By adding ActionScript programming to your Flash project, you can make it do almost anything. You will build your Flash project by adding graphics, text, actions and more onto stackable layers on the Stage.Īctions Panel - In this panel you have the option to use prewritten code or write your own program code using Flash's ActionScript language. You can think of the Stage as your canvas. Stage - This is where all the magic is created. This is where you will find all the fun tools for drawing, painting, selecting objects and controlling color. Tools Toolbar - If you have used any graphic program such as Paint Shop TM Pro R or Photoshop R, you will recognize the Toolbar. You can control the sequence of your Flash project by placing certain control points (Keyframes) on the Timeline.
You can think of a Flash project as a mini movie that is made up of many frames, just like a real movie is made up of many frames. With it you can control and sequence your Flash animation or movie.
Timeline - The Timeline is the most important tool in Flash. This works like any menubar and displays drop-down lists of controls.
Menubar - As with most programs of this type, the Flash workspace has the familiar Menubar at the top of the screen. But as with other large tasks, when you break down the Flash workspace and examine each part separately, it becomes much less intimidating.
At first glance the Macromedia R Flash R MX 2004 workspace is intimidating and learning to use Flash may seem an impossible task.