Vector based graphics means that all the graphics are mathematically
calculated. This therefore means that when scaling and transforming a graphic,
it keeps all of its qualities and doesn’t get distorted in the process. This is
good because it allows cleaner graphics and also has an input on the file size.
Also when graphics are swapped or changed, they are updated in all instances of
the file. If creating graphics on flash,
there are many tools and features that allow the creation of images in a much
easier way, such as snapping and the use of precise measurements. The downfall to this is that if you create
images in flash, because of the large amount of lines used, it can cause
chugging. To overcome this you can import images and movie clips meaning that
you can reduce the file size and still have clean graphic. However images you import
(bitmaps) cannot be scaled accurately, as flash is not designed for this. This means
you have to use a different program such as Photoshop or other image
manipulation programs to accurately scale/ change the image.
ActionScript is the scripting language Flash uses to control
the objects within the files. If you want to do anything interactive in Flash,
you'll need to use ActionScript. It allows you to use various different actions
in a flash file depending on what the user wants to happen in each instance. For
example you can implement the use of functioning button such as play, pause etc.
Flash also has snippets of codes to make it easier for the user; these snippets
are useful actions which are more commonly used than others. For anyone who doesn’t
know a lot about scripting, it is going to be very difficult to implement in
the work they are doing. This is because it is very easy to make mistakes and
just a little mistake can cause the whole file to not function properly.
In flash you can create very basic animations without the
use of scripting, which is called tweening. This involves using
automatic animations between different key frames on the timeline. There are only 3 forms of tweening available for
this animation type. These forms are: classic, which is simply moving the object
from one place to another; motion which is moving the object in more
complicated ways, such as rotating; and shape, which is changes the original shape
to warp it into something different. Tweening
is good as it means that the user doesn’t have to do frame by frame animation themselves,
which basically makes it much easier.
In flash you have use of a timeline. The timeline can be
used to give the user an idea of how long the file is going to be or
alternatively how long different animations are going to play for. In the
timeline it shows the different key frames which your work is on, and you can
also edit how many frames per second you are viewing, giving you a slower or
faster view of your work. This is good because it is very easy to see what time
frame you are working in which is useful if an animation has to play for a certain
amount of time.
When previewing a file which comes across an error, Flash has
a debug function that will lead you to where the error is opposed to having to
find it yourself. Not only will it take you to where the problem is, it will
also tell you what it is. This is very useful as it means it is very time
saving and more accurate when finding a problem.
Flash has implemented a good navigation system within the
program. It has a library, which automatically saves every movie clip, tween,
button, ect. These saved files are easily looked up or drawn upon at any time. This
is very helpful because it saves a lot of time and you don’t have to save them
all individually. Also the library has a function which means you can use saved
files not only from the piece you are working on, but other files as well. Flash
also has a customisable interface which means that it is easy to use and can be
change to suit the user.
Flash uses layers to keep everything in order and easy to
manage. You can have different elements on different layers so that it is easy
to keep track of them and make sure all the actions are correct for each one. It
allows you to separate and select different parts more easily.
On flash it is easy to test what you have done using a
simple shortcut. This means it can be viewed quicker and therefore changes can
be made more easily. Also Flash has the facility to test files on a device
simulator, this means that you can test the performance of you file on different
devices and systems.
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