Web Design Forums

pammii · 11-08-2003, 01:34

did anyone else feel so completely overwhelmed when first starting out?

i feel like i will never understand it.... where did you all start out and how did you get the hang of it?

cheers

oli · 11-08-2003, 01:49

funny you should say that, been trying to learn it for a while now but then keep stopping and when I restart ive forgotten everything. Havent got much on at work for the next couple of weeks so Im giving it another bash - got a couple of books to learn from.
Found a good site with some tutorials on - ill post the link later, not so many as flash kit has so its not so overwhelming.

pammii · 11-08-2003, 01:58

thanks pet, ive been looking at flashkit and such and i got some books out to read from the library, but i get disheartened when i see all the stuff people have done and its all so good lol

i have this stuff in my head that i want to get done, but i cant until i learn and then i have to start off with baby steps and im too impatient

oli · 11-08-2003, 03:38

http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/index.htm check these ones out, gonna be working my way through em today.

pammii · 11-08-2003, 04:15

cheers

Brown · 11-08-2003, 05:53

it always starts with baby steps. plan it out as fully as you can before you start and like some poeple have been saying round here recently, don't let the software dictate how something looks.

the secret with successful flashing is in the planning. imho...

greenfruit · 11-08-2003, 08:44

took me 6 months before flash finally "clicked" for me. I couldnt even get something to move.

Brown · 11-08-2003, 10:33

i must say its got easier over the years. having been using it since flash 2 - get an idea of what you want to make and just do it. keep in mind what oli says too - you have to keep using a package or you do forget how it works.

pammii · 11-08-2003, 11:37

cheers

i will keep all that good advice in mind..

so the trick is not to give up so easily like i did years ago lol

baby steps...

and have a plan..

and bobs your uncle

flatcat · 11-08-2003, 13:11

Flash MX Bible is an f'in great book too, reading the whole thing right now and I know flash fairly well....learned so much from it already and I'm not even halfway through it....if you read it cover to cover you will know how to do just about everything you need to, actually you'll know everything except really in depth Actionscript programming, which they have another Bible for too ;P

sleepingfish · 12-08-2003, 04:20

<off topic> nice site Flatcat

pammii · 12-08-2003, 04:29

cool, gonna check out and see if they have that book in the local libraries

and yeah i agree with sleepingfish, nice site.... i wanna be able to make one like that

i was playing around with the tween motion stuff today and i made stuff change and move *proud*

slowly but surely, slowly.... but.... surely

flatcat · 12-08-2003, 11:17

Heh, the flash one? Thanks

That's my old one that I did LAST summer heh, wait'll you see what I got cookin in the kitchen atm

tomson · 12-08-2003, 12:03

i found the easiest way to learn flash was to get a freelance project that required me to use it - that way I had a definite goal. Maybe set your self a small project once you've got the basics in your head.

dan · 13-08-2003, 04:25

Yup, start simple.

Animation is the obvious place to start. Then look at simple actions with buttons. Then after a few weeks/months you could dive in to some deeper action script. There are a lot of cool books out there that can help you on your way.

Thomsons small project is a really good idea though. Why not make a really simple portfolio site, with a simple button menu system for starters, then as your knowledge increases you can add new features, fades on the images, funky rollovers etc. etc.

The other thing I would say is to remember to keep everything organised. Be meticulous, folders in the library, well named layers and relevant naming for symbols and instances (adding extensions like _mov _gr _txt can be a big help when you have lots of them) it gets more and more important the larger your projects get. Dull and time consuming it may be but it does pay off in the end.

Good, luck and if you need any help you know where to come

Omnetix · 14-08-2003, 11:53

Not *trying* to hijack the thread, Pammi... But...

Flatcat, did you do all that work yourself, or do you have help/outsourcing?

PM or EM me if you want.

Mr Fred · 14-08-2003, 17:04

traced bitmaps - is that it

brintonwhite · 29-08-2003, 16:46

Yes, start simple. Ask someone if they want a site building in flash (I have just done this and I intend to do a site for a book illustrator) by doing this, you and I will have to learn it. Don't feel bad because it is difficult. It is for us all, well me anyway. Things you might consider learning and also some URLs for you include these:

1. Preloaders.
http://www.webthang.co.uk/tuts/tuts_...x1/gfmx1_3.asp

2. Load movies and other things such as jpgs. This is important when developing sites as it cuts down on download time. Viewers can choose to click a button and a picture or seperate flash movie will load into your flash site.
http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/loading.htm

That's it for now. If you are doing a project and get a little stuck, you can email me at brintonwhite2@aol.com I will try and help If I can

11-08-2003, 01:34	#1 (permalink)
pammii ... Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: melbourne, aus. Posts: 199	ok so i now want to learn flash.... did anyone else feel so completely overwhelmed when first starting out? i feel like i will never understand it.... where did you all start out and how did you get the hang of it? cheers __________________ Should I fall out of love, my fire in the light To chase a feather in the wind Within the glow that weaves a cloak of delight There moves a thread that has no end.

11-08-2003, 01:49	#2 (permalink)
oli Free Ring Ding™ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 9,508	funny you should say that, been trying to learn it for a while now but then keep stopping and when I restart ive forgotten everything. Havent got much on at work for the next couple of weeks so Im giving it another bash - got a couple of books to learn from. Found a good site with some tutorials on - ill post the link later, not so many as flash kit has so its not so overwhelming. __________________ ..................

