How to Animate in Flash - Video Tutorial for Beginners
For more tutorials on how to animate in Flash, you can visit flashpotential.com.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
How to Animate in Flash - A simple step-by-step video tutorial
Flash is an excellent program developed by Adobe that can be used to create animation projects. It's got a comprehensive set of tools that allow you to draw, color, shade, and animate your artwork. You can create something as simple as a stick figure animation, or something more complex. This makes Flash a great program for both novice animators and seasoned pros. If you're just starting out with this program, and you would like to learn how to animate in Flash, check out the video tutorial below. It shows you a very basic animation example, teaching you some fundamental Flash concepts along the way. The simple animation example makes it easy for anyone to follow. You'll learn how to draw using the brush tool, and how to add keyframes in order to create your Flash animation. The tutorial is short, clear, and straight-to-the-point. So if you're ready to start learning how to animate in Flash, just click on the play button.
For more tutorials on how to animate in Flash, you can visit flashpotential.com.
For more tutorials on how to animate in Flash, you can visit flashpotential.com.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Creating a Simple Volume Bar in Flash
In this tutorial, we'll learn how to create a simple volume bar in Flash. We'll create a rectangle that grows bigger or smaller whenever we click on the volume buttons.
Step 1
Use the rectangle tool to draw a vertical bar. This will be our volume bar.
Step 2
Convert the bar into a Movie Clip symbol.
Step 3
In the properties inspector, give it an instance name. I'm going to name it volBar.
Step 4
Double-click on the volume bar on the stage to go inside its timeline.
Step 5
Inside the volume bar movie clip's timeline, insert another keyframe on frame 2. Then insert another keyframe on frame 11. So you should have 3 keyframes.
Step 6
Select the first keyframe, then delete the rectangle on the stage. So now, the first keyframe should be blank.
Why did we make this a blank keyframe?
This frame will be used to represent a volume level of 0, which is why we're making it empty.
Why do we have 11 frames in total?
There's no specific reason for this. You can add or remove more frames if you want. The more frames you have, then the more volume levels you can represent.
Step 7
Select the second keyframe. Then right click on the rectangle shape on the stage and choose Free Transform. Then scale the rectangle down until it's about 10% of its original size.
Step 8
Right-click anywhere in between frames 2 and 11, and choose Create Shape Tween. If you test the movie, you should see the animated bar growing and then disappearing and then growing again repeatedly. We'll be fixing that later when we add the ActionScript code.
Step 9
Go back to the main timeline by clicking on the Scene 1 link in the edit bar.
NOTE: When you go back to the main timeline, the volume bar will disappear. That's ok. It really should disappear because the first keyframe of the volume bar is empty.
Step 10
Create and add 2 button symbol instances on the stage. One will be used as the volume bar increase button, the other will be the volume bar decrease button. Make sure to give them instance names in the properties inspector. I will name them volUp_btn and volDown_btn.
Step 11
Let's add the ActionScript. Create a new layer and name it Actions. Then make sure that layer is selected and then open up the Actions panel.
Step 12
First, we must make the volume bar movie clip animation stop by adding this line:
Step 13
Next, let's add the event listeners for the buttons so that we can click on them and make the volume bar go up or down. In one of the previous steps, I named the buttons volUp_btn and volDown_btn. For the event listener functions, I will name them volUp and volDown.
Step 14
When we click on the buttons, we either want to move forward or backward through the frames inside the volume bar movie clip, which I've named volBar. The way our animation is made, moving forward makes the volume bar bigger, so it would make sense to move forward in the animation if we want the volume bar to increase. And then moving backwards would be used to do the opposite. To move forward to the next frame of a movie clip, we can use the nextFrame() method of the MovieClip class. To move back, we can use the prevFrame() method. So in the volUp event listener function, we should use nextFrame(). And in the volDown function, we should use prevFrame(). So go back to the event listener functions and add the following lines:
So now, this means that whenever we click on volUp_btn, the volBar movie clip will move to the next frame of the animation nested inside it. And if we click on volDown_btn, it will go back to the previous frame of the animation nested inside it.
