Flash + After Effects, Second Edition: Add Broadcast Features to Your Flash Designs

309 Pages·2010·132.94 MB·English

by  Chris Jackson

2nd Edition
Add Broadcast Features
to Your Flash Designs
Chris Jackson
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ISBN: 978-0-240-81351-6
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Printed in the United States of America
Introduction
Flash Designers: Take your projects to the next
level with After Effects’ robust toolset. You are
about to take a journey that combines these
two powerhouse applications. Enter the world
of Adobe After Effects. Welcome aboard.
22What2Is2This2Book2About?22...............................................viii
22Who2Is2This2Book2For?22.....................................................2ix
22 Book2Structure2and2Layout2Conventions22...........................2ix
22About2the2Author22.............................................................2xi
22Acknowledgements22..........................................................2xi
22 For2Instructors22.................................................................2xii
22Credits22............................................................................2xii
What Is This Book About?
This2book2will2help2Flash2animators2and2designers2understand2how2After2
Effects2integrates2with2Flash.2Both2programs2are2becoming2tightly2interwoven2
together2with2every2product2update.2Flash2provides2a2creative2web2tool2for2
animation2and2interactivity.2After2Effects2provides2an2easy-to-use2application2for2
creating2visual2effects2and2motion2graphics.2With2the2ubiquity2of2video2on2the2
web,2Flash2animators2and2designers2are2jumping2on2the2bandwagon2using22
After2Effects2to2add2broadcast2features2to2their2Flash2projects.2
Why2would2someone2who2uses2Flash2care2about2After2Effects?2After2Effects2
provides2many2features2and2effects2that2can2not2only2enhance2Flash2projects2
but2save2on2development2time2because2of2how2these2two2applications2are2
integrated.2After2Effects2implements2a2variety2of2ways2to2create2video2with2
alpha,2animate2graphics2in22D2or23D2space,2and2then2export2the2animation2with2
a2transparent2background,2as2well2as2apply2a2variety2of2effects2and2presets2that2
help2differentiate2a2Flash2designer’s2work.
For2Flash2animators,2After2Effects2takes2their2project2to2the2next2level2in22D2
animation.2It2provides2Flash2animators2with2an2assortment2of2visual2effects2
that2are2rather2difficult2or2next2to2impossible2to2achieve2in2Flash.2Within2After2
Effects,2these2complex2effects2can2be2applied2through2a2simple2drag-and-drop2
interaction.2After2Effects2incorporates2character2animation2tools2(parenting2and2
puppets)2that2easily2hinge2and2animate2multilayered2artwork.2After2Effects2also2
incorporates2a23D2engine,2allowing2animators2to2add2depth2to2their2backgrounds.
After2Effects2is2an2excellent2tool2to2prepare2your2Flash2animation2for2broadcast.2
This2book2covers2the2technical2requirements2you2need2to2be2aware2of2in2video2
production.2You2will2explore2the2world2of2broadcast2design2and2learn2the2basics2
in2setting2proper2frame2size2and2frame2rates,2pixel2aspect2ratios,2Title2and2Action2
Safe2areas,2and2color2management.
Digital2video2no2longer2has2to2be2linear.2Flash2designers2can2use2ActionScript2to2
control2video2playback.2Cue2points2can2be2added2to2the2video2that2allow2users2
to2jump2to2certain2frames2(similar2to2DVD2chapters).2These2cue2points2can2also2
trigger2other2events2or2animations2in2the2published2Flash2file.2Flash2supports2
alpha2channels2in2digital2video.2This2feature2can2enhance2Flash2games2and2
instructional2content.2
A2Flash2user2needs2to2know2more2about2After2Effects,2its2features,2and2what2
they2can2do2with2them2to2enhance2their2Flash2projects.2That2is2what2this2book2
addresses.2The2book’s2objective2is2to2bridge2the2two2applications2and2clearly2
demonstrate2how2Flash2and2After2Effects2can2be2integrated2to2produce2enriched2
content2for2the2web,2CD/DVD,2and2broadcast.2
viii2 Introduction
Who Is This Book For?
The2primary2audience2for2this2book2is2Flash2animators2and2designers.2These2
Flash2users2can2be2professionals2in2the2workforce,2students,2or2anyone2interested2
in2creatively2enhancing2their2Flash2projects.2This2book2assumes2that2readers2have2
prior2Flash2experience.2They2should2have2a2working2knowledge2of2the2Flash2
workspace2and2an2understanding2of2animation2concepts2and2basic2ActionScript.2
The2book2provides2an2introduction2to2After2Effects,2its2workspace,2and2tools.2
The2book2does2not2necessarily2show2the2reader2what2all2the2tools2do;2rather,2it2
shows2how2to2use2them2to2enrich2Flash2animation2and2interactive2projects.2Flash2
is2everywhere2and2with2the2enhanced2video2capabilities2present2in2the2new2
versions2of2Flash2Player,2showcasing2After2Effects2content2using2Flash2is2the2best2
way2to2go.2
Regardless2of2how2a2reader2approaches2this2book,2using2After2Effects2to2
enhance2Flash2content2is2growing2in2popularity.2This2book2teaches2readers2how2
to2think2creatively2and2get2excited2about2animation2and2visual2effects2in2their2
Flash2projects.2It2clearly2illustrates2how2these2two2applications2complement2each2
other2and2help2raise2the2design2bar2for2web,2CD/DVD,2and2broadcast.
