Schedule
Week 1
We'll go over the syllabus, get to know each other, talk about our goals for the class, look at some awesome uses of Flash, and dive right into working with Flash.
We'll wrap up class with some lab time working on examples and tutorials of what we've covered.
Reading
-
Green and Stiller, Foundation Flash CS 3 for Designers.
4-81.Read about the Flash IDE and how to Illustrate with it. Feel free to go back and forth from using Flash and referencing the book.
Week 2
We're going to go over the MovieClip and to how harness its functionality. We'll cover Library symbols, animations, frames, tweening, and Export for ActionScript.
We'll wrap up class with some lab time working on examples and tutorials of what we've covered.
Reading
-
Green and Stiller, Foundation Flash CS 3 for Designers.
112 - 155, 284 - 336.Creating symbols, using masks, sharing libraries, working with shapes, motion tweening, and motion guides.
Creative
- Timeline Party
In class we did a rotoscoping example. Homework was to create a Timeline Animation using three MovieClip instances on the main stage of a Flash File. Download handout here.
Week 3
We're going to go over importing media into Flash. All types of media! Text, Audio, Video, Storyboarding, etc. We'll also talk about more advanced ways of importing media like XML and Remoting (but won't be implementing any of it, unless you choose to).
We'll wrap up class with some lab time working on examples and tutorials of what we've covered.
Creative
- Banner Ad Storyboard
Create the storyboard for your banner add. I'd like to see people using the Flash drawing tools (and even better Wacom tablets) to sketch out storyboard frames, however you can create them using traditional draw tools (draw on paper and scan in > import images to flash) if you'd like. You can also use Photoshop or Illustrator if you like. Just keep in mind these are meant to serve as basic visual summaries of key pieces of the animation for your banner add. Create a blank fla document and put your different storyboard images on different keyframes so that you can turn in the whole thing as one .fla file.
Download handout here.
Week 4
We're going to learn some sweet animation tips, tricks, and shortcuts. By the end of class we'll have some new production tools and skills. We'll use some basic ActionScript, but also tips and tricks you can do right in the IDE itself. We'll wrap up class with a lab and practice implementing some of our new found tools on the Banner Ad project.
Creative
- Banner Ad Storyboard (cont)
Keep on chuggin!
Week 5
MIDTERM
Banner ad is due at the beginning of class, however you'll be able to work on it in class. Your ad should be launch able, or a few compiler errors away from being launch able. We'll have a lab day and work on finishing them up by the end of the night.
Creative
- Banner Ad Storyboard (cont)
Banner Ad Assignment is due at the beginning of the class. Should be "launch able" or a few compiler errors away from launch able by the beginning of class Week 6. We'll use class time to work on them and finish them up.
Week 6
We're going to go over how to set up buttons, and how to use them control the timeline of one or more MovieClips. You'll start a Remote Controlled Robot project in class, and it'll be due at the begging of class Week 7.
You'll also have to do some work thinking about your final project.
Get the handout for the Remote Controlled Robot here. Get the handout for the Final Project ideas here.
Reading
-
Green and Stiller, Foundation Flash CS 3 for Designers.
158-188.
Creative
- Interactive Mixer: Remote Robot
Create a Remote Control Robot!!!! We're going to go over how to make buttons control the timeline of multiple MovieClip instances. And with that...you'll create a remote controlled robot. Feel free to use anything we've gone over in class (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash drawing tools, audio, etc). There is no file size limit, or size constraints...so go crazy.
- Final Project Ideas
Think about what you want to do for your final project. The purpose is to have fun and see where your interest lead you. Whether or not its practical is less important.
Week 7
We'll go over setting up a rich-media project in Flash, Using ActionScript to navigate the timeline of multiple depths. This is the beginning phase of your final project, so think of something fun. Its more important that you pick something fun than practical, because the more you enjoy working on this, the more prone you will be to work on it! Go crazy!
Creative
- Final Project Wireframes
Create wireframes of your final project ideas. Begin gathering resources that will help you along the way.
Week 8
Your Final Project wireframes will be due at the beginning of class. We'll start the class by assessing common problems and questions the class has. We'll go over some ActionScript examples, and then work on the final projects until the end of class.
Creative
- Final Project Comps
Create design comps using tools like Photoshop CS 3 and Illustrator CS 3. Extra Credit: Create an interactive click through / motion guide comp
Week 9
Work on Final Project. Work on Final Project. Work on Final Project...
Creative
- Complete Final Project
Time to bust out the energy drinks. Complete your Final Project!
Dude what time are we supposed to be there for the final? Can’t find my syllabus. D=
Final Date and Time
Wed, June 17 5:30 – 7:30pm
Room 216
You can download the syllabus here.
It wont let me download that for some reason.
@TheWearyMoth
It should work from that URL, works for me. Send me an email and I’ll reply with it attached if you’d like.
Ah it’s ok it was in adobe reader 9 while i had 8