11-08-2003, 01:58	#3 (permalink)
pammii ... Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: melbourne, aus. Posts: 199	thanks pet, ive been looking at flashkit and such and i got some books out to read from the library, but i get disheartened when i see all the stuff people have done and its all so good lol i have this stuff in my head that i want to get done, but i cant until i learn and then i have to start off with baby steps and im too impatient __________________ Should I fall out of love, my fire in the light To chase a feather in the wind Within the glow that weaves a cloak of delight There moves a thread that has no end.

11-08-2003, 03:38	#4 (permalink)
oli Free Ring Ding™ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 9,508	http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/index.htm check these ones out, gonna be working my way through em today. __________________ ..................

11-08-2003, 04:15	#5 (permalink)
pammii ... Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: melbourne, aus. Posts: 199	cheers __________________ Should I fall out of love, my fire in the light To chase a feather in the wind Within the glow that weaves a cloak of delight There moves a thread that has no end.

11-08-2003, 05:53	#6 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,211	it always starts with baby steps. plan it out as fully as you can before you start and like some poeple have been saying round here recently, don't let the software dictate how something looks. the secret with successful flashing is in the planning. imho...

11-08-2003, 08:44	#7 (permalink)
greenfruit sflwa.com Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southsea Posts: 515	took me 6 months before flash finally "clicked" for me. I couldnt even get something to move. __________________ [OAP] somefool

11-08-2003, 10:33	#8 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,211	i must say its got easier over the years. having been using it since flash 2 - get an idea of what you want to make and just do it. keep in mind what oli says too - you have to keep using a package or you do forget how it works.

11-08-2003, 11:37	#9 (permalink)
pammii ... Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: melbourne, aus. Posts: 199	cheers i will keep all that good advice in mind.. so the trick is not to give up so easily like i did years ago lol baby steps... and have a plan.. and bobs your uncle __________________ Should I fall out of love, my fire in the light To chase a feather in the wind Within the glow that weaves a cloak of delight There moves a thread that has no end.

11-08-2003, 13:11	#10 (permalink)
flatcat beauty through chaos Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 768	Flash MX Bible is an f'in great book too, reading the whole thing right now and I know flash fairly well....learned so much from it already and I'm not even halfway through it....if you read it cover to cover you will know how to do just about everything you need to, actually you'll know everything except really in depth Actionscript programming, which they have another Bible for too ;P __________________ audentes fortuna iuvat Flatcat

12-08-2003, 04:20	#11 (permalink)
sleepingfish css is for divs Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Norwich Posts: 4,524	<off topic> nice site Flatcat

12-08-2003, 04:29	#12 (permalink)
pammii ... Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: melbourne, aus. Posts: 199	cool, gonna check out and see if they have that book in the local libraries and yeah i agree with sleepingfish, nice site.... i wanna be able to make one like that i was playing around with the tween motion stuff today and i made stuff change and move proud slowly but surely, slowly.... but.... surely __________________ Should I fall out of love, my fire in the light To chase a feather in the wind Within the glow that weaves a cloak of delight There moves a thread that has no end.

12-08-2003, 11:17	#13 (permalink)
flatcat beauty through chaos Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 768	Heh, the flash one? Thanks That's my old one that I did LAST summer heh, wait'll you see what I got cookin in the kitchen atm __________________ audentes fortuna iuvat Flatcat

12-08-2003, 12:03	#14 (permalink)
tomson hairball Join Date: May 2003 Location: London Posts: 3,158	i found the easiest way to learn flash was to get a freelance project that required me to use it - that way I had a definite goal. Maybe set your self a small project once you've got the basics in your head.

13-08-2003, 04:25	#15 (permalink)
dan Iris Folder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: smokey Posts: 2,672	Yup, start simple. Animation is the obvious place to start. Then look at simple actions with buttons. Then after a few weeks/months you could dive in to some deeper action script. There are a lot of cool books out there that can help you on your way. Thomsons small project is a really good idea though. Why not make a really simple portfolio site, with a simple button menu system for starters, then as your knowledge increases you can add new features, fades on the images, funky rollovers etc. etc. The other thing I would say is to remember to keep everything organised. Be meticulous, folders in the library, well named layers and relevant naming for symbols and instances (adding extensions like _mov _gr _txt can be a big help when you have lots of them) it gets more and more important the larger your projects get. Dull and time consuming it may be but it does pay off in the end. Good, luck and if you need any help you know where to come

14-08-2003, 11:53	#16 (permalink)
Omnetix Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 113	Not trying to hijack the thread, Pammi... But... Flatcat, did you do all that work yourself, or do you have help/outsourcing? PM or EM me if you want. __________________ Simon Dwyer Omnetix Corporation simon@omnetix.com www.omnetix.com www.omnetixpc.com

14-08-2003, 17:04	#17 (permalink)
Mr Fred Magazines™ Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Glasgow.. Posts: 11,264	traced bitmaps - is that it

29-08-2003, 16:46	#18 (permalink)
brintonwhite Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Grand old England Posts: 13	Yes, start simple. Ask someone if they want a site building in flash (I have just done this and I intend to do a site for a book illustrator) by doing this, you and I will have to learn it. Don't feel bad because it is difficult. It is for us all, well me anyway. Things you might consider learning and also some URLs for you include these: 1. Preloaders. http://www.webthang.co.uk/tuts/tuts_...x1/gfmx1_3.asp 2. Load movies and other things such as jpgs. This is important when developing sites as it cuts down on download time. Viewers can choose to click a button and a picture or seperate flash movie will load into your flash site. http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/loading.htm That's it for now. If you are doing a project and get a little stuck, you can email me at brintonwhite2@aol.com I will try and help If I can

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