Macromedia Flash8 Bible

Before you can start to create an interface in Flash, you need to have a plan for your Flash movie timeline. Create an organizational chart outlining the sections of the presentation.

Determine your Flash movie properties (frame size, frame rate, and background color) before you undergo production in Flash.

If you don't have final art for a Flash production, you can still create a functional proto-type of the presentation using placeholder graphics. When the final artwork is ready, replace the placeholder graphics with the final artwork.

You can create simple slide shows or product catalogs using sequential keyframes and buttons with nextFrame() and prevFrame() actions.

The Hit area of a text-based Button symbol should always be defined with a solid shape.

You can achieve basic text scrolling by adding the TextArea component to your Flash movie.

You can apply time-based alpha and blur effects to artwork with the custom BlurFader component.

You can add accessibility information to Flash movies. Windows-based screen readers designed to work with Flash Player 6 or higher, such as GW Micro's Window-Eyes, can read this information.