Flash Lessons

Lab 4: Pre-requisite Flash Tutorial (non-graded assignment)

Overview

This lab will introduce the software package Adobe Animate CC (fomerly known as Flash Professional.) Flash is a multimedia drawing and animation package for the Web. Flash is becoming increasingly popular and there are various resources for it on the Web. Take a look at some of the Flash resources listed at the bottom of this page.

In this lab you will use an online tutorial of Flash to learn some basic functions and ideas of this package. Please work through the tutorial as described below.

The tutorial can be used as a reference to Flash: if at any time you get stuck doing a task in Flash when working through Labs 5 – 8, you may be able to find out how to accomplish that task by finding it in the tutorial.

You can download a 7-day trial version of Adobe Animate CC for use on your home computer. The link to this trial version of Adobe Animate CC can be found here: http://www.adobe.com/sea/products/animate.html .

Alternately, you can also find the free trial download for Adobe Animate CC here: https://creative.adobe.com/products/download/flash?promoid=KSPDF

Go to the page indicated in the link above and click the “Download Trial” button.

Be forewarned that the Flash download may take a very, very, long time. After your 7-day trial version of Adobe Animate CC expires, you can download additional versions to your home computer by registering the software under different e-mail addresses.

If you don’t want to or cannot download Adobe Aniamte CC to your home PC, the Flash software is available on several machines in the COSC YR-403 and YR-407 computer labs. Flash is also installed on all computers in YR-302 and YR-303. See the student Lab Assistant in YR-407 if you have any questions as to which machines have Flash installed.

** Flash is also installed on all the PCs in the CK 35 computer lab in the basement of Cook Library. ***

The Assignment: To successfully complete Lab 4, work through Parts I, II, III and IV below.

Part I: Flash CS6 Online Instructional Videos

Note that Adobe Animate CC is not much different from earlier versions of Flash (versions 4, 5, 6 & Flash Professional CC).

There are 21 short instructional online videos designed to provide you with a solid foundation in Adobe Flash Professional CS6, and show you how to create an assortment of Flash content. View those videos here: http://www.lynda.com/Flash-Professional-tutorials/Flash-Professional-CS6-Essential-Training/96304-2.html Only view the freebie videos.

Regarding those Lynda.com videos, you can have total and free access to all videos and the entire site if you have a library card and account from a Maryland Public Library. You can create your own account on Lynda.com by using your Maryland Public Library account number.

After viewing the videos, also check out Chapter 8 in your “Digital Media” textbook as a good reference for Flash.

Part II: Flash CS6 Tutorial “Creating your first Flash Professional CS6 document”

Required materials include a Windows PC and the Flash software. See information in the Overview section above for downloading Flash at home.

After you’ve downloaded the Flash software to your home PC, start Flash on your computer and click on the “Getting Started” button under “Introduction”. Work through all the links on that page, especially “Creating your first Flash Professional CS6 document”.

Part III: Starting the Flash Software on your PC

Whether you’re working at home with the 30-day trial version, or working in the COSC computer labs, begin the Flash software at your PC thusly:

Procedure

Use Start / Programs / Adobe / Adobe Animate CC to start Flash.