GDT 260 Animation for the Web: Winter 2002
1.22.02
Publishing Basics
File > Publish Settings
Formats
- Flash (.swf)
- HTML
Flash
Leave at default
HTML
Defaults are fine
Dimensions
- match movie: exact size
- percentage: percentage of browser window
Playback
Generally check loop, unless movie should play only once
Publishing
File > Publish
FTP Review
See http://www.chriscassell.net/classes/2001/fall/gdt150/handouts/Using+FTP for complete instructions on using FTP.
Use the following settings to upload to your webspace:
- Host: stu.wccnet.org
- Username: your email username
- Password: your email password
For HTML files, be sure to upload in ASCII mode. For graphics, upload in binary mode. Or choose auto-detect
Flash files should be uploaded as binary and Raw Data, NOT MacBinary.
All files visible on the web must go in your public_html folder. If it doesn't exist already, create it in your home directory.
Symbols & Libraries
Symbol: self-contained, reusable piece of content
Resuable elements:
- smaller file size
- consistent look and feel
- easy modification of movie
- components can be used in multiple movies
Stored in the library (Window > Library, Cmd + L, Library button in launcher)
Each time symbol appears on stage (instance), Flash creates an exact copy of symbol
Modifications made to symbol apply to every instance of symbol
Can modify properties of instances such as
- position
- transparency (alpha)
- tint color
- scale
without modifying original
Can be created from existing content or from scratch
Symbol Types
- Graphic
- Button
- Movie Clip
Graphic Symbols
- Content remains static
- Can't be interactive
- Animation relies on main (root) timeline
Editing in new view: can't see main stage, no stage boundaries: see top left above timeline
Symbols have own timeline and layers: separate from main stage
Black cross: registration point, center of symbol: flash uses for controlling position on stage
Modifications made to symbols apply to every instance
Button Symbols
- Basic method of interaction
- Timeline: four frames:
- Up: normal state
- Over: mouse over
- Down: while clicking
- Hit: hot area, invisible
Text buttons need to have Hit designated, otherwise only actual pixels filled by characters will be clickable
Movie Clips
- Self-contained movies running within the main movie.
- Has own full timline, runs independently of main timeline
- Timeline plays concurrently with main timeline: doesn't pause the main timeline
- Movie clips are "children" of the main timeline. The main timeline is a movieclip's "parent"
Using Symbols in Multiple Movies
File > Open As Library
