Flash ActionScript

From MySite

Animating through the power of the word...

(Software: Adobe Flash - Language : ActionScript 2)

So, what is ActionScript ?

Actionscript is a LANGUAGE.
Like any other language,
you can write instructions to your bank manager,
and you can write poetry too....
its your choice what to do with it..
once you know how to speak it....

This course is designed to give you the basics of the grammar and some key vocabulary to play with ActionScript, the language used to programme Flash objects. Flash is the software used to animate for the web, and ActionScript is the way of pushing this further than simple Tween Animations. We will take a project from a "seed" to a "tree" (ie., from idea to completion) and will examine the different ways programming can be used to "make things happen" along the way.

Imagine writing your wishes down on a piece of paper. Now, imagine that what you have written (given that you spelt it all correctly !) actually starts to happen in front of your eyes ...... In essence, this is what all 'programming' does ... It carries out your wishes.

What you can wish for is constrained by the richness of the language itself, and certainly by your own vocabulary and knowledge. Yet, in essence, it is only your imagination that is the real limit. What you can imagine you can make happen*. It just takes the skill, the will and a little time to learn how to achieve it.

And there endeth lesson 1 !

*Within limits, of course: - we aren't going to solve climate change with actionscript alone unfortunately....but it is a little step in a positive, liberating, direction! Just, as always, be careful what you wish for ! (Jez :))

Course requirements:

  • An open and inquisitive mind that wants to learn and can cope with the intensity of five days packed full of information.
  • Those who are not afraid to try and understand things that at first seem difficult.
  • Some Flash experience (with using the timeline and basic animation principles.

Remember: For this course, we will be concentrating on Actionscript 2.

Useful links:

  • Little test (a nice tutorial on linear animation....have a play !) www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/design_character.html: A short tutorial on character animation the linear way (very labour intensive but still beautiful!)... If you can do this but want to do more then this course is for you...
  • kirupa.com: A great resource for Flash tutorials and ActionScript magic - all you want to take you from just a few words of ActionScript to writing your first living novel.
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