Our "Level 1" Flash workshop is suitable both for first time users AND for those who wish to brush up or add to their basic Flash skills (and a few not-so-basic skills as well). Since Flash is in part a graphics program, after a general introduction, we'll introduce Flash's graphic tools, easily creating both basic and advanced shapes, as well as adding text to your project.
With multiple objects and text on the "stage", learning to work with layers in your Flash movie is essential. You'll create visual depth using layers, organize Flash's library where all your components ("assets") are stored, and utilize Flash's powerful symbol capabilities, which enable reuse of the same object in multiple contexts. We'll also import external material into Flash, including both bitmap and vector images, optimizing the bitmap images for best display. If much of this sounds similar to what you can do with programs such as Adobe Illustrator, you're absolutely right. In fact, Illustrator can be used to create the objects (and layers) that you later animate in Flash.
We'll then move on to animation by creating several types of animation, from the "simplest" frame-by-frame animation, through "motion-tweened" animations and "motion paths". You'll also create "button rollovers" and animate masks (which hide or reveal part of an animation). A brief introduction to ActionScript (Flash's "programming language") will bring the Level 1 workshop to a close.