BP12_Flash1

Wow, what a complicated program!  Basically, Flash is a progam that designs websites by layering graphics and text onto a one dimensional panel.  By layering with tabs and buttons the viewer of the website will only see a layer at a time.  But, to the designer all of the layers are visible.  After watching the first four training sections on Lynda.com it occurred to me that I am very grateful that this program isn't introduced to us until the sixth class in our program.  If we were expected to create our first website with Flash, instead of using the template program of iweb, I don't know if I would have made it this far into the program.  But, after the experiences of the first four months under my belt I know that I will be able to figure Flash out as well.  I am grateful, however, for the chance to preview this very complicated program before I am expected to produce something with it!

Here is a screenshot from Lynda.com of Paul Trani taking the viewers step by step in creating a basic Flash website.

Adding layers of graphics into Flash

From my beginning perspective on the program Flash it is imperative that the user keep very organized while creating.  Each layer must be created in a systematic way.  Each button and graphic must be added in the same order for each of the pages in the same order.  Otherwise, it would be very easy to forget a graphic on one of the pages or add two to one page and none to another.  It is also important to become familiar with the program, Photoshop.  As Paul Trani takes us step by step in creating this website most of the graphics that he is importing come ready from Photoshop.  I would follow this advice and create using Flash as he suggests.  The time to experiment, it seems to me, is after one becomes familiar enough with a program to feel comfortable enough with the standard way to create in a program.  Then is the time to play with it and come up with your own way of doing things.