earn 9 CPDUs for this workshop)
Fee: $173 (includes expanded workbook)

Dates: July 23 & 24, 2009 (ThF);
Times: Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (lunch on your own, 11:30 - 1:00)
             Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Windows User Registration Code: W-1842-E 
Mac User Registration Code: M-1843-E 
Location: UI Armory Building,  Suite 156 (use NE entrance to Armory)

Registration Form       Back to Top

 

Flash CS4 Professional, Level 2

Learn how to use ActionScript (Flash's "programming language") to add more complex interactivity to Flash movies.  You'll add components from the Actions Panel, store data in variables, check for movie clip collisions, create dynamic text fields, and much more. You'll also build a navigation system, gather data using a form, connect your Flash movie to external data, and submit user data with a submit button.

General outline of topics to be covered:

• Using ActionScript
  • Add Components from the Actions  Panel
  • Trace a String
  • Populate a Text Area with ActionScript
  • Store Data in Variables
• Manipulating Components with ActionScript
  • Create an Event Handler
  • Create a Form with Interactive Components
  • Use Conditional Logic in ActionScript
• Working with Movie Clips
  • Create a Movie Clip
  • Check for Movie Clip Collisions
  • Attach a Movie Clip from the Library Panel
• Adding Data Using Built-in Classes
  • Create a Dynamic Text Field
  • Read Data from a Text File
• Reusing Code with Functions
  • Streamline Code Using Built-in Functions
  • Create User-Defined Functions
  • Reference an External ActionScript File
• Connecting to External Data
  • Examine Dynamic Content in Flash
  • Add Data to an XML File
  • Load Data from an External Data Source
  • Create Dependent Components
• Building a Navigation System
  • Display SWFs Using Buttons
  • Add a Submenu Using Buttons
• Managing User Data Using Forms
  • Gather User Data Using a Form
  • Create a Submit Button
  • Submit User Data

Flash CS4 Professional, Level 2

Prerequisite: A Flash Level 1 workshop, or equivalent experience with Flash.
Instructor: Peter Kimble, Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)
Hours: 9
UIUC CEUs: 0.9
CPDUs: 9 (Illinois teachers are eligible to earn 9 CPDUs for this workshop)
Fee: $173  (includes expanded workbook)

Dates: July 27 & 28, 2009 (MTu);
Times: Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (lunch on your own, 11:30 - 1:00)
             Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Windows User Registration Code: W-1844-E 
Mac User Registration Code: M-1845-E 
Location: UI Armory Building,  Suite 156 (use NE entrance to Armory)

Registration Form       Back to Top