Flash advice..

[bubbagump01]

Hello Folks…

I have a question…

I have been building sites for a long time now, mostly ColdFusion data driven site. I have always built my sites using Dreamweaver and fireworks. I would like to think I am pretty good with these now but I have never had the time to really get into Flash of any sort. The only things I have done have been with swish and its all been pretty cheesy stuff.

Now I am starting to get real creative with my sites and I need to add better quality flash to them. But Time is always a factor as my jobs is pretty demanding and fast paced. So finally here is my question… If I were to take the time to really learn Flash MX 2004 would I be able to design things quickly or would I be better off using SwishMax or something like that? I know this question depends of several factors but all I need is a general idea. As for the type of flash stuff I would be doing most will be small quick banners/headers and maybe navigation buttons. I don’t think that I would ever need to design a whole site with flash only bits and pieces for added effects.

So what would you guys recommend me doing? I don’t plan to be a Flash master and all I need to do is output quick small flash intros, site headers, and maybe a small app of some sort like movie player or mp3 player.

Thanks for the advice.

[pooon]

Flash usually makes a better final product. Swish is good to use in conjunction with flash, but not to replace it. People can tell right away when something is a cookie cutter design from swish.

[Jemadah]

there are 10 basic tutorials that came with flash 5, (dunno about on MX coz never did 'em) They take about an hour to do all of them.. if you work your way thro these, not only will you have a good understanding of how to use flash, but to be ale to answer your own question..

I think for the sake of an hour this is your best bet..

Flash is gonna take time to learn, no ones saying it ain't.. but together we can do this, pull your self together man!

[hurricaneone]

What is this Swish about which you speak?

I know it not.

My 2 cents? Learn Flash - Swish is a toy compared to Flash.

[Vincent26381]

It's just the reputation SWiSH seems to have. SWiSH max is perfect for the things you want to do.

Pooon, can you tell me this (username: demo, password: password) is Flash or SWiSH max?

With SWiSH max you have all the possiblities flash player 6 serves.

[pooon]

Originally posted by Vincent26381
It's just the reputation SWiSH seems to have. SWiSH max is perfect for the things you want to do.

Pooon, can you tell me this (username: demo, password: password) is Flash or SWiSH max?

With SWiSH max you have all the possiblities flash player 6 serves.

I'd say flash, but I could be wrong. I'm not saying swish is bad, I love it. I just don't like when people get lazy, use one of the basic effects and call it a work of art.

[bubbagump01]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the comments I guess I will try to learn Flash MX 2004 since I do own it. My basic concern is once I learn it will I be able to knock flash projects faster than if I had mastered SwishMax. I guess this really depends on how good I become with it.

Does Flash MX 2004 have pre built FXs like SwishMax or do you still have to manually build the FX and transitions?

[Markp.com]

Originally posted by bubbagump01
Does Flash MX 2004 have pre built FXs like SwishMax or do you still have to manually build the FX and transitions?

Crikey... stick with Swish... you aren't ready for Flash yet.

[bubbagump01]

oh and this is for pooon...

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[pooon]

01001010011101010111001101110100001000000111000001 10100101101101011100000110100101101110001001110010 00000110110101111001001000000110111001100101011101 11001000000111001101101111011011100110011100001101 0000101000001101000010100000110100001010

[bubbagump01]

LOL… Thanks Markp.com

But I have to make the switch sometime right… I have been using Swish for a while and your right it seems to do everything I need. But I would like to do some better quality stuff with out spending all day trying to animate something like a text FX that’s why I asked. Like I said I’m pretty young when it comes to flash…

01100001011010000110100000100000011010010010000001 11001101100101011001010010111000101110001011100010 00000000110100001010000011010000101000001101000010 100000110100001010

[PAlexC]

You don't have to tackle all of Flash at once. Learn how to animate, use the timeline, buttons, basic actions like stop, play, etc.

Take your time and work up to advanced actionscripting and neeto effects.

[hurricaneone]

Originally posted by PAlexC
Take your time and work up to advanced actionscripting and neeto effects.

I think you mean 'neet-o', PAlexC.

(Man, I wish people would get their twee 1950s euphamisms right the first time)

[phreakdevil]

Swish: For girls.
Flash: For man.
Be a man!! use flash!!
J/K man, its going to take some time but if youre really thinking about living from this i suggest u start playing with flash right now.

[bubbagump01]

Ok guys… I am going to hit the Flash books now. Which reminds me what is a good flash book? I think I need a book called “1001 ways to chose from a 1001 Flash books” There are so many that’s it hard to tell what has the best information in them. I am looking for a standard “everything about flash book” and it would be nice to find one that has tutorials on popular techniques like found on 2advanced and all the other fancy popular sites.


Any advice would be great, thanks.