Week 1: Getting Acquainted
1/25-1/31

Topics:

• Course Introduction
• Flash Introduction
• Opening files
• Adding Layers
• Editing Keyframes
• Properties Inspector
• Panels
• Flash Help
• Online resources

GCCCD Blackboard site

GD222 Course Files

• Download sample files in zip format for the Flash CS3 Professional Visual Quickstart Guide. These files will be useful for the Flash CS4 VQG.
• Watch a video tutorial from Lynda.com on the Flash CS3 Workspace.

• Read textbook Ch. 1
• Read the Syllabus
• Explore the course web site on Blackboard
• Complete the Student Information Survey on Blackboard
• Lab 1: Get Acquainted With Flash and Blackboard

Week 2: Working With Graphics
2/1-2/7

Topics:

• Drawing modes
• Color Tools
• Modify Objects
• Fills and Strokes
• 3D Transformation Tool*

*New in CS4!

• You may find the first portion of this step-by-step Lesson Supplement on creating graphics in Flash useful and easy to follow (view a video tutorial of the same lesson).
• I created an introductory video tutorial for previous semesters using Flash CS3.
• Here is a Lesson Supplement on Selecting Frames and Editing KeyFrames created for earlier semesters using Flash CS3.
• I encourage you to explore this video tutorial on Creating Graphics in Flash from previous semesters using Flash CS3

   

• Read textbook Chapters 2 & 4
• Lab 2: Working With Graphics

Week 3: Working With Graphics (continued)
2/8-2/14

Topics:

• Import bitmaps
• Animation 'Tweens'
• Groups
• Masks
• Deco Tool*
• Spray Brush*

*New in CS4!

• Here is the step-by-step lesson on drawing a winter scene with Flash.
• Here is a video on Drawing Overlapping Objects in Flash CS3.
• You may find this video tutorial on Flash CS3 drawing tools helpful.
• I encourage you to view this video tutorial on Working with Graphics created for an earlier semester using Flash CS3 CIAB.

• Read Textbook Chapters 5 & 6
• DUE: Lab 1 (2/11)

Week 4: Creating and Editing Symbols
2/15-2/21

Topics:

• Creating Buttons
• Graphics File Import
• Symbol Creation
• Symbol Types
• Transparency
• Library Assets
• Bitmap to Vector Conversion
• Web-safe Colors
• Simple button ActionScript

• You may find this supplementary lesson on creating and editing symbols with Flash helpful (view a video tutorial).
• Video tutorial on Symbols from Flash CS3 CIAB
• Here is a single .fla file containing many of the Buttons provided with Flash.

• Read Textbook Chapter 7
• Lab 3: Creating and Editing Symbols
• DUE: Lab 2 (2/18)

Week 5: Working With Text
2/22-2/28

Topics:

• Text Creation
• Text Formatting
• Text Symbols
• Text Animation
• Layer Organization
• Text Filters
• Text Tweening

• Here are some ways to create text motion tweens and shape tween 'morphs' with Flash 8 (view a video tutorial).
• Here is a video tutorial created for previous semesters using Flash CS3 CIAB on working with text.

• Read Textbook Chapter 3
• Participate in the Week 4&5 Discussion: Feedback on GD222 (Due 3/11)
• QUIZ 1 on Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5 of your textbook (available 2/25, DUE 3/11)
• Lab 4: Working With Text

Note: February 27 is the last day to apply for CR/NC for semester length classes

Week 6: Timeline and Library Management & Intro to Adding Animation
3/1-3/7

• Timeline layer organization
• Library symbol organization
• Frame-by-Frame animation
• Stick Figure animation

• Here are some examples of stick figure animation creation

• DUE: Lab 3 (3/4)
• Read Textbook Chapter 8

Week 7: Adding Animation (cont'd)
3/8-3/14

Topics:

• Classic Tweens*
• Motion Tweens*
• Shape Tween 'Morphs'
• Nesting Symbols
• Motion along paths
• Motion Editor*
• Bones Tool and Inverse Kinematics*
• Animation with Masks
• Transparency

*New in CS4!

