Press releases

O'Reilly Releases Flash CS3: The Missing Manual: The Perfect Companion to the King of Animation Software

Press release: May 23, 2007

Sebastopol, CA--Flash CS3, the latest version of the premier tool for creating web animations and interactive websites, can be intimidating to learn. And although Flash has become more powerful and sophisticated, the woefully poor documentation remains the same.

Happily, an entertaining new reference tutorial--Flash CS3: The Missing Manual (O'Reilly, US $34.99)--provides a reader-friendly animation primer and a guided tour of all the program's tools and capabilities. Beginners will learn to use the software in no time, and experienced users will quickly take their skills to the next level.

"Flash CS3 works much the same way in its Mac and Windows incarnations except for a few interface differences and a slight variation in performance," write authors E. A. Vander Veer and Chris Grover. "This book's illustrations give Mac and Windows equal time, alternating by chapter, so you get to see how all of Flash's features look, no matter what kind of computer you're running."

The clear, easy-to-understand, hands-on instructions in Flash CS3: The Missing Manual teach Flash users how to master:

  • Animations basics--what to know before opening Flash.
  • Creating movement between images with tools like keyframes and tweening.
  • Adding interactive features like clickable hotspots.
  • Livening things up with audio and video.
  • Creating useable and professional elements and templates, and much, much more!

With Flash CS3: The Missing Manual, developers can quickly and creatively turn their ideas into appealing Flash animations or movies. This book can help developers create powerful online tutorials, training materials, and full-blown presentations. It also teaches design principles throughout and helps readers avoid elements that can distract or annoy their audiences.

This is the first new release of Flash since Adobe bought Macromedia, which means that it's the first version that will integrate easily with other Adobe products. It's a whole new ballgame when it comes to Flash, and Flash CS3: The Missing Manual offers complete and objective coverage. It's the perfect companion to this powerful software.

About the authors:
E. A. Vander Veer has authored or edited more than a dozen books to date (including PowerPoint 2007: The Missing Manual and PowerPoint 2007 for Starters: The Missing Manual).
Christopher Grover is the author of Word 2007: The Missing Manual and Word 2007 for Starters: The Missing Manual.

About the Missing Manual series, the book that should have been in the box:
Warm, witty, and jargon-free, Missing Manuals have enough clarity for the novice, and enough depth and detail for the power user.

Additional Resources:

More information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bio, and cover graphic

Flash CS3: The Missing Manual
By E. A. Vander Veer, Chris Grover
ISBN 0-596-51044-6, 513 pages, $34.99 US, $45.99 CAN
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000

About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

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