Step 15
Test the movie. You should now be able to click on the buttons and make the volume bar go up or down.
And that concludes this tutorial. For the tutorial on controlling the actual sound volume, go here.
Step 1
Use the rectangle tool to draw a vertical bar. This will be our volume bar.
Step 2
Convert the bar into a Movie Clip symbol.
Step 3
In the properties inspector, give it an instance name. I'm going to name it volBar.
Step 4
Double-click on the volume bar on the stage to go inside its timeline.
Step 5
Inside the volume bar movie clip's timeline, insert another keyframe on frame 2. Then insert another keyframe on frame 11. So you should have 3 keyframes.
Step 6
Select the first keyframe, then delete the rectangle on the stage. So now, the first keyframe should be blank.
Why did we make this a blank keyframe?
This frame will be used to represent a volume level of 0, which is why we're making it empty.
Why do we have 11 frames in total?
There's no specific reason for this. You can add or remove more frames if you want. The more frames you have, then the more volume levels you can represent.
Step 7
Select the second keyframe. Then right click on the rectangle shape on the stage and choose Free Transform. Then scale the rectangle down until it's about 10% of its original size.
Step 8
Right-click anywhere in between frames 2 and 11, and choose Create Shape Tween. If you test the movie, you should see the animated bar growing and then disappearing and then growing again repeatedly. We'll be fixing that later when we add the ActionScript code.
Step 9
Go back to the main timeline by clicking on the Scene 1 link in the edit bar.
NOTE: When you go back to the main timeline, the volume bar will disappear. That's ok. It really should disappear because the first keyframe of the volume bar is empty.
Step 10
Create and add 2 button symbol instances on the stage. One will be used as the volume bar increase button, the other will be the volume bar decrease button. Make sure to give them instance names in the properties inspector. I will name them volUp_btn and volDown_btn.
Step 11
Let's add the ActionScript. Create a new layer and name it Actions. Then make sure that layer is selected and then open up the Actions panel.
Step 12
First, we must make the volume bar movie clip animation stop by adding this line:
volBar.stop();Step 13
Next, let's add the event listeners for the buttons so that we can click on them and make the volume bar go up or down. In one of the previous steps, I named the buttons volUp_btn and volDown_btn. For the event listener functions, I will name them volUp and volDown.
volUp_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, volUp);
volDown_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, volDown);
function volUp(e:MouseEvent):void
{
}
function volDown(e:MouseEvent):void
{
}Step 14
When we click on the buttons, we either want to move forward or backward through the frames inside the volume bar movie clip, which I've named volBar. The way our animation is made, moving forward makes the volume bar bigger, so it would make sense to move forward in the animation if we want the volume bar to increase. And then moving backwards would be used to do the opposite. To move forward to the next frame of a movie clip, we can use the nextFrame() method of the MovieClip class. To move back, we can use the prevFrame() method. So in the volUp event listener function, we should use nextFrame(). And in the volDown function, we should use prevFrame(). So go back to the event listener functions and add the following lines:
function volUp(e:MouseEvent):void
{
volBar.nextFrame();
}
function volDown(e:MouseEvent):void
{
volBar.prevFrame();
}So now, this means that whenever we click on volUp_btn, the volBar movie clip will move to the next frame of the animation nested inside it. And if we click on volDown_btn, it will go back to the previous frame of the animation nested inside it.
Step 15
Test the movie. You should now be able to click on the buttons and make the volume bar go up or down.
