Creating a Flash web page....

[Ceritus]

Anyone have any good programs or sites where I can learn how to make a webpage using primarily macromedia flash. Also if anyone knows where I can get a flash creation program for less than $100 or so I would really appreciate some suggestions.

 

[Amapola]

Here's a great HTML forum: HTML Forum. Go to the "Client Side" portion and there is a whole section devoted to flash. In particular, the poster called "tmmoose" is particularly noted for his flash capabilities. Check out his posts; he is sparing with his words but always has something worthwhile to say.

 

[moopet]

The first couple of google hits for "flash tutorial" seem ok.

My question (without wanting to sound rude) is, "why do you want to create a website in Flash?"
I am inferring that you're a web development novice from the fact that you haven't come across a bunch of free tutorials before and I'm asking because I'm concerned that (depending on your purpose) Flash might be unsuitable for the site you wish to create, and some other suggestion could help.

 

[Upchurch]

My question (without wanting to sound rude) is, "why do you want to create a website in Flash?"
I am inferring that you're a web development novice from the fact that you haven't come across a bunch of free tutorials before and I'm asking because I'm concerned that (depending on your purpose) Flash might be unsuitable for the site you wish to create, and some other suggestion could help.

Not to mention that any sort of activity beyond simple animation tends to get more complex really quickly. A familiarity with Java or Javascript would really help once you start with Flash's Actionscript.

 

[Ceritus]

The first couple of google hits for "flash tutorial" seem ok.

My question (without wanting to sound rude) is, "why do you want to create a website in Flash?"
I am inferring that you're a web development novice from the fact that you haven't come across a bunch of free tutorials before and I'm asking because I'm concerned that (depending on your purpose) Flash might be unsuitable for the site you wish to create, and some other suggestion could help.

One word...... Military.

When I arrived here I had no idea about how to write html or use java or create macros. When the capt asked me if I knew anything about computers and I told him I just liked to play video games. The next thing I know I am at the welcome briefing infront of the whole squadren with him saying I am a computer guru....... They made me the webmaster for the weatherpage and with so much pressure through trial and error and the html dictionary I have been this for about 2 years now......

So here I am all set in my ways comfortable with javascript, html, adding, deleting and editing pages to add on when the new Lt takes me to his office and basically asks me to make a completely new webpage that uses flash and is very pretty and crap..... Anyhow I have about 4 weeks and counting and I figured I would just ask someone who has done anything in flash with what they would suggest.

The $100 was all I could spare for it but now my flight can pay for one up to $1k or so. I was thinking of that Macromedia Announces Flash Professional 8 which is like $399 anyone else have any other suggestions?

 

[ahoneycutt]

If you're dead-set on using Macromedia Flash, you can purchase it off their website. There are other tools that will allow you to create flash applications without paying the big bucks (Flash Professional 8 is actually $699, the upgrade is $299)

Swish is fairly popular:
- $100
- http://www.swishzone.com/

Mix FX (haven't tried it):
- $27
- http://www.mix-fx.com/

Unless you need to use flash, or have a large budget and can afford the cool effects, as the webmaster you should have some authority to explain that it makes no sense to use flash when it can and should be done using html.

flash looks great, and i love working with it. However, in a data driven environment that is going to get its bandwidth pounded, i would suggest not using it.

 

[logical muse]

the new Lt takes me to his office and basically asks me to make a completely new webpage that uses flash and is very pretty and crap.....

You poor bastard. I've had clients like that. One guy pointed me to a website with:

Centred comic sans text on every line.
A background GIF tile that made it almost impossible to read the text.
Animated GIFs for just about everything.
Underlines on heaps of random words, that weren't links.
The whole web site was one loooong page.

He said: "That's what I want! All animated and stuff!"

 

[CFLarsen]

when the new Lt takes me to his office and basically asks me to make a completely new webpage that uses flash and is very pretty and crap.....

Tell him to go f... himself. No, really.

That's not how websites should be designed. You don't say "Hey, here's a neat looking webpage - so ein ding muss Ich auch haben!"

You sit down and think it through what you want with your site. Then, you carefully implement the necessary technology.

You don't start with the technology and say: "What can I use this for?"

Tell him I said this - I'm a pro.

 

[moopet]

Tell him to go f... himself. No, really.

That's not how websites should be designed. You don't say "Hey, here's a neat looking webpage - so ein ding muss Ich auch haben!"

You sit down and think it through what you want with your site. Then, you carefully implement the necessary technology.

You don't start with the technology and say: "What can I use this for?"

Tell him I said this - I'm a pro.

I second this - but I recognise you can't *actually* get away with doing that because the penalty is court-martial followed by immediate cessation of chocolate rations.

Download the Flash MX trial and run through the samples and tutorials. Then get Sams' Flash in 24-hours and Flash MX fo Dummies (second one will be better IMO but the first might be faster)

Tutorials in books are the way to go, not least because you can read them in bed and you're less likely to skim them.

 

[CFLarsen]

I second this - but I recognise you can't *actually* get away with doing that because the penalty is court-martial followed by immediate cessation of chocolate rations.

I can live with the first, but not the last!

 

[logical muse]

and is very pretty and crap.....

Mind you, I can be a little extreme in the other direction. I've made web sites with virtually no graphics at all. And no colour.

People can be a little shocked at first, because they are expecting razzle dazzle, but generally they just get used to it. Then, after a while, they appreciate how nothing gets in the way of them and the content.

That's what they tell me anyway... Who knows, maybe really they're thinking "Geeze this is the most boring web site in the world!"

 

[kedo1981]

Curous labs make a program called "Motion Artist" for $49.00
These are people that make "Poser" which rocks
Motion artist looks like the defunked title "Live Motion" by Adobe which was many times easier than Flash.

 

[Ceritus]

I appreciate all the suggestions. My Lt told me I have about $3500 at my disposal for software and a video camera to record virtual weather briefings.
I know exactly what I want to do I just need to know how to do it I bought the flash for dummys book and so far it has been pretty useful. Thank you moopet.