Sams Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash 8 in 24 Hours

by Phillip Kerman

Master the use of Flash to create visually stunning graphics for websites; follow 24 one-hour lessons that teach you the fundamental skills of Flash; update your knowledge on all the new features and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0672327546
• ISBN13: 9780672327544
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Sams
• Length: 612 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 7.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Better Than Its Title

I got this book in spite of the "...in 24 Hours" claim in its title... I just hate gimmicks. I'm very glad that I got over my distaste, because the first chapters were the most instructive introductory chapters that I have ever read and the rest of the book did not disappoint either. Flash is unlike any other media creation tool and it requires a re-education that many content developers find challenging--much like an airplane pilot learning to fly a helicopter. What makes Flash in 24 Hours so special is that it not only teaches you how to use the software, but it also succeeds in teaching you "The Flash Way". You will find multiple "A-HA" moments where you'll set the book a side to extend on an example you just read. If you are like me, you will be so caught up in the feeling of quick success that this book gives you that you will be tempted to complete the entire 24-hour process in one sitting. This is the first book that I would recommend to anyone wanting to learn, and understand, Flash. One warning though: This book is not very deep. It touches on Action Script and some of the more advanced corners of Flash, but it will not help you build the next online store application or the next Home Star Runner web site. It's an introductory book that should be purchased along with a more specialized book that covers the particular needs that lead you to Flash in the first place.

Very good book

This is my first review of any book. I felt strongly enough about this book to write up a quick review. I'm a software developer by trade, not really a web developer (so far). I've started down the Flash road a couple of times and have never really done anything with it. Until now. My customer had a need for a flash movie clip so I bought Phillip's book after reading the reviews and they are right on. I does take a bit more than 24 hours and I'm only on hour 15, but I'm comfortable enough to get done what I need to. This is a great book to get the basics down as well as learn a few of the millions of tricks you can do with Flash. Very well structured - logical and clear, at least to me. Flash is a very complex program and complex to navigate if you've never seen it before. Phillip does an outstanding job all the way around. Also, I had a question after publishing my moving and Phillip returned the email within 30 minutes. Awesome! Needless to say, I highly recommend this book.

I've been a professional programmer for over 30 years, and I loved it

I probably have a different background than most readers of this book, because I'm a professional web developer. However, on-line banking doesn't require Flash, so I had never developed with it. But now I want to write some web games, and this book gave me all of the groundwork I needed to start working in Flash. The learning curve for Flash's design tools was the toughest part for me, and the start of this book covers it perfectly. I understood the timeline, layers, keyframes, and all the rest through his clear explanations. The Flash interface is definitely unique, so the explanations made a lot of things clear that otherwise would not have been. The programming side of Flash seems to give many people trouble, but that was the easiest for me. Either way, his chapters about Actionscript are clear, simple but not simple-minded, and paced properly. On top of all that, he answers his e-mail promptly.

Are you wanting to learn Flash 8?

Look no further, this book is great! I had 0 experience in Flash before picking up this book. I just finished it and have gained a lot of knowledge. After finishing it, I wanted more. Phillip does a great job of making the reader excited about Flash. As you do tasks, you have a feeling of accomplishment because you're actually creating things, neat things. He does a great job communicating to the reader step by step. It's so easy to follow what he's explaining and teaching. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested or just starting out with Flash 8. You'll get a complete understanding of the basics and you too will be wanting more!

Great beginner book!

I have always wanted to get into Flash but never found the time. Well after seeing a demo of Flash 8 I knew I had to include it into my production skills. At the time this was one of the only books available. I sat down and did all the lessons and was amazed at how easy the author explains it all! Great tutorials and little tests at the end! If your just starting out in Flash I highly recommend this book!