How do I make a flashy website?

[fyleow]

..

 

[ThePresence]

How do I make a flashy website?

You pay me alot of money and I make it for you.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: fyleow
I'm thinking of learning flash but I'm not really sure if I can do it. Are there any online tutorials or guides that are any good? I know X dude has a nice website with book reviews but before I invest into something like that I would rather see if it's for me or not. What I am worried about is more on the graphics end though, there are obviously different skills and requirements besides knowing Flash. Like knowing how to design an eyecatching and effective layout and most of all the graphics itself. I don't really have any background in graphics so I think it might be difficult, what programs is normally used anyway? Freehand?

Flash is not all that hard to learn, just VERY time-consuming. The easiest way to begin is by downloading sample FLA (source) movie files and disecting it within Flash. Grab the simpler files at first... from the movies section at flashkit.com --> http://www.flashkit.com/movies/.

As far as graphics goes... Flash isn't the greatest for graphics, for that you should use Fireworks or import from Photoshop. But Flash does give you the ability to create simple work via drag and drop within the same GUI. If you want a flashy / attractive / interactive website, you cannot beat Flash for all 3 combined... unless you know DHTML very well.

Take the time to learn it and you will NOT be sorry.

|
|
V

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: fyleow
I'm thinking of learning flash but I'm not really sure if I can do it. Are there any online tutorials or guides that are any good? I know X dude has a nice website with book reviews but before I invest into something like that I would rather see if it's for me or not. What I am worried about is more on the graphics end though, there are obviously different skills and requirements besides knowing Flash. Like knowing how to design an eyecatching and effective layout and most of all the graphics itself. I don't really have any background in graphics so I think it might be difficult, what programs is normally used anyway? Freehand?

Flash is not all that hard to learn, just VERY time-consuming. The easiest way to begin is by downloading sample FLA (source) movie files and disecting it within Flash. Grab the simpler files at first... from the movies section at flashkit.com --> http://www.flashkit.com/movies/.

As far as graphics goes... Flash isn't the greatest for graphics, for that you should use Fireworks or import from Photoshop. But Flash does give you the ability to create simple work via drag and drop within the same GUI. If you want a flashy / attractive / interactive website, you cannot beat Flash for all 3 combined... unless you know DHTML very well.

Take the time to learn it and you will NOT be sorry.

|
|
V

Just a few minor points........I think it's definitly better to learn from books than by just looking at open source FLA's. A beginner would not begin to comprehend the actionscripting without first knowing the basics. There are some really good books out there. Also, as far as graphics go, it's easier to use a vector program with flash than PS, because Flash itself is a vector program. Makes things alot easier.

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: rh71


Take the time to learn it and you will NOT be sorry.

|
|
V
..:: http://www.rh71.com :: (high bandwidth preferable) ::..

You sir, have an awesome web site!

-=bmacd=-

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: fyleow
Thanks for the info guys, what are vector programs? Such as Freehand? I've seen my sister use Illustrator and it seems like a very powerful tool for formatting and even drawing stuff though I don't think it will help much for web design.

Freehand, Illustrator, CorelDraw. Contrary to popular opinion, you can do plenty of web work in these programs. I do web graphics for a living, and I use these programs (especially Corel) all the time.

 

[MainFramed]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: fyleow
I'm thinking of learning flash but I'm not really sure if I can do it. Are there any online tutorials or guides that are any good? I know X dude has a nice website with book reviews but before I invest into something like that I would rather see if it's for me or not. What I am worried about is more on the graphics end though, there are obviously different skills and requirements besides knowing Flash. Like knowing how to design an eyecatching and effective layout and most of all the graphics itself. I don't really have any background in graphics so I think it might be difficult, what programs is normally used anyway? Freehand?

Flash is not all that hard to learn, just VERY time-consuming. The easiest way to begin is by downloading sample FLA (source) movie files and disecting it within Flash. Grab the simpler files at first... from the movies section at flashkit.com --> http://www.flashkit.com/movies/.

As far as graphics goes... Flash isn't the greatest for graphics, for that you should use Fireworks or import from Photoshop. But Flash does give you the ability to create simple work via drag and drop within the same GUI. If you want a flashy / attractive / interactive website, you cannot beat Flash for all 3 combined... unless you know DHTML very well.

Take the time to learn it and you will NOT be sorry.

|
|
V

That Web Site ROCKS!!!!!!

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: here4amission

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: fyleow
I'm thinking of learning flash but I'm not really sure if I can do it. Are there any online tutorials or guides that are any good? I know X dude has a nice website with book reviews but before I invest into something like that I would rather see if it's for me or not. What I am worried about is more on the graphics end though, there are obviously different skills and requirements besides knowing Flash. Like knowing how to design an eyecatching and effective layout and most of all the graphics itself. I don't really have any background in graphics so I think it might be difficult, what programs is normally used anyway? Freehand?

