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There are many conferences, events, online resources, and noteworthy
software that can help with your journey through the land of Flash.
We've organized all of the best resources into four sections--and added
additional sections to highlight the color section and chapter
images from the companion text:
Conferences
Conferences are a great way to get together with fellow developers and
learn about the latest and greatest developments of Flash. Most conferences
have extensive tutorial sessions, workshops, and prestigious speakers:
Computer
Arts Live (www.computerartslive.co.uk)
Based in London, the Computer Arts Live conference features highly innovative,
design-oriented seminars and workshops for animators, 3D modelers, interactive
designers, and web developers.
Flash
Kit (http://seminars.internet.com/flash/la01/)
The Flash Kit conference, which is held in both Sydney, Australia, and
Los Angeles, California, is not just about Flash. It's also about the
future of interactivity on the Web. The conference features innovative
speakers and workshops designed to encourage attendees to push the boundaries
of online creativity.
Flashforward
(www.flashforward2002.com)
Flashforward (whose URL changes depending on the year in which it's
held) is one of the major Flash conferences. It features world-class
sessions and speakers. The conference also hosts the Flash Film Festival,
an entertaining and inspiring evening dedicated to the Web's best motion-graphic
creations.
FlashintheCan
(www.flashinthecan.com)
Flash-Great White North style! Held at the Design Exchange in the beautiful
city of Toronto, FlashintheCan is Canada's first Flash festival. The
festival features seminars, panels, and conferences during the day-and
the ubiquitous Canadian parties in the evening.
Game Developers Conference
(www.gdconf.com)
Although the Game Developers Conference is geared toward traditional
computer-game developers, there is an expanding component that deals
with nontraditional online entertainment (some of which is being authored
with Macromedia Flash and Director).
IdN Fresh
Conference (www.freshconference.com)
The first Fresh Conference was in Hong Kong in February 2001. The Fresh
Conference "aims to inspire, educate, and empower participants
with new ideas and directions, as well as provide a deeper insight into
fast-developing web technology." Visit the conference website to
learn more about dates and locations.
Internet World
(www.internetworld.com)
Internet World is the 800-pound gorilla of web conferences. It not only
features numerous forums on interactive design (including Flash, of
course), but it also boasts many sessions on cutting-edge web technologies.
Macromedia
Conference (www.macromedia.com/v1/conference/)
The best conference if you want all-Macromedia solutions, all the time.
Attendees get four days of intensive instruction on Macromedia Flash,
Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Shockwave, dynamic publishing, and usability
from independent industry stars and the Macromedia development team.
Siggraph
(www.siggraph.org/s2002)
Siggraph is the conference for 3D professionals. Featuring world-class
(and frighteningly professional) papers, panel discussions, workshops,
and gallery exhibits, Siggraph should be on the top of your list if
you want to expand your 3D knowledge and experience.
Flash Sites
The number of online Flash resources can be quite overwhelming. Well,
never fear. This list is a selection of some of the best Flash resources
on the Web:
ActionScript
Toolbox (www.actionscript-toolbox.com)
ActionScript Toolbox is dedicated almost exclusively to ActionScript
(as opposed to more general Flash skills). Included are discussions
and tutorials on variables, objects, and operators.
ActionScript.org
(www.actionscript.org)
This is an excellent online resource that covers all things Flash. You
can interact with other users and developers, download FLA files and
tutorials, and use the site's online ActionScript library, a resource
generated by the user forums.
Artifact
Interactive (www.artifactinteractive.com.au/dev/resources.html)
Artifact Interactive is a multimedia development firm based in Adelaide,
Australia. As dedicated members of the Flash community, it has posted
a series of tutorials and files about Flash development for games and
other kinds of interactive entertainment.
CoolHomePages.com
(www.coolhomepages.com)
Art is not created in a bubble, and Flash movies are no exception. It's
important for everyone in the Flash community to get out on the Web
and see what other developers and designers are doing with the application.
CoolHomePages.com offers galleries of some of the most interesting and
exciting Flash work around. It's a great source for ideas and inspiration
to help push your own projects to new heights.
