Vector-based Interactive Authoring
- Attendance and Completed Homework:
- Section 001
- Section 002
- Section 501
DIGM 241, Vector-based Interactive Authoring, builds upon basic knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and Flash. Students in this course work with concepts and software to better understand the functionality and integration of Internet multimedia-authoring programs with assorted browsers. Through a series of homework assignments and projects, students examine real world case histories to master advance JavaScripts, and Flash Actionscripts, and applications. Students explore online uses of JavaScripts, and Flash in the fields of entertainment, streaming video, simulations, e-commerce. Role-play, group and individual instruction are used to gain a better understanding of the concepts, tools and social dynamics involved in the creation of effective and expressive interactive web media.
Midterm
Students will create their own flash intro/splash movie with animation and buttons (Max stage size 800x600). All custom buttons will have rollover and mouse down effects/states. At least one button will toggle background music on and off when the user clicks on it. Another button will jump to the student's favorite web site when the user clicks on it. Movie will also include a cartoon symbol that students created during class, and have at least one animated symbol constantly moving along a curved path. SWF no larger than 512 kilobytes
Final
Students will create their own custom Zodiac Sign interactive program [800x600 max dimensions] to be delivered primarily on the Internet. This program will let the user enter any valid birth date and then compute the correct zodiac sign for that date. The user should see and hear the student's rendition of their particular zodiac sign. The user should also be given the option to re-enter birth dates. This program should also display all functional zodiac sign buittons just in case the user does not wish to enter their birth date. This program should include at least one flash button that opens a custom Internet browser window with scroll bars and re-size bars only (i.e. popup instructions and or help). SWF no larger than 1,024 kilobytes.
Grading
- 20% Class attendance & participation
- 20% Homework (functionality, content, creativity)
- 30% Midterm (functionality, content, creativity) [10, 10, 10]
- 30% Final (functionality, content, creativity) [10, 10, 10]
Equipment
- "Flash MX 2004 for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickStart Guide"
- "JavaScript for the World Wide Web, 4th Edition: Visual QuickStart Guide" (optional)
- At least one external device - (Zip, Flash Drive, USB2/Firewire HD)
- Headphones (If you want to listen to music while you work!)
Welcome to Flash from the ground up
Introductions:
- Course Overview Topics:
- Course Description
- Projects (Midterm / Final)
- Grading
- Required Material
Due the start of next class:
Show up to class with ALL your required material and be ready to work.
- Final grade extra credit questions:
- Submit two printed copies [NOT handwritten] at the start of next class. Include your name, date due, 3 extra credit questions, correct answers, and page references] based on the following reading:
- Read "Flash MX 2004 for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickStart Guide"
- Introduction
- Chapter 1. The Flash Authoring Tool
Putting it all together. HTML, JavaScript, & Flash
- Topics:
- Why use Flash in the first place?
- Flash Help; Lessons:
- Publishing and posting flash SWF movies.
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm241hwk01s###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- Three urls (with schema's) to web sites that use Flash that do something really cool that you would like to learn how to do yourself. Include a short paragraph explanation as to what this cool thing is for each url.
- url (with schema) link to your self-portrait.
- url (with schema) link to your first draft of 12 custom zodiac images.
- Final grade extra credit questions:
- Submit two printed copies [NOT handwritten] at the start of next class. Include your name, date due, 3 extra credit questions, correct answers, and page references] based on the following reading:
- Read "Flash MX 2004 for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickStart Guide"
- Chapter 2. Creating simple graphics
- Chapter 3. Modifying Simple Graphics
- Chapter 4. Complex Graphics on a Single Layer
Ground work for movement
- Topics:
- Self-portrait and custom zodiac signs review
- Flash Help; Lessons:
- Creating and saving Flash vector based images
- Self-portrait (convert to a symbol..Graphic)
- Custom midterm interface in flash
- Custom sound play, sound, and stop images in flash
- Simple animation techniques
- Key frame to keyframe motion tweening
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm241hwk02s###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- url to: An animation of your self-portrait.
