Flash Web Site Design
Learn how to build entire sites with Flash
Looking to create Web sites with punch and panache? Look no further than Adobe Flash, the top application for designing and presenting multimedia on the Web. Once just an animation program, Flash has evolved into a tool for building entire Web sites with visual, highly interactive features that HTML simply can't match.
If you're familiar with basic Flash animation techniques, learning to create sites in Flash is the perfect next step. Flash Web sites don't just engage visitors with motion, sound, and visual intensity. They also provide strong functionality and interactivity, unprecedented browser and platform compatibility, and a higher level of usability than you might expect.
In this challenging, project-based course, you'll start a Flash site from scratch, beginning with a site plan and functional "comp" page. You'll learn to create expanding navigation menus, audience-appropriate page transitions, and simple preloaders, and you'll launch your Flash site on the Web complete with HTML and a Flash detection script. All along the way, you'll explore Flash's rich history, creative examples, important theory concepts, and professional techniques that build on the basic Flash skills you already possess.
Tuition: $900 US
Course Instructor(s):
Requirements:
- Computer with Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster).
- Adobe Flash CS4 or CS5 and experience using common features such as movie clips, buttons, and tweens.
- An account with a Web hosting service (free services are available and indicated in the course).
- Digital imaging program such as Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks.
- Basic experience in HTML recommended but not required.
Prerequisites:
Course Objectives:
- Select appropriate applications for Flash Web site design and explain the advantages and disadvantages of developing a Flash site.
- Develop and pitch a Flash concept that demonstrates the four key factors of a Web site: communication, responsiveness, assistance, and efficiency.
- Build an attractive Web site layout that takes advantage of Flash's flexibility as a Web design medium.
- Communicate the visuals and the general functionality of a Flash site by creating a "functional comp."
- Use Button symbols, Movie Clip symbols, and ActionScript to create a site navigation system and expandable menus.
- Analyze various site flow models and select and implement the appropriate model for a site.
- Use ActionScript to attach and load external content into a Flash site, create seamless mouseover animations, and make custom mouse cursors.
- Develop an experimental site interface that incorporates movement, the senses, discovery, and/or innovative connections.
- Publish a Flash site to the Web using appropriate SWF settings, HTML and JavaScript customizations, and FTP.
- Improve the usability and size of a Flash site by optimizing imagery, audio, and fonts.
- Apply a Flash detection script that lets Flash users enter the site and non-Flash users download and install the plug-in.
- Create and implement a preloader animation that is consistent with a Flash site design and presents the full site when loading is complete.
Course Outline
LESSON 1 A Flash of Inspiration
The course starts with a look at Flash's humble beginnings as an animation tool, it's role in World Wide Web history, and how it's evolved to be the multimedia powerhouse it is today. You'll learn the key advantages of designing Web sites in Flash and the skill sets necessary to be a Flash Web designer. In your first exercise, you'll delve into a Flash document to get your bearings, examine the key factors all good sites should have, then create a concept pitch for the original Flash Web site that you develop throughout the course.
LESSON 2 Laying a Foundation
In Lesson Two, you'll learn how to visualize a Web site concept, exploring layout and wayfinding techniques that make the most of the flexibility of the Flash environment. You'll also learn how Flash integrates with other Web technologies HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In the exercise, your goal is to create a functional comp in Flash that demonstrates the visuals, layout, and general functionality of your site. The comp will employ imaging and audio techniques as well basic Button symbols for navigation.
LESSON 3 Flash Web Sites in Motion
A site's navigation is its door to usability—without it, your users won't know where to find your all-important content. This lesson covers site flow specific attention to navigation systems, wayfinding methods, and usability. You'll also learn techniques for transitioning your content in and out of your main interface, drawing attention to important information and features with quick, tasteful animations. In the exercise, you'll flesh out your functional comp into a complete, working Web site that takes advantage of flexible Movie Clip buttons and expanding menus along with the site flow model, navigation, and wayfinding methods of your choice.
LESSON 4 Timelines and Trickery
In Lesson Four, you'll start off by learning to make a Flash framework more efficient using a single timeline, scenes, and the "one frame" model. Then you'll learn how to create seamless button animations and custom mouse cursors that combine visuals and ActionScript for some real "wow!" factor. You'll also delve into the world of high-level, experimental interface design that can offer a new level of intensity and exploration to your site. In the exercise, you'll apply these bells and whistles to your Flash-based site, and create a brand new version of the site with a more experimental flavor.
LESSON 5 Assembling the Team
HTML can't be completely avoided when designing with Flash—every Flash site "lives" in an HTML document. In Lesson Five you'll explore methods of embedding your Flash site in an HTML page for optimal viewing. You'll also learn essential asset management and compression techniques and explore JavaScript's role in Flash Web development. The exercise is your site's maiden voyage on the Web. You'll work with publish settings, seamless embedding of a SWF in HTML, and uploading to a Web server. Information on free Web hosting is provided.
LESSON 6 A Flash of Realization
Flash Web Site Design wraps up with a look at some bottom line reasons for building sites in Flash and some final techniques for producing professional and efficient sites. You'll take a close look at usability, learning how to implement a Flash detection script and how to create a custom preloader with animation and ActionScript. Your final Web site will be completed in the exercise with Flash detection, preloader, and troubleshooting, plus a "post mortem" summary of your work throughout the course.
Student Marek Mallowski's Flash Web site
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