DoReMedia (www.doremedia.com)
DoReMedia offers a wide array of Sound Families-audio components you
can add to a Flash movie to create flexible, interactive music and sound-effect
tracks with small file sizes. To learn more about creating interactive
soundtracks with DoReMedia Sound Families, see Hands On 6, "Creating
Dynamic Soundtracks with DoReMedia Sound Families."
ExtremeFlash
(www.extremeflash.com)
Although it's not nearly as comprehensive or extensive as Flash Kit,
ExtremeFlash features a moderate number of tutorials.
The Flash
Academy (www.enetserve.com/tutorials)
The Flash Academy site features Flash tutorials, examples, forums, news,
and product reviews.
Flash Kit (www.flashkit.com)
Flash Kit is arguably one of the best Flash resources on the Web. It
features extensive tutorials, open-source FLA files, several excellent
discussion boards, news, product reviews, professional commentary, and
classified ads.
FlashChallenge
(www.flashchallenge.com)
Looking for inspiration and fresh ideas? FlashChallenge lists some of
the best Flash sites on the Web. Here you can see who's hot in the Flash
community and rate the sites you think are best.
Flashcomponents.net
(www.flashcomponents.net)
This is your source for all things related to Components. The site includes
a bevy of downloadable Flash MX Components, as well as tutorials for
creating and distributing Components.
FlashGuru
(www.flashguru.co.uk)
FlashGuru is a resource of resources. It contains tons of information
about ActionScript and a seemingly endless list of links to other Flash-based
sites, sources of inspiration, and information.
Flashmagazine
(www.flashmagazine.com)
Dedicated strictly to Flash, Flashmagazine features topical, in-depth
articles, tutorials, and news.
FlashPlanet
(www.flashplanet.com)
Although not as extensive as Flash Kit, FlashPlanet boasts tutorials,
open-source FLA files, news, articles, and galleries.
Kirupa.com (www.kirupa.com)
Named after its creator, Kirupa Chinnathambi, this site features Flash
news, downloads, tutorials, and forums. It also includes resources for
Flash-related products such as Swift 3D, Swish, and Flix.
The Lab of
Dr. Helmut von Flashenstein (www.vonflashenstein.com)
Flash MX Savvy's official website where Helmut von Flashenstein, the
mad scientist, and his faithful lab assistant Müvie Klip create
all manner of Flash oddities.
Moock.org (www.moock.org)
Colin Moock is one of the most proficient ActionScript gurus in the
world. His site features enormously helpful tutorials and technical
notes.
OpenSWF.org (www.openswf.org)
This is one of the best sources of information for the Flash file format.
Founded by Troy M. Gilbert, the site contains file format specifications,
sample code, links to third-party tools, and more. You can find documentation,
links, and tutorials, as well as other information concerning the SWF
format.
Pope de Flash
(www.popedeflash.com)
Pope de Flash is one of the leading sites for Flash and 3D. You'll find
some useful tutorials, highly innovative and interesting open-source
Flash/3D files, an extensive community of Flash/3D creators, articles,
news, promotions, and the Hit List (the best of the best in Flash/3D).
Proflasher.com
(www.proflasher.com)
This site features tutorials that range from beginning to advanced.
The most interesting aspect of this site is that all its tutorials are
viewlets, a Java-based (in other words, no plug-in required) technology
that creates small, animated movies.
Robertpenner.com
(www.robertpenner.com)
Robert Penner is a freelance Flash developer from Vancouver, Canada.
His site offers a great selection of websites, animations, ActionScript-intensive
Flash experiments, and news about the Flash community.
SoundShopper.com
(www.soundshopper.com)
This site offers a wide range of music clips, loops, sound effects,
and other audio elements for your Flash productions. You can audition
and purchase any of these royalty-free sounds directly from the website.
Ultrashock.com
(www.ultrashock.com)
One of the most comprehensive resource sites on the Web, Ultrashock.com
has it all: tutorials, user forums, downloadable FLA files, articles,
games, cartoons, and on and on.