And that concludes this tutorial. For the tutorial on controlling the actual sound volume, go here.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
AutoCAD 2011 Online Training Videos for Beginners - Free Video Tutorials
Check out these AutoCAD 2011 online training videos for beginners. In AutoCAD 2011 Essential Training, teacher and expert Jeff Cartels teaches you AutoCAD 2011 from the ground up. You'll start off with the basics - looking at the interface, getting to know the tools and how to use them, creating simple shapes, etc... And then you'll move on to modifying geometry to create more complex designs, annotating drawings and preparing them for construction, using the AutoCAD 2011 dimensioning tools, and more! The great thing about this course is that it teaches you the fundamentals and is industry neutral. You can take what you learn and apply it to any discipline.
Below you will find some free video tutorials from this excellent AutoCAD 2011 online training course. There are more informative videos in this 6-hour course, which you can access in full by signing up for a lynda.com membership. Lynda.com is an excellent online training provider of high-quality software video training and tutorials. As a special promotion, you can access the entire lynda.com training library, including this AutoCAD 2011 online training course, by signing up for a free 7-day trial pass.
Below you will find some free video tutorials from this excellent AutoCAD 2011 online training course. There are more informative videos in this 6-hour course, which you can access in full by signing up for a lynda.com membership. Lynda.com is an excellent online training provider of high-quality software video training and tutorials. As a special promotion, you can access the entire lynda.com training library, including this AutoCAD 2011 online training course, by signing up for a free 7-day trial pass.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
How to use Access 2010 - Tutorials for Beginners
If you're interested in learning how to use Access 2010, take a look at these very helpful MS Access 2010 tutorials for beginners. These videos are from Access 2010 Essential Training from lynda.com. In this course, Microsoft Certified Expert Alicia Katz Pollock gives a comprehensive overview of creating databases in Access 2010. You'll learn how to build an Access database from scratch - including tables, queries, reports, and macros. Whether you're new to Access or have been using it for years, you'll learn some excellent tips and strategies for effective database design. The videos below are just a few of the videos from the training course. To access the entire course, you can sign up for a lynda.com membership or you can try it out first with a free 7-day trial pass. The trial pass gives you full access to the entire lynda.com training library of over 1000 courses.
What is Photography? - Online Photography Classes with Free 7-day Trial
What is photography? In simple terms, it is the art of taking pictures. But beyond that, photography is much more complex, involving different elements that are technical and artistic. There's lighting, exposure, composition, etc...
So how can we truly learn what photography is? For me, the best way to learn is by doing. So in this page, I've collected a few excellent and well-made photography tutorials to help you get started on learning what photography is. You can follow along with these tutorials using your own digital camera. These free video tutorials are from different online photography classes from lynda.com - one of the best online training providers in the web today. These online photography classes range from the beginners to the intermediate levels.
So how can we truly learn what photography is? For me, the best way to learn is by doing. So in this page, I've collected a few excellent and well-made photography tutorials to help you get started on learning what photography is. You can follow along with these tutorials using your own digital camera. These free video tutorials are from different online photography classes from lynda.com - one of the best online training providers in the web today. These online photography classes range from the beginners to the intermediate levels.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Online Training Courses with a Free 7-day Trial
I've rounded up some excellent Photoshop CS5 online training courses from the web. These courses are self-paced, video-based training titles that you can access 24/7. And they range from beginner to advanced level training. Below, you'll find video introductions for each course. And as a special promotion, our visitors can get a free 7-day trial pass to gain full access to every single course listed below.
These video training courses are from lynda.com - one of the best training sites in the web today. They have over 1000+ training courses on I.T., programming, multimedia, photography, home computing, business, and more! They get the best experts, and they come out with new training titles on a regular basis. A single membership for as little as $25 gives you one month of full access to their entire training library.
What are the benefits of taking online video training courses?
