Press releases

Flash 8: The Missing Manual: Create, Animate, and Incorporate Graphics Like a Pro

Press release: April 6, 2006

Sebastopol, CA--Have you ever visited a web site and been wowed by the graphics? Ever wonder how in the world the website's designer made the page come alive with animation, color changes and slick logos? The answer is simple: When it comes to web site graphics and animation, Macromedia's Flash 8 is the world's premier program. And with the latest version, this popular program becomes more versatile, letting beginning webmasters and expert developers alike create sophisticated web content. But Flash isn't intuitive. And it doesn't come with a manual. Whether you want to learn the basics or unleash the program's true power, Flash 8: The Missing Manual (Vander Veer, O'Reilly, $34.99 US) is the ideal instructor.

This hands-on guide to today's hottest web design tool is aimed at non-developers, and it teaches you how to translate your ideas into great web content. Flash 8: The Missing Manual begins with a solid primer on animation, which helps you get comfortable with the Flash interface. Once you have these basics under your belt, Flash 8: The Missing Manual shows you how to:

  • Incorporate graphics, video clips, and soundtracks
  • Create reusable elements and templates to give your animations a consistent, sophisticated look
  • Customize your content with ActionScript, the Flash language that gives you maximum control
  • Publish your Flash creations for web surfers everywhere to enjoy
  • Learn good design principles and helps you avoid elements that can distract or annoy an audience
  • Author E.A. Vander Veer has more than a dozen books to her credit, including titles on web design and scripting--most written for non-technical readers. Her background makes her the perfect author for a straightforward book on a complex subject. She takes Flash 8: The Missing Manual from the basics to the advanced, yet avoids a hasty jump into tough topics that can leave readers confused.

    "This is the book that should have come in the Flash box,” said Vander Veer. "My book explains all the tools and shows you step-by-step not just how to create animations from scratch, but why you want to do each step-in English, not programmer-ese."

    Not only will Flash 8: The Missing Manual help you turn a concept into unique, dynamic content, but it will continue to serve as a reference as you develop your web site.

    Additional Resources:

    Flash 8: The Missing Manual
    E.A. Vander Veer
    ISBN: 0-596-10137-6, 460 pages, $34.99 US
    order@oreilly.com
    1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000

    About O’Reilly

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