- url to: Custom sound play, pause, and stop images in flash.
- url to: Custom midterm interface in flash.
- Final grade extra credit questions:
- Submit two printed copies [NOT handwritten] at the start of next class. Include your name, date due, 3 extra credit questions, correct answers, and page references] based on the following reading:
- Read "Flash MX 2004 for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickStart Guide"
- Chapter 5 Graphics on Multiple Layers
- Chapter 6 Saving and Reusing Graphic Elements
- Chapter 7 Frame-by-Frame Animations
Complex morphying made easy
- Topics:
- Review animating self-portraits
- Flash Help; Lessons:
- Animation and Morphying. - Download Animation.fla
- Animate motion guide [View]
- Animate shape tweening [View]
- Download sample assets
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm241hwk03s###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL to your Flash "Sunrise" movie
- Custom House (optional colors.. blue walls, yellow roof, red door, and purple windows).
- At least two letters of your name following a curved path across stage in front of house.
- Have the sun rise behind the house and move up in the sky.
- Final grade extra credit questions:
- Submit two printed copies [NOT handwritten] at the start of next class. Include your name, date due, 3 extra credit questions, correct answers, and page references] based on the following reading:
- Read "Flash MX 2004 for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickStart Guide"
- Chapter 8 Animation with Motion Tweening
- Chapter 9 Animation with Shape Tweening
- Chapter 10 More-Complex Animation Tasks
Putting it all together
- Topics:
- Finishing touches
- Flash Help; Lessons:
- Flash Buttons.
- Importing and controlling sounds with buttons.
- jwt Audio Controller Done [View]
- Download jwt Audio Controller Assets
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm241hwk04s###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL to your Flash "music" movie
- Custom Play, Pause, and Stop buttons.
- Music or sounds (Student created +1).
- (Optional controlled animation +1).
- Final grade extra credit questions:
- Submit two printed copies [NOT handwritten] at the start of next class. Include your name, date due, 3 extra credit questions, correct answers, and page references] based on the following reading:
- Read "Flash MX 2004 for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickStart Guide"
- Chapter 11 Building Buttons for Interactivity
- Chapter 14 Using Non-Flash Graphics
- Chapter 15 Adding Sound
- Chapter 16 Adding Video
Professional looking Flash movies take planning
- Topics:
- Midterm requirements
- Opening url in new broswer window
- Sample Midterm (grade C) [View]
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm241midterms###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL to your midterm html page.
Due the start of next class:
- Submit by hand a MAC/WIN CDROM that contains ONLY a working copy of your complete midterm.
- How to burn true cross platform CDROM's. [view]
Final Preparation
- Topics:
- Midterm review
- 12 symbols for 12 signs with birthday ranges
- 12 description for 12 signs
- Interface for user input
- Input for user birth year
- Input for user birth month (i.e. Jan, January, jan, or january)
- Input for user birth day
- Zodiac Sign Date Ranges [View]
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Show up to class with flash movie containing
- Movie clip with all 12 signs, including the corresponding descriptions, animations, and sounds
What can't you scroll with Flash
- Topics:
- Scrolling buttons with Flash
- Telling MovieClips what to do
- Combining Text, images, and sound within controlled MovieClips
- Evaluating Input text with actionscripts
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm241hwk05s###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- Url to your functional flash movie with.
- 12 thumbnail signs that scroll left <-> right, or up <-> down.
- When the user clicks on a thumbnail sign they are presented with additional information (text, image, sound) on that sign.
Ready for the world of Flash
- Topics:
- Date - 2 - Sign Algorithm/Script. [View][Download]
- How to burn true cross platform CDROM's. [view]
- How to get Flash to tell your broswer to open a custom window.
- Last minute final preparation.
None.
For you: last class!
- Final Project turn in, and class crit:
- Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm240final_s###jwt" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt with your initials]
- URL to your final "index.htm" page
Due midnight the night before next class:
- Submit by hand a zip MAC/WIN CDROM that contains ONLY a working copy of your complete final project.
- How to burn true cross platform CDROM's. [view]
Due the start of next class: