I think books are hard to learn Flash from...especially since Flash is a strictly VISUAL, unless coding, median. Of course, books do have their good sides, and little tricks that you won't find anywhere on the net.

The only Flash book I've ever bought was "How to do everything with: Flash MX 2004." Of course, they have probably come out with an updated version by now...

It's alright...

My favourite Veritas animation is The Chase. Looking like myself. :D

Books Rock

I think books are hard to learn Flash from...especially since Flash is a strictly VISUAL, unless coding, median.

That's odd... I thought books were visual too. Unless we're talking about Audiobooks...

Okay okay... I know what you mean... just couldn't resist the dig...

At 3/7/07 01:58 PM, ArthurGhostly wrote: I don't use animation books as my primary source of knoledge and whathaveyou.

I use books as my first port of call.

I find that published material is normally of a more refined quality than anything else you pick up floating on the net. I probably wouldn't have nearly any of the knowledge I have about Flash if it wasn't for my worryingly large library of books on the subject. Same with animation and game design - I value what these people have to say about every aspect of thier medium, and you just don't get that with tutorials on the net. Not even our very own AS:Main can compare to a good, solid book on Actionscripting (like Flash Mx04 Games: Art to Actionscript), and no one's tutorials on how to create visual effects in Flash has made an impact on me like the How to Draw Manga book on Flash.

Each to thier own though. I can't stand reading computer screens for too long when it comes to PDF files, and I actually have a disposable income that measures in the hundreds every month, so I can understand that a lot of people are put off by things like $60 price tags.

I'm not looking for a flash book or anything I'm simple looking for an animation book. I know the in and outs of flash very well. Also any drawing books to recommend?

At 3/7/07 02:22 PM, Cojones893 wrote: I'm not looking for a flash book or anything I'm simple looking for an animation book. I know the in and outs of flash very well. Also any drawing books to recommend?

Cartooning the head and figure - by jack hamm
Animator's survival kit IS good (Luis swears by it)
The acting for animators one is good as well although it's more about animation than drawing.
Timing for animation by harold whitaker and john halas is good (again animation though)

At 3/7/07 02:36 PM, TheHappySheep wrote: Animator's survival kit IS good (Luis swears by it)

Biggest crock of shit on the planet. The guy is like animator Nazi in his book.. its his way or no other way at all.. in the beginning hes like NO. dont listen to music..
as if there arent quality animators who like having music on.

I picked up a book called 'setting up your shots' by jeremy vineyard.. its more of a film director type of book but i find that it helped me think of shots that i probably wouldnt normally think of... the photos are all drawings and it gives you references of what movie that kind of shot can be found in.. its a pretty fun book.

At 3/7/07 11:49 AM, Cojones893 wrote: "Mr. Big".

You called me?

At 3/7/07 06:14 AM, TheHappySheep wrote: Alright this is the last picture I'm posting now. This is me in the club I usually go to with my friends when I'm at home. As you can see the majority of my friends are female.

You have a club IN YOUR HOME?! Lol, Happy UOTD.

Flash Cam

Someone a few pages ago posted a link to a Flash Camera (not vCam) that could be swirled and spun around have have the screen not distort. I downloaded this Command and I tried it out for myself and as far as I know... it didn't do anything. I used it the same way I would the vCam, and nothing changed.

Unless it is used differently than the vCam, please let me know where I can find a tutorial or something that explains. If it is as dynamic and people say it is, I gotta figure it out. I love me some vCam, but not being able to tilt it posses it's problems.

Vinnie Veritas

At 3/7/07 01:31 PM, Luis wrote: I wasnt all that crazy about his recent movie... his work hasnt evolved much from his earlier work of years ago... i would get bored not finding new challenges or areas of improvement in my work. I think after this many years of being in the scene he should look to really pushing it to the next level.

Hes not what I would call a top quality animator. He more seems to have a story he wants to tell and uses what skills he has to portray it. I mean I think he fbf looks pretty smooth but his general artwork sometimes seems a bit rushed.

But still, the fact remains, he doesn't really seem to do a lot of experimenting. So he might not be a great inspiration as an artist but I still enjoy watching his animations. I mean how many animators on newgrounds really show significant change in their body of work? They tend to either get in a comfort zone or they purposely animator uniformly as its part of a series.

Coding on the Timeline or Directly on objects?

