1. Create a new .fla file. Set the document properties to a frame rate of 12 and a size of 525 pixels wide by 400 pixels wide. Choose some background color other than white.
2. Create a frame-by-frame animation with at least five letters similar to the xboarding example (example 2 in Chapter 3). That is, make the letters appear one-by-one and parts of a letter may appear later than other parts.
3. You can use any of the tools we have studied, i.e. arrow, subselection, oval, rectangle, pencil, brush, free transform, ink bottle, paint bucket, and pen) to create the letters and any of the techniques (using objects to cut or become part of another object (behavior depends on whether their colors are the same), creating gradients, onion skinning, inserting and deleting frames to alter speed of animation) we have studied.
4. Once you have created the animation, add a second set of frames in reverse order so that the letters gradually disappear. Use a command for this reveral rather than doing it one frame at a time.
5. Choose Choose File>Publish Preview>Default - HTML.to generate the .swf file and an html file that references (and hence displays) the .swf file.
6. Open the HTML file in Notepad created by Flash and add some text that describes how you created the letters. Be specific (Describe what technique you used; if you tried others but didn't use them, mention them as well). This text should appear between the <body> and the </body> tag. Save the revised HTML file. Open the HTML file in the browser to preview your text and the movie.
7. Create a home page in Notepad with a relative link to the HTML file you saved in 6 and another link to the fla file. The text of the links should indicate what type of file you are linking to. Nothing else is required at this point for the home page. FTP the home page, the HTML file from 6, and the swf and the fla files to your website. Open your website in a browser and test the links.
Notes:
1) Although you will not be graded on the number of tools and features you use, the more you practice, the better you will get.
2) Simiarly, although you will not be graded on how good things look (this isn't an art class), remember that outside of this class, it will matter.
(3) In exams, I will generally instruct you to use specific techniques rather than leaving that up to you.
Revised: January 30, 2006. Comments to William Pegram, wpegram@nvcc.edu