Book Structure and Layout Conventions
Flash + After Effects2is2designed2to2walk2the2reader2through2project-based2
exercises2that2effectively2use2Flash2and2After2Effects.2The2exercises2have2been2
updated2to2include2new2features2in2CS5.2Almost2all2of2the2exercise2files2have2
been2saved2in2the2CS42format2to2accommodate2CS42users.2
To2use2this2book,2you2need2to2install2either2CS42or2CS52versions2of2Flash2and2
After2Effects2on2either2your2Macintosh2or2Windows2computer.2If2you2do2not2
have2a2licensed2copy,2you2can2download2fully2functional2time-limited2trial2
versions2on2Adobe’s2website2(www.adobe.com).
The2book’s2structure2falls2into2two2sections.2The2first2section2discusses2how22
the2two2applications2can2work2together2in2unison.2Chapter212introduces2you22
to2After2Effects,2its2workspace2and2workflow.2As2you2build2a2typical2After2Effects2
project,2comparisons2are2made2between2Flash2and2After2Effects.2Chapters2222
and232illustrate2how2to2seamlessly2import2and2export2raster2and2vector2
animation2from2each2application.2A2video2primer2is2provided2as2you2journey22
into2broadcast2design.
The2second2section2of2the2book2explores2visual2effects2and2animation2techniques2
involved2in2using2both2applications2together.2You2will2learn2about2using2
alpha2channels2for2keying2and2enhancing2interactivity.2Chapter262puts2vector2
Who2Is2This2Book2For?2 ix
animation2to2work2using2text2layers2and2animation2presets.2In2Chapter272you2will2
create23D2backgrounds2with2cameras2and2lights.2Chapter282provides2a2lot2of2fun2
animating2characters2with2bones,2parenting,2and2the2Puppet2Tool.2
After2Effects2is2the2industry2standard2when2it2comes2to2visual2effects.2You2
will2see2why2this2is2true2in2Chapter29.2You2must2not2forget2audio.2It2plays2an2
important2role2in2your2Flash2animation2and2Chapter210.2The2last2chapter2also2
discusses2optimization2and2publishing2tips2and2techniques.2
Chapter2exercises2consist2of2practical2applications2as2well2as2experimental2
projects.2Each2exercise2provides2step-by-step2instructions2and2tips2for2the2reader2
to2use2in2conceptualizing2and2visualizing2creative2solutions2to2their2own2Flash2
and2After2Effects2projects.2Videos2used2have2been2created2in2the2NTSC2format.
To2help2you2get2the2most2out2of2this2book,2let’s2look2at2the2layout2conventions2
used2in2the2chapters.
3 Words in bold2refer2to2keywords,2names2of2files,2folders,2layers,2or2compositions.
32 Menu2selections2are2presented2like2this:2Effect > Simulation > Shatter.
32 Code2blocks2in2Flash2are2separated2from2the2text2like2this:
// import Flash packages
import fl.video.*;
import fl.controls.ProgressBarMode;
32 Icons2are2used2throughout2the2book.2Here2is2a2brief2explanation2of22
what2they2are2and2what2they2mean.
2 Download Source Files:2The2source2files2for2this2book2are2available22 2
2 to2readers2at2http://booksite.focalpress.com/companion/jackson.
2 Note:2Supplemental2information2to2the2text2that2sheds2a2light2on2a2
2 procedure2or2offers2miscellaneous2options2available2to2you.
2 Caution:2Warnings2that2you2need2to2read.
2 New CS5 Feature:2When2possible,2an2alternative2method2
2 is2provided2for2CS42users.
All2of2the2footage,2source2code,2and2files2are2provided2to2readers2at2the22
following2URL:2http://booksite.focalpress.com/companion/jackson.2Each2
chapter2has2its2own2compressed2(zip)2file.2Inside2each2chapter2folder2you2will22
find2the2material2needed2to2complete2each2exercise.2Completed2versions2for22
every2exercise2are2provided.2As2you2work2through2the2chapter’s2exercises,2you22
can2choose2to2manually2build2the2project2or2review2the2finished2example.
x2 Introduction
All2of2the2material2inside2this2book2and2accompanying2digital2files2is2copyright2
protected.2They2are2included2only2for2your2learning2and2experimentation.2
Please2respect2the2copyrights.2I2encourage2you2to2use2your2own2artwork2and2
experiment2with2each2exercise.2This2is2not2an2exact2science.2The2specific2values2
given2in2this2book2are2suggestions.2The2ActionScript2is2used2to2provide22
a2solution.2If2you2know2of2a2different2method,2by2all2means,2use2it.