Flash is not all that hard to learn, just VERY time-consuming. The easiest way to begin is by downloading sample FLA (source) movie files and disecting it within Flash. Grab the simpler files at first... from the movies section at flashkit.com --> http://www.flashkit.com/movies/.

As far as graphics goes... Flash isn't the greatest for graphics, for that you should use Fireworks or import from Photoshop. But Flash does give you the ability to create simple work via drag and drop within the same GUI. If you want a flashy / attractive / interactive website, you cannot beat Flash for all 3 combined... unless you know DHTML very well.

Take the time to learn it and you will NOT be sorry.

|
|
V

That Web Site ROCKS!!!!!!

sweet site

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: fyleow
I'm thinking of learning flash but I'm not really sure if I can do it. Are there any online tutorials or guides that are any good? I know X dude has a nice website with book reviews but before I invest into something like that I would rather see if it's for me or not. What I am worried about is more on the graphics end though, there are obviously different skills and requirements besides knowing Flash. Like knowing how to design an eyecatching and effective layout and most of all the graphics itself. I don't really have any background in graphics so I think it might be difficult, what programs is normally used anyway? Freehand?

Flash is not all that hard to learn, just VERY time-consuming. The easiest way to begin is by downloading sample FLA (source) movie files and disecting it within Flash. Grab the simpler files at first... from the movies section at flashkit.com --> http://www.flashkit.com/movies/.

As far as graphics goes... Flash isn't the greatest for graphics, for that you should use Fireworks or import from Photoshop. But Flash does give you the ability to create simple work via drag and drop within the same GUI. If you want a flashy / attractive / interactive website, you cannot beat Flash for all 3 combined... unless you know DHTML very well.

Take the time to learn it and you will NOT be sorry.

|
|
V

Just a few minor points........I think it's definitly better to learn from books than by just looking at open source FLA's. A beginner would not begin to comprehend the actionscripting without first knowing the basics. There are some really good books out there. Also, as far as graphics go, it's easier to use a vector program with flash than PS, because Flash itself is a vector program. Makes things alot easier.

I agree that learning actionscript thru books (Colin Moock comes to mind) is THE way to go... however, creating flashy websites does not necessarily require in-depth knowledge of AS. Linking a button requires no AS knowledge as long as you can point and click thru the intuitive menus of FlashMX. The hard-core scripting comes later in the process when mathematical computations within flash comes into play... if even necessary. Learn by doing, first. Learn by example. Dissecting someone else's well prepared FLA (tutorials and movies @ Flashkit for this very purpose) will get you started quicker than following step by step directions from books in my personal opinion. Everything you'll learn from Flash (at least I did) was from trial and error. Perhaps it's just that I'm not the book type, but how much can you actually remember from reading text? I guess it depends on the person. FWIW, I own Colin Moock's Actionscript: The Definitive Guide (for Flash 5 AS) and I haven't even had to use half of what's covered... but a good read nonetheless. One other note... definitely Freehand over Photoshop (the vector thing is true)... but I find Photoshop is an easier learning curve. Although, import PNGs (and not other formats) to Flash, for best results and file sizes. Take my word for it.

Good luck and keep motivated.

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[rh71]

If you want to get a quick start, get your hands on Swish v2.0. It won't teach you much in terms of creating Flash, but it will get you a quick and dirty Flash website via "templates". Swish website. Grab a trial and you'll see what I mean. Unless you really want to get your hands dirty... (most of us have nothing but time)... Flash MX baby... one of the most underrated creativity tools out there, along with Swift3D.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: rh71
If you want to get a quick start, get your hands on Swish v2.0. It won't teach you much in terms of creating Flash, but it will get you a quick and dirty Flash website via "templates". Swish website. Grab a trial and you'll see what I mean. Unless you really want to get your hands dirty... (most of us have nothing but time)... Flash MX baby... one of the most underrated creativity tools out there, along with Swift3D.

I use Swift 3D too, nice 'lil program. But Flash MX is NOT underrated. Most designers I know and work with rate it very highly.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: rh71
If you want to get a quick start, get your hands on Swish v2.0. It won't teach you much in terms of creating Flash, but it will get you a quick and dirty Flash website via "templates". Swish website. Grab a trial and you'll see what I mean. Unless you really want to get your hands dirty... (most of us have nothing but time)... Flash MX baby... one of the most underrated creativity tools out there, along with Swift3D.

I use Swift 3D too, nice 'lil program. But Flash MX is NOT underrated. Most designers I know and work with rate it very highly.

I just meant that not many people think highly enough of it to use it for all their needs. They don't exploit it (or hire someone to) for all it's capable of.