Course Description

In this 5 week course, we'll begin exploring how to use the concepts learned in Intro and Intermediate to create the animation effects that add spice to your Flash movies. This course will focus on applied Masking Techniques, Transition Techniques, Text Effect and Tips & Tricks to make your Flash life easier! Some of the effects include the use of Action Script; these will be explained and documented as necessary to allow you to use them without having to be an "Action Scripter". At the end of this course you will be able to create basic transition animation, jazz up logos and banners with text & mask effects like those done in Swish, and offer quick loading Slide Shows to your viewers, among other things! Below are just a few of the effects you will create in Flash FX Part 1 class: Click here to see sample assignment movies LVS Online Classes Flash Blog: http://www.lvsonline.com/online-flash-classes This is a self-study course. Access to all lessons will be provided as soon as the registration is processed. LVS is a Corel Training Partner. LVS students may purchase Corel products at a significant savings. Follow this link for details. LVS students are also eligible take advantage of special offers made available by famous software developers such as Andromeda, AV Bros, Extensis, Harry Heim, namesuppressed, Nik Multimedia, and Ulead. Details are provided in the classinfo link found in the confirmation of registration. If you would like to receive more information regarding this course, click on the "Contact Us" link in the Information section and we'll try to answer any of your questions within the day.

Course Requirements

Flash 5 or newer sofware. You may download a trial version of Flash, but be aware that it is only good for 30 days. Up-to-date browser such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, Firefox or Safari. Flash will work on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Lessons are written in PC format, but are compatible for Macintosh users. You must know how your operating system works as instructors use PC. Homework must be reviewed by the instructor in order to earn a certificate. Students have the option of using the Student Upload Area or free web hosting made available for LVS students. Details are provided in the classroom. If you prefer to use your own web space, you must know how to upload your files to a server. Free tutorials are available: Basic HTML page WS_FTP SmartFTP If using your own web space, your web host must be configured (MIME-Type) to handle Shockwave Flash files (.swf) and native Flash files (.fla). Details are provided in the classroom. Students should have working knowledge of their operating system: Free Windows Class Here Directory Structure Tutorial Here Zip files may be necessary to complete the exercises provided each week. WinZip, PKZip, Windows Compression or similar program is required to unzip these files. Winzip Tutorial Here Windows Compression All lessons are available in PDF format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view/print the lessons. Plan to devote 4 - 6 hours per week on the lesson and assignment.

Course Prerequisites

Class Level - Advanced Flash Intro and Flash Intermediate Basic knowledge of HTML is required. If you are not familiar with HTML, consider taking the Build Your Website Intro class.

Course Syllabus

Lesson 1 - Week 1/2 Mask Effects Shape Tween Cinematic Spotlight Softedge Offset Ripple Mask (non-bitmap Light slider Multiple Masks/Bitmap Magnifying Glass Drawing Kaleidescope Lesson 2 - Week 3/4 Working with Bitmaps TV Screen Animated Bitmap Slide Shows Transition Effects Bonus Flowing Squares with AS Lesson 3 - Week 5/6 Text Effects Static Animated (non AS)

Course Excerpt

LESSON 1 :: WORKING WITH MASKS Masking is a simple way to selectively reveal portions of the layer or layers below it. As you know from Flash Level II class, this requires making one layer a mask layer and the layers below are the masked layers. By adding tweening to either or both mask and masked layers, you can go beyond simple peepholes and create dymaic masks that move, change shape, and reveal moving images. Use animated masks to create complex effects as rippling water, moving spotlights, magnification, sliding banners, etc. Animated masks are also great for making cinematic transitions such as wipes in which the first underlying image is covered up as the second image is revealed. Inserting layers above and below masks can add even more complexity to animated masks. For example, a shape filled with an alpha gradient can make the hard edges of a mask slowy fade out for a subtle spotlight. The following exercises show you step by step how to achieve these more complicated mask effects. Not only are they awesome to watch...the creating process is a lot of fun too. When it all comes together, the satisfaction of your accomplishment is truly rewarding! Please read the assignment section above first, so you'll have an idea of what is expected before you complete the exercises. :: EXERCISE 1: Offset Water Ripple Effect Screencapture of Movie The water rippling effect is created with a shape tweened mask. Follow the steps below to see how it was done. :: Creating the Movie Open a new movie and name it [yourname]-[version]-wk1-Ex1.fla. Set the stage size to 300 x 198 with a blue background. Open the Library for this movie. Use the Open as Library feature to access the wk1-library.fla found in the Week 1 library zip file. Drag the Offset Folder in the Shared Library to the library of the new movie. Close the wk1-library.fla Rename the existing layer water offset. Drag a copy of the water.jpg to the stage and center it. Convert this jpg to a Graphic symbol. Set this instance's Y coordinate to 1. IMPORTANT NOTE: All Users: Make sure the top left square of the registration grid is checked in the Info panel. Flash MX and Above Users: You can use either the Properties panel or the Info panel to enter the coordinates. Insert a frame in frame 19. Insert a new layer. Name this layer water. Drag an instance of the water graphic symbol to the stage. Set the X coordinate to 2 and set the Y coordinate to 1. Insert a frame in frame 20. Insert a new layer. Name this layer mask. Drag an instance of the mask1 Graphic symbol to the stage. Access the Align panel and make sure the "To Stage" option is selected. Push the Align Bottom Edge button. Push the Align Horizontal Center button. Convert this instance to a shape [Modify > Break Apart] Insert a blank keyframe in frame 19. Drag an instance of the mask2 Graphic symbol to the stage. Access the Align panel and make sure the "To Stage" option is selected. a. Push the Align Bottom Edge button. b. Push the Align Horizontal Center button. Convert this instance to a shape [Modify > Break Apart]. Select frame 1 and apply Shape Tween. Give this layer Mask properties. Continued... Please note: Lessons provide step-by-step instructions with detailed screen captures.

Course Goals

At the end of this course you will be able to create basic transition animation, jazz up logos and banners with text & mask effects like those done in Swish, and offer quick loading Slide Shows to your viewers, and much, much, more!

Course Reviews

Lisa: “There's such a variety of clean, quick, to-the-point effects in this class! Everything is presented well and made easy to understand -- and some exercises have lots of options included for altering the effect that's being presented. Kat and Becky remain the super teachers that they are, and I'm grateful to both for all their hard work in putting this material together.” More...