Flash Catalyst CS5

Course Description:

Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5 software is an approachable new interaction design tool. Use it to transform Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Fireworks artwork into expressive interfaces and fully interactive content without writing code, and publish as SWF or Adobe AIR files. Collaborate with developers who can open your project files with Adobe Flash Builder software to extend functionality, and leverage the reach and consistency of the Adobe Flash Platform.

Our two day course will provide you with the core skills you need to make the most of this extremely powerful application.

Course Outline:

Lesson One: Getting to Know Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5

• Open a new Flash Catalyst project
• Set dimensions and background color
• Switch between the Design and Code workspaces
• Find your way around the Design workspace
• Show and hide workspace panels
• Zoom and pan the artboard
• Open an existing project file
• Preview a project in a browser
• Find additional help documents, demos, and tutorials online

Lesson Two: Preparing, Importing, and Placing Artwork

• Prepare a design document for import
• Export an FXG file from Adobe Fireworks
• Import a layered design document into Flash Catalyst
• Select fidelity options when importing a design document
• Import artwork into Flash Catalyst
• Position artwork in the Flash Catalyst artboard
• Optimize artwork

Lesson Three: Managing the Library

• Identify project assets in the Library panel
• Preview images, video, and sound
• Rename assets
• Delete assets from the project
• Use and swap assets in the library
• Compress all instances of a bitmap image
• View the source of library files in the Code workspace
• Import and export a library package

Lesson Four: Managing Layers

• Identify target and selected layers
• Expand and collapse layers
• Show and hide objects in the current page or state
• Lock and unlock layers, groups, and objects
• Group complex object parts
• Optimize complex groups
• Add and delete layers
• Rename objects in the Layers panel
• Use layers to locate selected objects
• Change the stacking order of objects

Lesson Five: Working with Pages and States

• Create and name states
• Modify states by showing and hiding objects
• Add and remove objects in a specific state
• Delete objects from all states
• Delete states

Lesson Six: Creating Interactive Components

• Use wireframe components for rapid prototyping
• Convert artwork to built-in components
• Create custom navigation and toggle buttons
• Create custom scroll bars and scrolling panels
• Build custom components and navigation buttons
• Add and format text
• Modify components using Edit-In-Place mode
• Share artwork between component states
• Add and delete Flash Catalyst interactions

Lesson Seven: Creating Transitions and Action Sequences

• Preview default transitions
• Add smooth transitions between states
• Fine-tune transition timing and other properties
• Add special effects to transitions
• Add and modify action sequences
• Preserve the fidelity of transitions as you edit the project

Lesson Eight: Adding and Controlling Video and Sound

• Prepare video for the web
• Import video and sound
• Preview video and sound
• Add video to an application
• Control video playback
• Add sound effects

Lesson Nine: Integrating SWF Content from Other Creative Suite Tools

• Use SWF files in Flash Catalyst projects
• Add SWF files to an application
• Control the playback of a SWF file
• Play a SWF file from a specific frame
• Create an animated button using a SWF file

Lesson Ten: Designing with Data

• Design visually interesting interface components for browsing and displaying large collections of data
• Create a Data List component using images and text
• Set data list properties
• Use design-time data to demonstrate the appearance and behavior of a data list
• Add a wireframe Data List component

Lesson Eleven: Drawing and Editing Artwork

• Use the rulers, guides, and grid
• Draw basic shapes and lines
• Change stroke and fill settings
• Add and modify gradient fills
• Group and position objects
• Apply and remove filters
• Launch and edit using Photoshop CS5 and Illustrator CS5

Lesson Twelve: Publishing a Project

• Choose a delivery option
• Prepare the application for publishing
• Publish the application files
• View and share published files
• Publish to the web using Adobe Dreamweaver CS5

Lesson Thirteen: Extending Your Project Using Adobe Flash Builder

• Extend an application by connecting it to data and web services
• Prepare the application for hand-off to a developer using Flash Builder
• Import a Flash Catalyst project into Flash Builder
• Compare and integrate code between two projects
• Import a Flash Catalyst project library into Flash Builder