With online video training courses, you can work at your own pace from the comfort of your own home. You get to see exactly what the author is doing on his or her computer as you watch on your own screen, and you can pause and rewind to suit your desired training pace. With a lynda.com membership, you can access their training library anytime, so it's much easier on your busy schedule.
or 
Photoshop CS5 Essential Training
Level: Beginner
Get started with Photoshop CS5 in Photoshop CS5 Essential Training. In this Photoshop CS5 online training course, author Michael Ninness demonstrates how to produce the highest quality images with fantastic detail in the shortest amount of time, using a combination of Photoshop CS5, Adobe Bridge, and Camera Raw. This course shows the most efficient ways to perform common editing tasks, including noise reduction, shadow and highlight detail recovery, retouching, and combining multiple images. Along the way, Michael shares the secrets of non-destructive editing, utilizing and mastering Adobe Bridge, Camera Raw, layers, adjustment layers, blending modes, layer masks, and much more.
Photoshp CS5 One-on-One: Fundamentals
Level: Beginner
In Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Fundamentals, author and Photoshop expert Deke McLelland will walk you through Photoshop as if in a classroom environment with just you and him. In this Photoshop CS5 online training course, he'll teach you the essential topics - everything you need to know to get started with Photoshop. Topics include: Adobe Bridge, Zooming and Scrolling, Resolution, Cropping and Straightening Images, Color Correction, Photo Retouching, Layers, Printing, Saving for the Web, and more!
Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Advanced
Level: Intermediate
Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Advanced, the second part of the popular and comprehensive series, updated for CS5, follows internationally renowned Photoshop guru Deke McClelland as he dives into the workings of Photoshop. In this Photoshop CS5 online training course, he explores such digital-age wonders as the Levels and Curves commands, edge-detection filters, advanced compositing techniques, vector-based text, the Liquify filter, and Camera Raw. Deke also teaches tried-and-true methods for sharpening details, smoothing over wrinkles and imperfections, and enhancing colors without harming the original image.
Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Mastery
Level: Advanced
In Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Mastery, author and Photoshop expert Deke McClelland will take you through Photoshop CS5's most mysterious features - ones that you are least likely to learn through trial and error, but are also the ones that are most likely to have the most profound effect on the quality of your work. In this Photoshop CS5 online training course, you'll learn how to become more efficient at Photoshop CS5, and how to make your artwork look more impeccable. Topics include: The Pen Tool, Masking, Blend Modes, Smart Objects and Smart Filters, Bristle and Mixer Brushes, HDR Pro, Recording Actions, Batch Processing Images, and more!
So if you are ready to start with these Photoshop CS5 online training courses, sign up for a lynda.com membership today. A single membership gives you access to all these courses listed above, as well as all the other 1000+ courses in the lynda.com training library.
or
These video training courses are from lynda.com - one of the best training sites in the web today. They have over 1000+ training courses on I.T., programming, multimedia, photography, home computing, business, and more! They get the best experts, and they come out with new training titles on a regular basis. A single membership for as little as $25 gives you one month of full access to their entire training library.
What are the benefits of taking online video training courses?
With online video training courses, you can work at your own pace from the comfort of your own home. You get to see exactly what the author is doing on his or her computer as you watch on your own screen, and you can pause and rewind to suit your desired training pace. With a lynda.com membership, you can access their training library anytime, so it's much easier on your busy schedule.
START LEARNING TODAY!
or ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS5 ONLINE TRAINING COURSES
Photoshop CS5 Essential Training
Level: Beginner
Get started with Photoshop CS5 in Photoshop CS5 Essential Training. In this Photoshop CS5 online training course, author Michael Ninness demonstrates how to produce the highest quality images with fantastic detail in the shortest amount of time, using a combination of Photoshop CS5, Adobe Bridge, and Camera Raw. This course shows the most efficient ways to perform common editing tasks, including noise reduction, shadow and highlight detail recovery, retouching, and combining multiple images. Along the way, Michael shares the secrets of non-destructive editing, utilizing and mastering Adobe Bridge, Camera Raw, layers, adjustment layers, blending modes, layer masks, and much more.
Click the link above to go to the course details page.
You'll find more information about the course, and some free sample videos.