• Here is a Video Tutorial created for previous semesters using Flash CS3 CIAB on Adding Animation

• Participate in the Week 6&7 Blackboard course discussion, "Flash Examples" (DUE 3/25)
• Read Textbook Chapter 9
• Lab 5: Adding Animation
• DUE: Week 4&5 Discussion (3/11)
• DUE: QUIZ 1 (3/11)

Week 8: Creating Interactive Files
3/15-3/21

• Here is a video tutorial created for a previous semester using Flash CS3 to help students get a better idea what is expected for Lab 6.
• You may find the Lynda.com video tutorial on Symbols and Instances useful
• Watch this video tutorial on creating a non-linear interactive template interface using Flash 8 and AS 2.0. (HTML)

• QUIZ 2 on Chapters 3, 6, and 7 (available 3/18, Due 4/1)
• DUE: Lab 4 (3/18)
• Read Textbook Chapter 14

Week 9: ActionScript Basics
3/22-3/28

• Watch this ScriptAssist.mov video tutorial from Lynda.com useful.
• Here is a short video created for a previous semester using Flash CS3 and AS 3.0 on what is expected for the Lab 7 assignment.

• DUE: Discussion for weeks 6&7 (3/25)
• Read Textbook Chapter 15
• Participate in the week 9&10 course discussion, "Is Flash Bad?"
• Lab 6: Creating Interactive Files
• DUE: Weeks 6&7 Discussion
• DUE: Lab 5 (3/25)

Week 10: Review
3/29-4/4

• Review
• Here are examples of how to create simple stick figure animation, 1) walking stick figure and, 2) dancing stick figure
• Here is an example of how to use the Shape Tween morph effect to create waves
• Here is an example of how to create popup button "tabs"
• Here is an example of how to use ActionScript 2.0 to make an object track the mouse cursor
• Here is an example of how to use ActionScript 2.0 to make an object follow a circular path

• Read textbook Chapters 12
• Participate in the week 11&12 course discussion, "Flash topics of interest for the remainder of the course"
• QUIZ 3: Chapters 8, 9, 14 (available 4/1, DUE 4/15)
• Lab 7: ActionScript Basics
• DUE: QUIZ 2 (4/1)

Week 11:
4/5-4/11

• Spring Break!!

Week 12: Review
4/12-4/18

Topics:

• New features of Flash CS4

• Review
• Here is a link to a comparison of vector vs. bitmap formats for downloading

• DUE: week 9&10 discussion (4/15)
• DUE: Lab 6 (4/15)
• DUE: QUIZ 3 (4/15)

Topics:

• Add Components
• Modify Parameters
• Configure interactivity
• Add ActionScript
• Also, Inverse Kinematics

• You may find the Lynda.com video tutorial Components.mov useful.

• Read textbook Chapter 13
• Lab 8 (Optional for extra credit): Using Components
• DUE: Lab 7 (4/22)
• Participate in the Week 13&14 Discussion "Topics of Interest for the remainder of the course"

Week 14: Optional Material
4/26-5/2

Topics:

• Edit sound files
• Import video files
• Use Video Components
• Work with video alpha channels
• Understand import options

• You may find the Lynda.com video tutorial UsingVideo.mov useful.
• Total Training has provided a series of excellent video tutorials on sound editing you may find helpful.
• Here is another simple tutorial on video playback

• Read textbook Chapters 15&17
• "Working With Sound and Video"
• Begin Interface Project

• Review of Lessons 1 through 9
• Here is an example of how to simulate a growing vine using motion tweens and masks

• Review
• QUIZ 4 on chapters 12, 13, 15, and 17 or your textbook (Available 5/5, Due 5/20)
• Participate in the week 15&16 course discussion, "How to Use Flash to Make the World a Better Place"
• Interface Project

• Interface Project

• Interface
• DUE: week 13&14 discussion (5/13)

• Interface Project

• DUE: Lab 8 (optional for extra credit) (5/20)
• DUE: QUIZ 4 (5/20)
• DUE: Week 15&16 Discussion.
• Interface Project

FINAL EXAMS: May 26 - June 2.

FINAL PROJECT DUE Friday, May 29.

GD222 Final Exam date and time TBA.