Montreal Gazette Flash Workshop 2007

Montreal | 18-19 December 2007

Flash 8/CS3 for Beginners

Day 1, Morning: Beginning Flash

First, some simple examples:

Next, the basic tasks in Flash:

  1. Import and animate graphics
  2. Use text correctly in Flash
  3. Script buttons for Timeline control
  4. Jump from segment to segment in nonlinear fashion

The first part of the session shows you everything you need to know to start building multimedia packages in Flash -- today.

Download the FLA files from here and open them in Flash to see how they are constructed!

Handout (PDF, 1 MB; 9 pages)

Day 1, Afternoon: A Simple Flash Package

Hopping around with buttons (Martini: a very simple package) -- here's where you get to see a package with three separate segments, or chapters.

Day 2, Morning: Intermediate Flash

Dividing and organizing content:

Package exercise (International Space Station):

We'll use a FLA that contains buttons with the script already written on them.

But as you know now, we need more than just the scripted buttons to jump around on the Timeline!

Day 2, Afternoon: Intermediate Flash

Loading external SWFs into a container SWF -- when a package has a lot of segments, or the segments are large, or you want to include Soundslides or video in the package ... it's time to load EXTERNAL FILES!

Scenes (Monkey Example):

Using scenes in a single FLA to organize and manage segments of content.

Using Audio in Flash

Flash is a great vehicle for both audio and video. You can build a customizable MP3 jukebox, load any number of external MP3 files dynamically, and insert videos too. However, all of this requires ActionScript. There is just no way to teach this to beginners in a one-day workshop. However, it is perfectly feasible for you to learn how to do all of this, if you will only have patience and keep chipping away at ActionScript bit by bit.

Not to hype my own book, but Lesson 8 (pp. 187 - 220) explains all the intricacies of audio control for story packages. I am mentioning that because a lot of tutorials online are, in fact, about building music jukeboxes, and that is not really what you want to do for your journalism story.

For video in Flash, see this handout (PDF, 147 KB).

Movie Clip Symbols in Flash

Movie clips are one of the most powerful aspects of Flash, and once you learn how to use them properly, you will amaze yourself with the effects you can accomplish! However, I have found that most Flash beginners get very confused if they are introduced to the internal timelines of movie clips too soon. The end result is that too many people give up on Flash, because the confusion is just too much. You fall into a hole, and you can't see how to climb out.

In the interest of guiding you on to future success, I recommend that you master the empty movie clip, but don't even try to use the movie clip symbol in any other way until after you have completed about three or four multi-part Flash projects. Get comfortable with the basics. Restrict yourself -- so that you can create a better foundation for your future progress.

The Invisible Button

This is something you will use again and again: See this one-page tutorial. If you do not yet understand the Hit state of the button symbol, the tutorial might help.

Resources

Teaching Online Journalism
My blog about digital storytelling and how newsrooms are changing.

Journalists' Toolkit: Flash
Frequently updated list of free online tutorials and resources.

Flash Journalism (the book): At Amazon.com.

Flash Journalism: Web site for the book.
An assortment of professional examples are linked on this page.

Flash Journalism: Professional Practice Today
Online Journalism Review, Sept. 22, 2005
12 online journalists tell us why and how they use Flash.

Flash tutorials at GotoAndLearn.com (free)
This site has the best video tutorials for Flash 8.

SNDies
Society of News Design annual interactive awards. See links to and information about the 2007 SNDies winners.