Flash CS3 Professional , the first version of Flash released under Adobe ’s aegis , is arguably the most dramatically enhanced program in the new CS3 suite . Flash has two interacting components : ActionScript , Flash ’s brawny computer programming language , and the timeline - based stagecoach , Flash ’s unique design environment for generating vector - based ( scalable ) aliveness . My only charge with Flash CS3 ’s predecessor — Macromedia Flash Professional 8 ( ) — was a lack of really exciting innovations in the design aspects of the programme . I no longer have that charge . The most exciting novel features in Flashareon the design side , along with some all right - tuning and nice modest enhancements in the coding environment .
CS3 integration
In Flash CS3 , Adobe unveil a revamp port , with features like object alignment , color , swatch , and scale , all access using Illustrator- , Photoshop- , and InDesign - style panels . The Flash Tools venire share ikon and even keyboard shortcuts ( like P for the Pen tool , T for the Type cock , and V for the Selection tool ) with its CS3 full cousin , Photoshop ( ) and Illustrator ( ) . Other thoughtful user interface betterment admit the power to utilise your mouse ’s gyre cycle to scan through sets of layers in the timeline , and the power to create tabbed panels — again as in Photoshop and Illustrator CS3 .
Perhaps the most radical innovation in Flash CS3 is its vastly improved integration with Illustrator CS3 . When competitors Macromedia and Adobe release Illustrator and Flash , they were estranged first cousin , share the ability to make scalable , vector - based graphics , but not communicating with each other very well . Importing transmitter drawings from Illustrator into Flash was a clunky chore , with many element of Illustrator nontextual matter getting lost in the process . Now Illustrator and Flash are kiss cousin-german . Flash CS3 comprise Illustrator ’s powerful Pen tool for drawing and blue-pencil curves . And , most significantly , you could now copy and glue directly from Illustrator into Flash or open Illustrator files in Flash , welcome features that will start the threshold to a much more effective animation work flow .
Now , when Flash imports Illustrator artwork , it recognizes and save an impressive hardening of attributes include layers , mathematical group , symbols , anchor point placements , gradient , and some effects ( like fall shadows ) . cut short masks from Illustrator CS3 are maintained in Flash CS3 , along with opacity ( foil ) options . Symbols are vector graphic objects that can spawn representative — extra generate artwork based on the original symbolisation that retains its basic characteristic . you could customise symbols to quickly inhabit a screen with lifelike target . And imported Illustrator type can be make for into Flash as editable text , transmitter outline , electronic image art , or a Flash moving-picture show clip .
The integration between Illustrator and Flash is , at this pointedness , mostly a one - way of life street : however , a typical animation workflow involves draft illustration in Illustrator , and programing and animating in Flash . In CS3 , Adobe has focus more aid on making it possible to smoothly move Illustrator graphics into Flash . Moving Flash artwork to Illustrator is less authentic , and I observed some glitches in transmitter artwork copy from Flash to Illustrator . The most modern implementation of Illustrator - to - Flash workflow is the ability to create a symbolization in Illustrator ( like a release ) , save it as a Flash movie snip .
With CS3 , Adobe has introduced the ability to preview 9 - slice scaling for vector graphics in Flash and to define 9 - slice grading in Illustrator CS3 and Fireworks CS3 . The 9 slices refers to a power grid that you could superimpose over an object ( a button , for illustration ) that regularise how the object is scale — vertically only , horizontally only , vertically and horizontally , or not at all . The 9 - slice grading that you define in Illustrator or Fireworks is now preserve when you copy and glue a symbol into Flash . There is some interesting potency here for changes in workflow that are certain to evolve from this new capability .
Flash on steroids
The new , quicker split second and its ability to exploit the accelerated processing index in Intel - ground Macs will impress developers and designers . Adobe says you may run Flash CS3 on a 1GHz PowerPC G4 or G5 Mac , as well as on a multicore Intel processor . I gave Flash CS3 a physical exercise on both a 1.67GHz PowerBook G4 with 1 GB RAM and a MacBook Pro with a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor and 1 GB of RAM ( Adobe recommends at least 1 GB ; Flash will only limp along on machines with 512 megabit of RAM ) . Flash CS3 ran quicker on a PowerBook than Flash 8 did , meaning that designers with PowerPC machines can run Flash CS3 serviceably . But what a divergence a chip makes ! I acknowledge a startling departure between how Flash CS3 perform with the two processor , especially when I bounced between Illustrator and Flash . spell a 200 MB Illustrator file into Flash CS3 , for example , took 22 minute on the PowerBook , while the same operation took 8 seconds on the MacBook Pro .
Device Central
For several years now , room decorator have assume that nearly everyone ’s vane web browser app supports Flash motion-picture show and scripting . What ’s new is the rapidly growing support for Flash Lite , the version of the Flash player created for nomadic gimmick . Adobe report that the routine of Flash - enabled devices ship worldwide , including hundreds of cadre phones and digital media player , has triple since January 2006 , reaching more than 200 million as of February this class .
Flash CS3 include Adobe ’s novel twist primal trailer and examination surroundings , which facilitate development for Flash Lite equipment . gadget Central is also packaged with other CS3 applications — I’ve found it helpful in preview Dreamweaver CS3 HTML- and CSS - based Web sites . But test Flash interface for mobile devices is really awe-inspiring . twist Central provides an synergistic examination environs that permit room decorator to name glitches , hemipterous insect , and esthetic problem early on in the purpose process .
The Flash CS3 basketball hoop of goodies also include some improvements for software engineer . Among the minor enhancements for coder are improved feature in the ActionScript editor for choose and founder chunks of code . And programmers can now simulate properties that define a Flash motion tween ( or animation ) as ActionScript 3.0 code . This allows developers to hive away and apply the apparent movement property ( like spot , size , revolution , color , blending properties , and animation motion guides ) to other symbol . And Flash now allows more tractableness in export pic to QuickTime format , such as the ability to bear on filters such as bead apparition , as well as other burden that previously ask the Flash Player . Flash also supports more programmed effects created using ActionScript coding as opposed to just support graphics and vivification created in the Timeline stage .
Encoding Flash Video
The Flash Video Encoder , packaged with Flash CS3 , allows developer to convert video from Apple ’s QuickTime format to FLV . The Flash Video Encoder has a ready to hand set of picture redaction tools work up - in , let in the power to crop and resize video recording during the transition process . And digital telecasting developers using Apple ’s Final Cut Pro ( ) can encode to Flash ’s FLV ( Flash Video ) format directly from that course of study .
Macworld’s buying advice
Flash CS3 Professional includes dramatic Modern features for designers , peculiarly its integration with Illustrator CS3 . The power to spell ( or paste ) Illustrator transmitter graphics into Flash is a major event in the evolution of living design , and the power to spell Illustrator graphic symbols has the potential to radically improve animation workflow . And Photoshop , Illustrator , and InDesign ( ) veterans will feel more at home with Flash ’s fresh user interface , which incorporate a toolbar and panels similar to the rest of the retinue . The coding enhancements in this version are less radical , but even developers using Flash strictly as a programing tool will appreciate previewing their project in gadget Central . There is something for everyone in this impressive Flash raise .
[ David Karlins is the writer of theComplete Idiot ’s Guide to Flash 5(Alpha ; 2000 ) , and 20 other al-Qur’an on graphic and interactive internet design , includingDreamweaver CS3 How - Tos : 100 Essential Techniques(Adobe Press , 2007 ) andIllustrator CS3 How - Tos : 100 Essential Techniques(Adobe Press , 2007 ) . ]