Learning Adobe Flash CS6 iPad Editions

by Greg Bowden

Tutorials to teach or learn Adobe Flash CS6

The Learning Adobe Flash CS6 tutorials provide activity-based animation lessons for beginners and advanced users. There are two modules available:

Module 1 introduces the Adobe Flash CS6 basics.

Module 2 covers advanced Adobe Flash CS6 features.

Support files that provide all the images, video and sample animations required to complete the activities are included with the product.

The iPad multi-touch ebook versions are available from the iTunes iBookstore and there are sample books on their iTunes pages. The links to access the pages on iTunes are:

Learning Adobe Flash CS6 Module 1

Learning Adobe Flash CS6 Module 2

Chapter Details
Sample Screens

Module 1

Introduces the Flash CS6 drawing tools, using symbols, creating motion tween animations, using the Motion Editor, shape tweening, classic tweening, fixed-point animations, circular animations, frame by frame animations, movie clip animations, Flash buttons and publishing animations.

Module 2

Covers creating and animating masks, the 3D Rotation tool, the 3D Translation tool, the Bone tool, the Deco tool, the Spray Brush tool, the Pen tool, adding and editing sounds, using behaviours, animating still photos, using code snippets, formatting and animating text, publishing animations for mobile devices, importing video clips and creating scenes.

Module 1 Chapter Descriptions

Chapter 1: Getting Started With Flash

This chapter introduces students to the Flash interface. It includes:

the components of the Flash screen including the workspace and the panels.
using rulers, grids and guides.
using simple drawings tools - rectangle, oval, line and brush.

Chapter 2: Drawing Tools

This chapter introduces the Flash Drawing Tools in more detail including:

cookie cutting.
the Selection tool.
the Pencil, Brush, Paint Bucket and Ink Bottle tools.
The Eyedropper and Eraser tools.
Object Drawing.
the assignment involves the drawing of an alien.

Chapter 3: Symbols, Libraries and Layers

Adobe Flash CS6 symbols, library, layers Demonstrates how to use symbols, libraries and layers which are an integral part of Flash animations. It includes:

how to create a symbol and use it from the Library panel.
how to create layers, change their order, lock them and turn them on or off.
the assignment involves the creation of a simple web page using layers.

Chapter 4: Motion Tween Animations

Demonstrates how to create simple motion tween animations. It includes:

creating symbols.
setting a motion tween.
rotating objects in animations.
scaling objects.
adjusting the motion path.
inserting keyframes.
adjusting the length of animations.
clearing keyframes.

Chapter 5: Multiple Object Animations

ch5 Demonstrates how combine more than one object in an animation. It includes:

setting fixed objects in layers and locking them.
inserting frames.
setting the stage colour
animating objects in their own layers.
adjusting the shape of animated objects.
students create a bouncing ball animation.

Chapter 6: The Motion Editor Panel

ch6 Demonstrates how to use the Motion Editor panel to edit and fine-tune animations. It includes:

setting the easing of the animation.
applying the easing to the animation.
adjusting the path of the animation.
adjusting the colour of symbols in the animation.

Chapter 7: Other Tweening Types

Demonstrates the two other tweening types that Flash provides, Shape Tweening and Classic Tweening. It includes:

changing a circle into a rectangle then back to a circle again by reversing frames.
using shape hints.
reversing animations.
copying frames.
creating classic tweens.
inserting keyframes.

Chapter 8: Fixed Point Animations

ch8 Demonstrates how to make objects animate around a fixed point. It involves:

editing symbols to set the registration (rotation) point.
setting the rotation.
animating the hands of a clock.
animating more that one object.
the assignment involves students creating a car speedometer.

Chapter 9: Circular Animations

ch9 Demonstrates how to set objects to animate around an enclosed path. It includes:

creating symbols.
adjusting motion paths.
setting beetles to race around a track.
stopping an animation.
adding and removing frames.
the assignment involves students creating a solar system animation.

Chapter 10: Frame By Frame Animations

Demonstrates how to set Frame By Frame animations, which mimics how animations were created before the use of computers. It includes:

drawing an eye, copying the eye then making one eye wink.
keyframes are duplicated and the contents of the duplicate modified.
the assignment involves students creating an eclipse of the sun animation.

Chapter 11: Creating Movie Clips

T ch11 his chapter introduces:

the creation and use of mo vie clip symbols.
self-contained animations are created then placed in other animations.
multiple instances of the movie clips are added to the animation.

Chapter 12: Creating Buttons

ch12 Demonstrates how to create Flash buttons. It includes:

setting button symbols.
setting the up, over and down states.
setting the hit area.
creating a navigation bar for a web site
using Flash's prepared buttons.

Chapter 13: Publishing Animations

Demonstrates how to publish animations. It includes:

the difference between .FLA and .SWF files.
publish settings.
Document size.

Project 1: iSounds

This project is only available in the multi-user versions. It involves students creating an opening page for the iSounds company which sells music over the internet. Students are required to create a web page that includes at least 2 animations and a navigation bar that has Flash buttons.

Module 2 Chapter Descriptions

Chapter 14: Using Masks

ch15 Demonstrates how use masks in animations. It includes:

creating a mask layer.
setting the mask effect.
animating the mask to create a spotlight effect.
creating masks as movie clips.
animating the movie clip mask.

Chapter 15: Using the 3D Tools

ch16 Demonstrates how to use the 3D Rotation and 3D Translation tools to add 3D effects to animations. It includes:

rotating movie clips over x, y and z axes.
adjusting the perspective angle.
adjusting the vanishing point.
adding the rotations to animations.
translating movie clips in the x, y and z axes.
creating movie credits that vanish into the screen.
applying the 3D tools on imported images.

Chapter 16: Using Behaviours

Demonstrates how to make use behaviours to make animations interactive with the screen. A firing a gun animation that could be used in computer games is created. Click on the gun in the sample to see the effect. The chapter involves:

setting invisible buttons.
setting and editing behaviours.
adding sounds to behaviour .
adding sounds to buttons.
deleting behaviours.

Chapter 17: Animation Still Photos

ch17 Demonstrates how to animate sections of a still photo to give the impression that they are a moving object. It includes:

breaking a photo into pixels.
erasing the sections to be animated.
converting the sections to symbols.
setting the registration point.
animating the sections.

Chapter 18: Using the Bone Tool

D ch18 emonstrates how to use the Bone tool to produce arm and leg movements in animations. It includes:

the bone tool basics.
adjusting the Bone tool styles.
selecting Runtime so that the user has control of an object's movement.
animating imported images.
animating shapes drawn in Flash.
applying the spring effect.

Chapter 19: Adding Sounds to Animations

Demonstrates how to include and control sounds by adding an engine track to the car speedo animations created in an earlier chapter. The chapter includes: