BAAACK!!

So I'm back from a long vacation, rested, rejuvenated, and ready to get back to work on Flash. I had a great time traveling around Europe and generally enjoying my freedom.

Of course, now I've forgotten most of what I've learned, so I guess this means it's time to refresh.!

Here are some definitions to get started (taken from the Lynda.com tutorial):

Instance: a movie clip, button, or graphic

Property: what we want an instance to do or be

Variable: container that holds information or data.
Ex: in a database: a variable could be “username” and data could be all usernames in database

String: a TEXT value (rather than numerical value)

Trace Statement: a statement that pops up and tells you if your code is working when you test it. You can set your code to produce these trace statements

Comment: A note to yourself or other developers, separate from code

Function: A re-usable block of code.
Ex: stop();

Events: Actions/things that happen.
Ex: a mouse click

Listener: "Hears" events and can act on them

Event Handler: A Function that responds to an Event


I have listed these in the order that I covered them in my tutorials.

Stumbling Blocks

The past few days have been tough ones for me, with regards to the Flash learning. I've decided to try to build up a portfolio while I learn so that I can use it to try to find some "real" work, possibly on the side of my day job, hopefully doing simple things like banners and such. Also, real projects help me build up my skills and pace.

However, maybe I'm rushing myself. I'm coming up with a lot of ideas - probably too many - and while I try to execute them, they aren't turning out quite right. I have it in my head to do another banner ad by week's end (when I'll be heading out of the country for two weeks), but I'm not sure this is going to be able to happen now. I want to design my boyfriend's website. I want to do an interactive map of my trip when I get back.

Today I spent the day working on failed projects, left and right. I'd try one thing, see it wasn't working out, and abandon it for another fuzzy idea I had. I feel like I've wasted all my time today and last night trying this and that and the other thing that isn't coming out how I want it. The benefit is that I learn by mistake, but I wish I wouldn't have to make so many mistakes! It can be disheartening. I think it's best I stick with one thing at a time, no matter how many cool ideas it seems like I have.

I'm still fascinated, interested, and eager to keep at it, though. So with that in mind, on with the tutorials!

Tutorial #1: ActionScript 3.0 in Lynda.com

I love Lynda.com. For $25 a month you have access to a whole library of software tutorials. I learned CSS and Dreamweaver with Lynda. I became better at Illustrator with Lynda. I picked up Flash again with Lynda, and now I'm starting AS3 with Lynda.

It's a great investment for those willing to pay.

More on this later...

I Learn Something New Every Day

... every day I play with Flash, that is.

I just spent maybe 45 minutes trying to figure out why my invisible button would not link when the code was correct.

Here was my error:

#1: I didn't apply the action to anything but the final keyframe, so of course it wouldn't link before that!

#2: I tried to define a function twice. Can't do that either. Flash told me this was an error and it took me a minute to understand exactly what that meant. This is why I need to REALLY learn and understand ActionScripting, instead of just copy/pasting code I find online or in tutorials... so I will know what I'm doing.

OK, well, I got it working by just thinking it through, which is a start.

Damn, this is very "use it or lose it." I had it down last year when I was building a flash site and now I'm rusty again. Oh well, I guess that's why I'm here!

Project #1 version 3

I just can't stop!

I have an even better version coming up. It's nearly done so for now I'll post screenshots and a link. Once I'm 100% complete, the link will show you something even cooler than what I have now.

Truth be told, I have to give credit to my coworker who provided me with needed and constructive criticism. She pushes me to do better, and I grumble and curse in my head but at the end of the day I know she's right.

Problem is, now this looks a little too similar to our iphone ad, which I was trying to avoid. Oh well. It's a nice-looking ad.

Here's the link.

Here's the screenshots:







It's got the blinking cursor that blinks after the animation stops. Its got a button with rollover. I still have to link it to the landing page I constructed today but I can do that tomorrow.

Project #1 Revised

So I took my co-workers advice and made some changes to the ad. You can see it here. I didn't learn anything particularly new today but I did get to putz around a bit more in Flash.

I'm trying really hard to keep it from looking just like our iphone ad (that I didn't make, though I could have).

I'm thinking I'll make up a series of ads at some point just to have a diversity of designs... maybe I'll do ads for classic novels or imaginary curiosities. Something to get away from doing all business news, all the time.

Anyway, here are two new screenshots:

Project #1! And it begins!

So I decided to do a little Flash refresher to re-accustom myself to the tools and interface, as it's been a short while since I've done a Flash project. I made a banner ad for a partner at work, and it was way too much fun. I didn't use any AS3, aside from a stop (); because I was mostly focusing on the basics. I had a bit to re-learn, too. What I can and cannot tween, mostly.

I had to rely on one tutorial. It was a little out of date but I could work out the differences between CS3 and Flash 8 pretty easily. The tutorial shows you how to create a shimmer effect across text. Simple, but not necessarily intuitive for the rusty upstart. Anyhow, here is the tutorial. It is from LearnFlash.com, but I found it via entheosweb.com:




A note about LearnFlash.com. I found them a while ago and I like their videos -- the one's I've seen, that is. I signed up with them and I admit I ignore most of their regular email updates. While they offer a lot of free tutorials, a lot of their email updates are sales pitches. Now, I don't really have a problem with this, and when I'm ready to pay for some tutorials I will certainly check out what they have to offer and compare them to the other tutorials available. Like I said, they can be useful and I don't begrudge them trying to make money (I mean, who doesn't want to make money??).

Anyhow, I am mostly pleased with my final product. I could use an art director to guide me through the design... or else I just need to improve my own art direction. But I think it's a great start and it's certainly whetted my appetite for more.

Here is a link to the ad. The project is for a phone portal, where you can call and hear news updates.

Here's a few screenshots, too:




PS - It doesn't link to anything yet because I need to create a micro-site. That will happen soon enough.

PPS- My coworker is offering me art direction help and she says it doesn't "pop" and needs more vibrant color. I agree. I might post updates soon enough.

Cheers!

~ELC