Photoshp CS5 One-on-One: Fundamentals
Level: Beginner
In Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Fundamentals, author and Photoshop expert Deke McLelland will walk you through Photoshop as if in a classroom environment with just you and him. In this Photoshop CS5 online training course, he'll teach you the essential topics - everything you need to know to get started with Photoshop. Topics include: Adobe Bridge, Zooming and Scrolling, Resolution, Cropping and Straightening Images, Color Correction, Photo Retouching, Layers, Printing, Saving for the Web, and more!
Click the link above to go to the course details page.
You'll find more information about the course, and some free sample videos.
Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Advanced
Level: Intermediate
Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Advanced, the second part of the popular and comprehensive series, updated for CS5, follows internationally renowned Photoshop guru Deke McClelland as he dives into the workings of Photoshop. In this Photoshop CS5 online training course, he explores such digital-age wonders as the Levels and Curves commands, edge-detection filters, advanced compositing techniques, vector-based text, the Liquify filter, and Camera Raw. Deke also teaches tried-and-true methods for sharpening details, smoothing over wrinkles and imperfections, and enhancing colors without harming the original image.
Click the link above to go to the course details page.
You'll find more information about the course, and some free sample videos.
Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Mastery
Level: Advanced
In Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Mastery, author and Photoshop expert Deke McClelland will take you through Photoshop CS5's most mysterious features - ones that you are least likely to learn through trial and error, but are also the ones that are most likely to have the most profound effect on the quality of your work. In this Photoshop CS5 online training course, you'll learn how to become more efficient at Photoshop CS5, and how to make your artwork look more impeccable. Topics include: The Pen Tool, Masking, Blend Modes, Smart Objects and Smart Filters, Bristle and Mixer Brushes, HDR Pro, Recording Actions, Batch Processing Images, and more!
Click the link above to go to the course details page.
You'll find more information about the course, and some free sample videos.
So if you are ready to start with these Photoshop CS5 online training courses, sign up for a lynda.com membership today. A single membership gives you access to all these courses listed above, as well as all the other 1000+ courses in the lynda.com training library.
START LEARNING TODAY!
or Monday, January 2, 2012
Learn Revit 2012 Training Videos
Here are some excellent Revit 2012 training videos for those of you who want to learn Revit 2012. Revit 2012 is an amazing building design and documentation system created by Autodesk. Just click on the video links below to start watching the training videos. You'll learn about the typical drawing tools, how to set up levels, how to import CAD files, and more! These are from the Autodesk Revit Architecture 2012 Training Course by the VTC Online University. You can go to VTC.com to check out more of the training courses that they offer.
Interface Overview
More on the Interface
Terminology
Starting and Saving Projects
Viewing Commands
Practice Viewing
Practice View Tools
Drawing Aids
Editing Elements
Walls and Doors
Typical Modifying Tools
More Modify Tools
Practice Modify Tools
Practice Levels
Importing CAD Files
Structural Grids
Adding Columns
Practice Grids and Columns
Modifying Walls
Properties
Exterior Shell
Aligning Elements
Parapet and Wall Type
Offsetting Elements
Split / Trim / Extend
Adding Interior Walls
Add More Interior Walls
Modifying Doors and Windows
Loading Types
Creating Additional Sizes
Practice Doors and Windows
Second Floor Doors
Add and Copy Windows
Adding Curtain Grids
Modifying Curtain Grids
Curtain Wall Panels
Create a Curtain Wall Panel
Curtain Grid Mullions
Practice Curtain Walls
Practice Mullions
Practice Door in Storefront
Callout Views
View Display Setup
Practice Duplicate Views
Callouts and Graphic Overrides
Practice Foundations and Footings
Elevations
Sections
Practice Exterior Elevations
Practice Interior Elevations
Practice Sections
Modifying Floors
Shaft Openings
Sloped Floors
Practice Create Floors
Practice Balconies
Copy Floors and Cleanup Connections
Practice Shaft Openings
Modifying Components
Practice Lobby Furniture
Practice More Components
Sketching and Modifying Ceilings
Ceiling Soffits and Fixtures
Practice Reflected Ceiling Plans
Practice Ceilings and Soffits
Practice Roofs by Footprint
Practice Roof on Poolhouse
Reference Planes and Work Planes
Roofs by Extrusion
Wall and Roof Intersections
Practice Roofs by Extrusion
Stair Properties
Custom Stairs
Creating Ramps
Railings
Practice First Floor Stairs
Practice Upper Floor Stairs
Practice Stand-Alone Railings
Views on Sheets
Modify Views on Sheets
Practice Construction Documents
Practice Setup-n-Add Views to Sheets
Printing Sheets
Modifying Dimensions
Practice Adding Dimensions
Working with Text
Detail Lines and Symbols
Annotate Construction Documents
Learn Revit 2012 to increase your skills. If you enjoyed these Revit 2012 training videos and you would like to view the entire training course, become a VTC.com member today!