I just started reading a book called Beginning Flash Game Programming for Dummies. I like how it gets you into AS slowly, but I have one problem; the way this guy codes. Everything he does is on the timeline. I was wondering if any of you would recommend coding that way (opposed to the normal coding on the object), or if any of you do in the first place.

At 3/7/07 04:45 PM, spare-jello wrote: Coding on the Timeline or Directly on objects?

Coding on the timeline is the way to do it. Coding on objects seems logical, but once you realize you can centralize all your code into one frame, it makes so much more sense.

And AS 3.0 in Flash 9 doesn't allow you to script onto objects directly, so it's a good idea to get in the habit now :).

Vinnie Veritas
Yeah at first I was pretty depressed seeing the movie, thinking its just the same old stuff, but I think his action scenes were completely awesome. When It got to the down and dirty animation i was very impressed. The way the camera zooms around and the bodies are skewed but still solid. Definately cool. I think he did some new things, but it isn't much of a push from his older stuff.

At 3/7/07 01:31 PM, Luis wrote: I wasnt all that crazy about his recent movie... his work hasnt evolved much from his earlier work of years ago... i would get bored not finding new challenges or areas of improvement in my work. I think after this many years of being in the scene he should look to really pushing it to the next level.

Hes not what I would call a top quality animator. He more seems to have a story he wants to tell and uses what skills he has to portray it. I mean I think he fbf looks pretty smooth but his general artwork sometimes seems a bit rushed.

At 3/7/07 04:45 PM, spare-jello wrote: Coding on the Timeline or Directly on objects?

Everything he does is on the timeline. I was wondering if any of you would recommend coding that way

Yup. I do.

Only started doing it like that recently, but I'm finding it makes far more sense for me to code everything on the timeline. Easier to find all the code that way.

I suppose the next step for me is to start using .as files, but I detest the idea of having to edit two files simultaniously to make edits to a single swf file just because the code needs changing in an external file.

At 3/7/07 04:50 PM, KaynSlamdyke wrote: I suppose the next step for me is to start using .as files, but I detest the idea of having to edit two files simultaniously to make edits to a single swf file just because the code needs changing in an external file.

You'll appreciate it when you get into some serious OOP and start doing classes.

I have a menu class, that I can use for ANYTHING I make with less than 2 lines on the main timeline.

I have a movement class, that will handle overhead or side scrolling movement.

I have an IA class (that I'm still working on) for platformers.

So, games will become easier and easier to make, as I'll only have to tweek a few numbers to make drastically different games.

Designing classes is 95% planning and 5% coding.

Just look at the movieclip class, or the math class. Think about what is achieved with them.

Coding On Frames

I didn't used to, but i always code on the frame where i can. It seems more organised, a lot more easier to find and it just is nicer to code.

Also, once AS3 comes a long, and if you start using Classes with AS2, coding on the frames is the best thing to do.

At 3/7/07 04:47 PM, jmtb02 wrote: And AS 3.0 in Flash 9 doesn't allow you to script onto objects directly, so it's a good idea to get in the habit now :).

Seems to me like flash is becoming more code oriented, rather than animator/website developer centered. Also, congrats on the Daily 1st, nice game ;).

gratz to happy sheep for UOTD

At 3/7/07 05:10 PM, Depredation wrote: Seems to me like flash is becoming more code oriented, rather than animator/website developer centered.

Yeah, I noticed that too.

I mean... it does seem a little odd that it was only when Flash 5 came along that there was an actual scripting system (apart from timeline actions), and suddenly, it became the complete focus in flash.

Meh... why do I complain ? I'm a coder, i should be happy :P

RE:Flash cam

At 3/7/07 03:12 PM, Senti wrote: Flash Cam
Someone a few pages ago posted a link to a Flash Camera (not vCam)

I think that was probably me. It's the one currently hosted on Fat-Pie right?

Once you've installed the plugin (I can't give a step by step on this as I really can't remember - it was very simple though), go to the commands menu(at the top) and click on 'Add camera'. This adds a new camera to your library that is the correct height and width of the stage. Then just drag and drop and you're away.

Flash Cam

I have that camera. Its way better than the old v-cam :O

V-CAM

At 3/7/07 06:56 PM, atomic-noodle wrote: Flash Cam
I have that camera. Its way better than the old v-cam :O

For the undecerning Flasher who doesn't count code cycles, the version coded out half way down the comment tree by GreasyMok allows for rotation when applied to your run of the mill V-Cam

At 3/7/07 05:10 PM, Depredation wrote: Seems to me like flash is becoming more code oriented, rather than animator/website developer centered.

