If Flash MX 2004 can do it, you can do it too...

If you’re developing Web applications, CD-ROMs, kiosks, PDA and cell phone applications, installations, broadcast graphics, or corporate presentations, Flash MX 2004 is an indispensable tool. It’s an image and sound editor, an animation machine, and a scripting engine, all rolled into one. This comprehensive guide is the one book that takes you from novice to Flash expert, then serves as the reference manual you will rely on long after you attain Flash proficiency.

Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Flash MX 2004

• Understand the Flash MX 2004 framework and its new command feature
• Learn how to plan your project using the new site/project management features
• Use the new launch preferences, project settings, and Help option
• Design and plan animation, considering the physics of motion and techniques for creating personality and atmosphere through movement
• Animate characters and export your animations to CD-ROM or DVD
• Import and e dit video in Flash MX 2004, and integrate sound and vector art files
• Integrate Flash content with Web pages and use the Flash Player and Projector
• Explore Flash programming with ActionScript, XML, and HTML, and even create a Flash game
• Expand Flash with vector graphics, raster graphics, and Dreamweaver^® MX 2004

Bonus CD-ROM includes

• Trial versions of Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX, Flash MX Professional 2004, and Flash Remoting MX
• Source Flash project files with original artwork and ActionScript for the examples and lessons in the book
• Demo version of Swift 3D^® from Electric Rain

If Flash MX 2004 can do it, you can do it too... If you’re developing Web applications, CD-ROMs, kiosks, PDA and cell phone applications, installations, broadcast graphics, or corporate presentations, Flash MX 2004 is an indispensable tool. It’s an image and sound editor, an animation machine, and a scripting engine, all rolled into one. This comprehensive guide is the one book that takes you from novice to Flash expert, then serves as the reference manual you will rely on long after you attain Flash proficiency. Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Flash MX 2004 Understand the Flash MX 2004 framework and its new command feature Learn how to plan your project using the new site/project management features Use the new launch preferences, project settings, and Help option Design and plan animation, considering the physics of motion and techniques for creating personality and atmosphere through movement Animate characters and export your animations to CD-ROM or DVD Import and e dit video in Flash MX 2004, and integrate sound and vector art files Integrate Flash content with Web pages and use the Flash Player and Projector Explore Flash programming with ActionScript, XML, and HTML, and even create a Flash game Expand Flash with vector graphics, raster graphics, and Dreamweaver MX 2004 Bonus CD-ROM includes Trial versions of Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX, Flash MX Professional 2004, and Flash Remoting MX Source Flash project files with original artwork and ActionScript for the examples and lessons in the book Demo version of Swift 3D from Electric Rain

* The bestselling guide to Macromedia Flash, the leading tool for creating animation and building interactive, multimedia Web sites, now fully updated and revised to cover the new release
* Covers everything readers need to know to master the newest version, including workarounds for hidden bugs and unpublished tricks and techniques not likely to appear in other books
* Packed with expert tutorials from the world’s leading Flash gurus, with more coverage on using Flash with other applications than any other book
* Coauthor Robert Reinhardt is one of a handful of top stars in the Flash developer community and a regular speaker at FlashForward, the Macromedia User’s Conference, WebTEK, Macromedia’s traveling user seminars, and major universities

Flash Developer "Must Have"
Just about every time I need a technical manual, especially software based, I head for the ’Bible’ series. I’ve yet to be disappointed. I’m sure every web developer knows that Macromedia is "the" software to use. Though I use Dreamweaver and Fireworks quite proficiently, I’m a fish out of water when it comes to Flash. This book held my hand and led me thorough the tutorials I needed to understand the workings of Flash MX and gave me a great feel for the intricacies of the software. The financial and time investments in this book are well worth it. I’ve paid for the book and software many times over in the lessons learned. As with the many other Bible series books, they’re an arms length away on a shelf for quick reference, with post-it stickers marking the many places I refer to on a regular basis!

Great teaching and reference book
I am the type of person who likes to have a gigantic book. If I will have a study book, might as well have the biggest one, especially for technical ones. Of course, some gigantic books absolutely make no sense to me and I will fall asleep even before a chapter ends but this book kept me going. I already finished a third of the book and learned along the way. Also, I have no design or Flash experience at all so this is all new to me but this book does not make me struggle too much. With enough time and effort to do the exercises and study the examples that come with the book and CD, you will definitely learn Flash. This is a very helpful book. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn Flash and to those who want to know as much of the interface as possible.

Excellent Starter book
I buy every Flash Bible because they are the most comprehensive guides to Flash. This is a great book for people just starting out in flash because it will take your from beginner to intermediate Flash designer. It is also an excellent reference guide for the more experienced users.

This book is the awesomest!!!
Everyone in my office has a copy on their desk (if not multiple copies). I saw Snow Dowd talk at Flash In The Can. She is extremely knowledgeable in all matters flash related. I did not get a chance to attend Mr. Reinhardt’s seminars, but I can only imagine the interesting concepts he had to share. The support website (http://www.flashsupport.com/) is also a resource of immeasurable value. All in all, when it comes to Flash and Action Script I would say Snow and Robert are the place to go for up to date cutting edge info (although I’m not sure I agree with Robert’s anti-tween stance).

Great start . . .
I’ve used this book for my Web Animation class and while it doesn’t tell you every little thing you need to know about Flash. It’s a great book to get started, especially if you need to work off of real examples then the cd-rom files included would really help. Although I wished that this book covered certain subjects in more detail and included more tutorials . . . This book would be good for beginners and maybe even intermediate users could use this as a reference. It gives you a nice balance of Flash animation and web design. However, after reading this book, you’ll probably end up buying more books on Flash like me. If you’re going to be focusing more on Flash web design, you might want to buy the Flash MX 2004 ActionScript Bible as well.

Not enough hands on tutorials
On the positive side this is a very comprehensive book. This would be an excellent reference book for intermediate to advanced Flash developers. On the the other hand it is not a very good book for beginners. I learn best by actually doing examples or tutorials. Unfortunately, there is not much of that in this book.

I’m not religious, but I always come back to the bible...
I’m not the very best with computers, but with the proper guidance, I’ve always been able to produce good work. After being stumped with variety of issues I hunted down some assistance at www.flashsupport.com. Robert, the flash guru incarnate, easily solved anything I could throw at him... and proceeded to point me to this wonderful tome, which has taken its perch next to my coffee cup and my cell phone.
Keep up the good work guys!

An extremely comprehensive look at Flash MX
I’m new to using Flash and just picked up this book. It’s fantastic! I even had a few questions that I e-mailed the author about and he was very responsive, which I didn’t expect.

The book is clearly written and very logically laid out. I even used the book’s forum site to help me with some problems that the book didn’t cover.

All in all, a very good experience and I’d recommend it to anyone just starting or experienced with FLASH. One of the best purchases I could’ve made.