Software
As you learned throughout this book, several software packages work with
Flash to enhance your amazing creations. This list contains our favorite
manufacturers:
Adobe Systems (www.adobe.com)
If you are interested in using your Flash animations as part of a digital
video, you need to have a video editing application that can realize
the final piece. Adobe Systems manufactures Premiere, a professional-quality
digital video editor that runs on both Macintosh and Windows systems.
Visit the site to download a free trial version and learn more about
the capabilities of Premiere.
Beatnik (www.beatnik.com)
Beatnik provides a means for delivering low-bandwidth music and sound
effects. When used in conjunction with Flash, projects are sometimes
referred to as Flashniks. Visit the website to learn more about Beatnik
or to download the plug-in and listen to Beatnik music.
BIAS (www.bias-inc.com)
Berkley Integrated Audio Software, or BIAS, is the manufacturer of Peak,
a Macintosh-based digital audio editor. BIAS also makes the multi-track
audio application Deck.
Curious Labs
(www.curiouslabs.com)
Curious Labs is the creator of Poser and Poser Pro Pack. The site not
only features extensive news and information about their products, but
it also contains tutorials and trial downloads.
Digidesign
(www.digidesign.com)
Digidesign is the manufacturer of Pro Tools, the industry standard of
multi-track, digital audio editing and mixing applications. Digidesign
makes several versions of Pro Tools. To find one that best suits your
needs and the scope of your Flash audio projects, visit the website.
Discreet (www.discreet.com)
Discreet is the maker of 3ds max, as well as a whole host of other 3D
modeling and postproduction tools. Their site features almost everything
you'd ever want to know about 3ds max.
Electric Rain (www.erain.com)
Electric Rain makes the stand-alone Swift 3D program, as well as the
Swift 3D plug-ins for 3ds max and LightWave. The company's website features
a wealth of information about Swift 3D.
Eovia (www.eovia.com)
Eovia produces both Carrara Studio and Amapi 3D. On the site, you'll
find downloadable updates, as well as some tutorials for Amapi 3D.
Ideaworks3D
(www.ideaworks3d.com)
Ideaworks3D makes the stand-alone Vecta3D program as well as the Vecta3D
plug-in for 3ds max.
Macromedia
(www.macromedia.com)
Hey, you can't get any more relevant than the website of the company
that actually makes Flash. Not only does the Macromedia site have extensive
information on Flash, it's got information on all the other programs
in their pantheon of products.
Maxon Computer (www.maxon.net)
Maxon Computer is the company that makes Cinema 4D. The site not only
features extensive news about their suite of 3D products, but it also
contains a fairly hefty list of tutorials for Cinema 4D.
Sonic Foundry
(www.sonicfoundry.com)
Sonic Foundry is responsible for two of the premiere audio applications
for Windows: Sound Forge and ACID. Many audio resources for Flash developers
are available at the Sonic Foundry site, including audio editing and
creation tools, sound loops, and audio effects packages.
SSEYO Koan (www.sseyo.com)
Koan is a music-making technology that can accommodate audio interactivity,
respond to or cue events in an interactive application, generate music
in real time, and deliver high-quality, low-bandwidth audio files. Communication
between the Koan audio engine and Flash can greatly enhance the audio
interactivity of your movies. Visit the SSEYO site for more details
about Koan.
Design Sites
The Web is full of great, general-interest interactive design resources.
These are the ones we think are among the best:
Computer Arts
(www.computerarts.co.uk)
The Computer Arts site, which is the digital component of the print
magazine of the same name, contains news, product reviews, and extensive
tutorials that cover all sorts of digital design programs (including
Flash).
Builder.com (www.builder.com)
Currently run by CNET, Builder.com has everything under the sun for
the web developer, including discussion boards and lots of great articles
and free scripts.
Sonify.org (www.sonify.org)
This is an excellent resource for those interested in interactive audio
for the Web, wireless applications, Beatnik audio, and, of course, Flash.
The site offers professional articles, tutorials, and discussion boards
that cover a variety of topics related to Flash and Flash development.
WebDeveloper.com
(www.webdeveloper.com)
Here you'll find resources, technical information, daily news, and analytical
features that are essential for the web development community.
Webmonkey (www.webmonkey.com)
Webmonkey features great articles on all sorts of topics, targeted to
all levels from beginner to advanced. A definite must.