About the Author
Chris Jackson2is2a2computer2graphics2designer2and2tenured2professor2at2
Rochester2Institute2of2Technology2(RIT).2He2teaches2a2variety2of2graduate-2
level2courses2including22D2Computer2Animation,23D2Computer2Graphics,2
Instructional2Multimedia,2and2Motion2Graphics.2Before2joining2the2RIT2faculty,2
Chris2was2a2new2media2designer2with2the2Eastman2Kodak2Company,2creating22
and2delivering2online2instructional2training2via2the2web2and2CD-ROM.2
Chris’2professional2work2has2received2over2252distinguished2national2and2
international2awards2for2online2communication.2His2areas2of2research2include2
user’s2experience2design,22D2character2animation,2digital2storytelling,2and2
interactive2design2for2children.2Chris2continues2to2publish2and2present2his2
research2and2professional2work2at2Adobe2MAX,2UCDA2Education2Summit,22
TypeCon,2SIGGRAPH,2and2the2Society2for2Technical2Communication2(STC).2
Chris2is2author2of2Flash Cinematic Techniques: Enhancing Animated Shorts
and Interactive Storytelling (Focal2Press,22010),2Flash + After Effects2(Focal2
Press,2February,22008)2and2co-author2of2Flash 3D: Animation, Interactivity
and Games2(Focal2Press,2October22006).2His2books2have2been2translated2into2
foreign2languages.
He2continues2to2be2a2Flash2animator,2designer,2developer,2and2consultant2for2
worldwide2corporations2and2nonprofit2organizations.2He2lectures2and2conducts2
workshops2relating2to2interactive2design2and2Flash2animation.2
Acknowledgements
This2book2is2dedicated2to2my2wife,2Justine.2Thank2you2for2all2your2unconditional2
love2and2the2constant2support.2I2love2you2with2all2my2heart.
This2book2is2for2my2parents,2Roger2and2Glenda.2Thank2you2for2your2inspiration2
and2encouragement2for2me2to2become2an2artist.2You2made2it2possible2for2me2to2
fulfill2my2dreams.2I2love2you2both.
I2owe2a2debt2of2gratitude2to2all2at2Focal2Press,2but2especially2Paul2Temme2and2
Anais2Wheeler.2Thank2you2for2all2your2support2and2advice2in2enabling2me2to2
bring2this2second2edition2to2print.
About2the2Author2 xi
Special2thanks2goes2to2my2Computer2Graphics2Design2students2at2the2Rochester2
Institute2of2Technology,2especially2Darryl2Marshall,2Scott2Bessey,2and2Steve2Gallo.2
Thank2you2for2finding2the2time2from2all2of2your2assignments2and2thesis2projects2
to2help2me2with2this2book.
Some2of2the2images2and2stock2footage2used2in2this2book2are2from2the2following2
royalty-free2sources:2www.istockphoto.com2and2Artbeats2(www.artbeats.com).2
Special2thanks2to2Kevin2Poll2of2iStock2International2Inc.,2and2Julie2Hill2of2Artbeats2
for2assisting2me2in2acquiring2footage2to2use2in2this2book.
For Instructors
Flash + After Effects2provides2hands-on2exercises2that2demonstrate2core2
features2in2Flash2and2After2Effects.2As2an2instructor,2I2know2you2appreciate2the2
hard2work2and2effort2that2goes2into2creating2lessons2and2examples2for2your2
courses.2I2hope2you2find2the2information2and2exercises2useful2and2can2adapt2it22
for2your2own2classes.
All2that2I2ask2is2for2your2help2and2cooperation2in2protecting2the2copyrights2of2
this2book.2If2an2instructor2or2student2distributes2copies2of2the2source2files2to2
anyone2who2has2not2purchased2the2book,2that2violates2the2copyright2protection.2
Reproducing2pages2from2this2book2or2duplicating2any2part2of2the2source2files2is2
also2a2copyright2infringement.2If2you2own2the2book,2you2can2adapt2the2exercises2
using2your2own2footage2and2artwork2without2infringing2copyright.
Thank2you2for2your2cooperation!
Credits
The2following2stock2images2were2provided2for2this2book:2
3 Portrait of Red Haired Girl,2photo2courtesy2of2iStockphoto,2
Nadezhda2Kulagina,2Image2#4367558
3 Window of Opportunity,2photo2courtesy2of2iStockphoto,2
Paul2Kline,2Image2#3013679
3 Big City,2illustration2courtesy2of2iStockphoto,2
Boris2Zaytsev,2Image2#2749388
The2following2stock2footage2was2provided2for2this2book:2
3 ReelExplosions 2,2footage2courtesy2of2Artbeats,2#RE222
3 ReelFire 1,2footage2courtesy2of2Artbeats,2#RF107
3 ReelFire 2,2footage2courtesy2of2Artbeats,2#RF215
xii2 Introduction
Chapter 1
Getting Started in After Effects
As your journey towards integrating Flash and
After Effects begins, you first need to understand
the similarities and differences between the two
applications. This chapter introduces After Effects
and compares its project workflow to Flash.
22 Project2Workflow2...............................................................22
22Creating2a2Project22.............................................................. 4
22Setting2Keyframes2.............................................................13
22Applying2Effects2...............................................................28
22 Rendering2a2Project22.........................................................233
© 2010 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
doi: 10.1016/B978-0-240-81351-6.50001-X