Flash to the Core: An Interactive Sketchbook by Joshua Davis

by Joshua Davis

Book Overview

Creativity, design and coding secrets from one of the hottest Flash talents in the world. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735712883
• ISBN13: 9780735712881
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: New Riders Publishing
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great book

If you want the style book where it feels like someone is sitting down in front of you explaining the reasoning behind something while using great analogies this is the book to get. Joshua has a way of explaining things that really causes you to think "aaahhh! I got it". He does not give you a bunch of techno garbage, it's pure design how and why's. I have asked numerous top name Flash Designers on the web, how they do certain things and there response is always some stupid Socrates quote or some cosmic reason why there designs are the way they are. Just the facts please! Joshua gives it to you. Great Book!!

For All Of You Intimidated Flash Designers

I spent quite a bit of time researching which books to buy when I decided to wanted to learn Actionscripting. For many graphic designers/web designers it is pretty intimidating to learn Actionscripting. If you know anything about Javascript, then you'll feel right at home. So I bought Joshua Davis' book alongside Phillip Kerman's "Actionscripting in Flash MX." Joshua's book is indespensable. It is very easy to read and I guarantee you will have that moment of clarity where things just start to make sense and the intimidation eases up. Kerman's book is also great because it is very technical and is a very complete resource. However, Davis' tutorials allow you to achieve results in the best and most efficient manner. Just imagine someone using the app for so many years and divulging all his little secrets. That's kind of what it's like.I highly recommend this book for the beginner Actionscripter, but I also recommend a more complete resource to really accomodate it.

Pure Enjoyment

This book is foundational. You can build many types of houses with the same foundation. I appreciate the thought processes entertained in this unique work. I am studying Flash and this book brings a unique perspective to the field. What can you build with this foundation?

A different (and much needed) view on Flash design

I love any book that makes me rethink my methods and views on a particular subject and in this case, it's Flash. In this book you get a glimpse of how Flash wizard Joshua Davis approaches Flash design and also his views on Art on the Internet in general. This is the key to enjoying the book. If you want his thoughts on Art and Flash, then you'll enjoy it. If you're looking for an indepth instruction manual to create the next Praystation, look elsewhere. While this book doesn't contain any super-advanced code, it is important for anyone who wants to know some of the building blocks on how to start making sites like Praystation. The sections on the "perfect fade" and other actionscript widgets, really made me rethink how I approach coding such simple flash objects. He places emphasis on "elegant" code that is, to quote the book "simple and yet robust". Also equally important is how Davis prepares his workplace. He has a well thoughout system for organizing creative assests in Flash that I've tried to adopt. For me the best parts were reading on how he finds inspiration for his artwork, namely from Nature. It's made me realize to look for inspiration not just on the web, but everywhere -- outside my window, while walking to the post office. etc. While not perfect, I would have like to seen more case studies to get a deeper insight into he's methods. Not just necessarily his actual code, but just more of his approaches and problem solving methods. If you're looking for tons of code, look elsewhere, this is "sketchbook" about Davis and Flash, with some design theory, funny anecdotes and bit of code thrown in. If you are designer someone who wants to rethink a bit about how to make Flash art, check it out. Here's to hoping he writes a sequel.If you're a beginner, I'd recommend the Friends of Ed "Foundation Flash MX Actionscript" book in addition to this. Do the schoolbook learning through the Foundation book and then read the Davis' book before bedtime to ground yourself and to find inspiration.

One of the best actionscript titles out there

I was anxiously waiting for this book the moment I saw the companion site.Being a designer and not a developer, this book covers exactly the kind of actionscript tricks I need to make great looking flash sites. But more than that because Josh Davis pushes you to try more than just what he shows. You are given the power to take the basics and run with it.It's also a good book for all the kinds of advice you normally have to find out on your own. Things like how to structure movies, when to use actionscript or tweens. And lots more tips to create smooth animations and interactions.Thanks Josh, for writing such a great book.