Color Section
We've put together a list of all the companies and sites represented
in the color section from the companion text. Along with a synapsis of
each site, this list notes the sites' URL addresses for easy Internet
access:
African
Voices (www.mnh.si.edu/africanvoices)
In this Smithsonian-sponsored website, explore the objects that attest
to Africa's striking diversity and history. Discover your connections
to Africa.
Becoming Human
(www.becominghuman.com)
Looking for something? Welcome to becominghuman.com. This website has
collected a list of resource sites to help you find exactly what you're
looking for.
Camp Chaos (www.campchaos.com)
Archived flash cartoons, animations, movies, downloads, games....absolute
chaos!
Curious Media
(www.curiousmedia.com)
Curious Media is creator Randy Jamison's artistic playground. Currently
a personal venue for experimentation and animation, Curious Media will
eventually be a source for code, download files, and Flash community
projects.
Desktop Image
(www.desktopimage.com)
Desktop Image is dedicated to bringing you the best free images for
your desktop--never any gimmicks, no unwanted surprises. To help contribute
to the collective, artists are invited to supply art and insight through
the website.
digitalorganism
(www.digitalorganism.com)
digitalorganism is a world-class marketing and communications agency
shaping the future of interactive media. Dedicated to development and
education surrounding high-end media, digitalorganism provides an approach
toward involving corporate identity and communication issues.
Djojostudios
(www.djojostudios)
Djojostudios is specialized in web projects like games, gadjets, simulations,
and highly interactive websites. The group uses state-of-the-art tools
to create Internet-ready content, keeping file size low for maximum
benefit to all levels of bandwidth.
Huihui (www.huihui.de)
Huihui is a portal into the gaming world, specializing in Flash-designed
games. Play on-line and off-line games, look for Flash resources, exercise
your inner child for a few minutes.
Moccu (www.moccu.com)
Moccu was founded as a company for outstanding Web design and animation,
bringing together expets in graphic design, illustration, animation,and
programming to provide a one-stop solution for its clients. Specialized
in developing interfaces and applications in Macromedia Flash and Generator,
Moccu has also begun displaying its talents for games and interactive
storytelling.
Once Upon
a Forest (Praystation) (www.once-upon-a-forest.com)
Joshua Davis uses Praystation to experiment with new concepts and image
ideas using Flash and/or DHTML. Many of his most recent works are on
display.
Rustboy (www.rustboy.com)
Rustboy is a Brian Taylor's short film and accompanying website, which
aims to document the production of the film from concept through completion.
Yugop (www.yugop.com)
Flash art, animation, and user-interactivity play together at Yugop.com.
Zanpo (www.zanpo.com)
Zanpo.com is a virtual city and online community. It is an interactive
world where you can explore, chat with others, claim a spot, and build
you own home. Along your journey, you can collect gems that link to
interesting toys, games, and citizens' personal home pages.
Chapter Images
Below is a compilation of links that relate to the images and design
models presented in the book. For more information about the particular
companies or groups represented, or for commentary on particular design
issues related to these images, please refer to thecomanion text and to
the websites noted here:
Blast Radius
(www.blastradius.com)
Braincraft (www.braincraft.com)
DC Studios (www.dchiang.com)
DESTROY
EVERYTHING (www.abnormalbehaviorchild.com)
Eugene Mirman
(www.eugenemirman.com)
Michael Schuster Associates
(www.msaarch.com)
Nick.com
Beatmixer (www.nick.com/music/beatmixer/index.jhtml)
Nineteen Point Five Collective
(www.npfc.org)
Niko
Stumpo (www.abnormalbehaviorchild.com)
No Copy (www.nocopy.com)
Opt1mus (www.opt1mus.com)
Pianographique
(www.pianographique.com)
Phireworx (www.phireworx.com)
Radiskull
& Devil Doll (http://joesparks.shockwave.com/)
The Remedi
Project (www.theremediproject.com)
Studio van Schaik
(www.schaik.net)
THUNKdesign
(www.thunkdesign.com)
Titoonic (www.titoonic.dk)
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