Misc


Overview
  • Used to create animation programs for web pages
  • Uses vector graphics
  • Flash is a proprietary format, owned by Macromedia
  • Flash programs are stored in a closed, binary format
  • .SWF (Shockwave Flash) (Flash binary file format)
  • .FLA (Flash source code / project)
  • .AS (ActionScript source code)
  • Macromedia published the specifications for SWF in April 1998
  • The available options for editing Flash programs on Linux appear to be very limited
  • PNG graphics are well supported
Computationally expensive elements
  • Color gradients
  • Transparent graphics
  • Scaled bitmap graphics
  • Very large numbers of lines and points
  • Unoptimized curves
Advantages of Flash
  • Loads much faster than animated images
  • Allows interactivity
  • Does not require programming skills
Versions (most recent listed first)
  • Flash MX
  • Flash 5
  • Flash 4
  • Flash 3
  • Flash 2
Macromedia software
  • Flash Player (for files created by Flash)
  • Shockwave Player (for files created by Director) (includes Flash Player)
Case sensitivity
  • Flash is case sensitive.
Concepts
  • Timeline
  • Frame
  • Keyframe
  • Tweening
  • Frame rate
  • Layer