I can't agree with that. Although AS:3 did come out and everyone is talking about it, that doesn't mean animators are being left in the dust.

Flash 8 came with filters, color blending, advanced easing, more text options, a better color chooser (imo) and also a way better brush stroke algorithm. Flash 9 will probably have more stuff too, it just won't be a complete rework like actionscript was.

What I really want to see in flash is more sound options. Stuff like speed up, slow down, pitch changing perhaps. Pan and volume just isn't much ):

Flash Cam

At 3/7/07 06:20 PM, Mogly wrote: Once you've installed the plugin (I can't give a step by step on this as I really can't remember - it was very simple though), go to the commands menu(at the top) and click on 'Add camera'. This adds a new camera to your library that is the correct height and width of the stage. Then just drag and drop and you're away.

Yeah, I got that much of it after searching for a minute or so. But...it doesn't work. I tween the camera frame this way and that and nothing changes...

vCam Spin
I don't think I am code savve enough to even understand that... :-/

Unrelated
Does anyone have a script that will shake an MC a few pixels in all directions? <3

Congrats on happysheep for UotD.. finally a reg whose posts i've seen won it...

completely useless post

Coding on timeline
I always have been mixed, coding in my objects and timeline, I organize my objects to the side and code their specific functions into each or like scores and stuff into the timeline. But when you say have everything in one central frame, it does make more sense. I suppose I should start doing that...

RE: Coding On Frames

At 3/7/07 05:10 PM, Depredation wrote:

It seems more organised

See, now I disagree. I find it much easier if each symbol contains AS, as then you can see what each symbol does by clicking on it and pressing F9.

Take a look at your life

Do you ever just take a step back from it all and look at your life? I did today and I found I spend most of my time either: A) Drunk B) In lectures C) On NG D) Alseep or E) All of the above.

'Tis sad....

Also what is your life dream? What do you want to be when you "grow up"? And for those who are "grown up" are you where you wanted to be? Where to you want to be in 5 years time?

I DEMAND ANSWERS!

<3

Re: Flash Cam

Mogly, could I have a link to the one you're talking about?

Dreams
I want to make everyone happy.

At 3/7/07 09:45 PM, jmtb02 wrote: I want to make everyone happy.

Then bend over, bitch.

LOL! GHEY INNUENDO!

P.S. Unlike "TheHappySheep" I'm not gay. 'k?

Aspirations

I think my dream is to help others with their dreams... corny i know. But in recent years I've found that I feel better knowing that I impacted someone elses lives positively than any of the acclaim I've gotten for myself. I think for the near future I'm gonna work in the trenches for a few more years and then id like to teach in a university level. I think that it all stems from my childhood and like being a little shit that nobody paid attention to and to be in a position where people might actually listen to what i have to say is deeply rewarding to me.
Also in the near future I'll be relocating to New York, I really love city life. I love the rats I love graffiti and I love being in the city... its like living with an asshole dad... you sort of have to figure shit out on your own or be stepped on by the world... its so high-pace and fulfilling.

-L

When I Grow Up...

At 3/7/07 10:19 PM, Luis wrote: Also in the near future I'll be relocating to New York, I really love city life.

Heh, the city is expensive to live in. I sometimes wanna move out to the middle of country where its real quiet and I can do as I want, it would be a lot cheaper to live too. The I think how I might go crazy. I really just want a shitty apartment in the city. I picture it mostly by imagining a bathroom where the tiles are falling off the wall, the mirror is broken, the shower curtain is barely hanging on and the bathtub has feet so when I turn on the lights cockroaches run under it.

But, I tend to get imaginative at times. I really don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going. I've had people ask me what I want to do when I grow up before, including teachers and professors, which is kinda sad when its a professor because it kinda seems like they should know, particularly when their in your major. I gave him the same response as I gave my junior year British Literature teacher, "When I grow up, I wanna be an airplane" and I then raised my arms and moved them up and down as I made airplane noises.

Oh well. Thinking about the future used to depress me, a lot, and it still kinda does. So I try not to think about it to hard. As long as I keep moving forward then I have no regrets(I wish). I'm part of the Mitch Hedberg school of philosophy. "I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm gonna ask where they're going and hook-up with them later."