Introduction
Intro to BIMInterface Overview
More on the Interface
Terminology
Starting and Saving Projects
Viewing Commands
Practice Viewing
Practice View Tools
Drawing and Editing Tools
Typical Drawing ToolsDrawing Aids
Editing Elements
Walls and Doors
Typical Modifying Tools
More Modify Tools
Practice Modify Tools
Levels and Grids
Setting Up LevelsPractice Levels
Importing CAD Files
Structural Grids
Adding Columns
Practice Grids and Columns
This training course has 7 hours worth of video tutorials. If you'd like to view the rest of those videos in this training course, sign up for a VTC.com membership.
Visit VTC.com to learn more about their training courses.
Intro to Walls
Drawing WallsModifying Walls
Properties
Exterior Shell
Aligning Elements
Parapet and Wall Type
Offsetting Elements
Split / Trim / Extend
Adding Interior Walls
Add More Interior Walls
Doors and Windows
Adding Doors and WindowsModifying Doors and Windows
Loading Types
Creating Additional Sizes
Practice Doors and Windows
Second Floor Doors
Add and Copy Windows
Curtain Walls
Creating Curtain WallsAdding Curtain Grids
Modifying Curtain Grids
Curtain Wall Panels
Create a Curtain Wall Panel
Curtain Grid Mullions
Practice Curtain Walls
Practice Mullions
Practice Door in Storefront
Views
Duplicating ViewsCallout Views
View Display Setup
Practice Duplicate Views
Callouts and Graphic Overrides
Practice Foundations and Footings
Elevations
Sections
Practice Exterior Elevations
Practice Interior Elevations
Practice Sections
Floors
Creating FloorsModifying Floors
Shaft Openings
Sloped Floors
Practice Create Floors
Practice Balconies
Copy Floors and Cleanup Connections
Practice Shaft Openings
Components
Adding ComponentsModifying Components
Practice Lobby Furniture
Practice More Components
Reflected Ceiling
Creating CeilingsSketching and Modifying Ceilings
Ceiling Soffits and Fixtures
Practice Reflected Ceiling Plans
Practice Ceilings and Soffits
Roofs
Creating RoofsPractice Roofs by Footprint
Practice Roof on Poolhouse
Reference Planes and Work Planes
Roofs by Extrusion
Wall and Roof Intersections
Practice Roofs by Extrusion
Vertical Circulation
Standard StairsStair Properties
Custom Stairs
Creating Ramps
Railings
Practice First Floor Stairs
Practice Upper Floor Stairs
Practice Stand-Alone Railings
Construction Documents
Setting Up SheetsViews on Sheets
Modify Views on Sheets
Practice Construction Documents
Practice Setup-n-Add Views to Sheets
Printing Sheets
Annotations
DimensionsModifying Dimensions
Practice Adding Dimensions
Working with Text
Detail Lines and Symbols
Annotate Construction Documents
Learn Revit 2012 to increase your skills. If you enjoyed these Revit 2012 training videos and you would like to view the entire training course, become a VTC.com member today!