Flash Site Design - With Flash MX 2004, Can I do this...?

Author

With Flash MX 2004, Can I do this...?

JS User webforumsuser@macromedia.com

2004-01-27, 12:28 am

Hello, newbie here.

I have never even used Flash before. However, I'd like to learn how, seeing the awesome power of it displayed on Web sites. I plan to buy MX 2004, but first I'd like to make sure that I can create the same design that another site has. The site I'm speaki
ng of has the following URL:

http://www.square-enix-usa.com/seui/index.htm

I apologize, but if you still want to view what I'm speaking of, you'll have to register. Registration is quick and easy, and of course, free. Click the button in the upper right corner to register.

If you've done so, you can click the "ONLINE GUIDES", and from there, "FINAL FANTASY X". Although having never used flash before, it seems obvious that this whole section of the site is one big Flash. I want to be sure that I can create a similar layout,
with a Flash "video" such as they have, and circular "links" that have plenty of onMouseOver capabilities.

One last thing to check, please click the "FINAL FANTASY IV" online guide to view it. I want to make sure I can also include a place for game navigation on the left, with onMouseOver capabilities (the pointer image), Mouses Click capabilities (the image t
hat appears in the box to the left), and what appears to be a JavaScript menu (i.e.: Click "Characters" and a Sub-section is brought up). Although it appears to be JavaScript, I believe this is also created with Flash.

Finally, can I design my site with all of these great Flashes AND then go on to create my normal Web site? I'll attempt to elaborate (visualize with me here :-p ) : Assume I have my Flash created, it's something very similar to the "FINAL FANTASY X" flash
on the top part of my page, and on the left, for navigation, is a menu similar to the one used in the "FINAL FANTASY IV" flash. That is the basic layout. My normal old HTML text and images I plan to go under the top Flash and to the right of the menu. My
question - this is possible right?

Thanks to anybody that helps me!

Rob Solberg

2004-01-27, 1:28 am

Hi,

If you ever want to know if a site you're viewing was created in Flash, you
can right-click on the content and see is the words "About Macromedia..."
appear at the bottom of the menu that comes up. Flash and HTML can work
together quite well within one website.

Much of what you see at the site you listed is, in fact, Flash. However,
there is an enormous learning curve in Flash if you want to get to the level
of that website. If you already know Java scripting you'll jump ahead
quickly. Plus, completely separate from knowing Flash (but very important
to the final result) is your ability to create graphic designs that look as
nice as that website.

But to answer your basic question: Yep. Flash is your weapon of choice for
interactivity like you've seen at that website.

Rob|e.9

"JS User" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:bv4pgs$4in$1@forums.macromedia.com...

quote:

> Hello, newbie here.
>
> I have never even used Flash before. However, I'd like to learn how,

seeing the awesome power of it displayed on Web sites. I plan to buy MX
2004, but first I'd like to make sure that I can create the same design that
another site has. The site I'm speaking of has the following URL:

quote:

>
> http://www.square-enix-usa.com/seui/index.htm
>
> I apologize, but if you still want to view what I'm speaking of, you'll

have to register. Registration is quick and easy, and of course, free. Click
the button in the upper right corner to register.

quote:

>
> If you've done so, you can click the "ONLINE GUIDES", and from there,

"FINAL FANTASY X". Although having never used flash before, it seems obvious
that this whole section of the site is one big Flash. I want to be sure that
I can create a similar layout, with a Flash "video" such as they have, and
circular "links" that have plenty of onMouseOver capabilities.

quote:

>
> One last thing to check, please click the "FINAL FANTASY IV" online guide

to view it. I want to make sure I can also include a place for game
navigation on the left, with onMouseOver capabilities (the pointer image),
Mouses Click capabilities (the image that appears in the box to the left),
and what appears to be a JavaScript menu (i.e.: Click "Characters" and a
Sub-section is brought up). Although it appears to be JavaScript, I believe
this is also created with Flash.

quote:

>
> Finally, can I design my site with all of these great Flashes AND then go

on to create my normal Web site? I'll attempt to elaborate (visualize with
me here :-p ) : Assume I have my Flash created, it's something very similar
to the "FINAL FANTASY X" flash on the top part of my page, and on the left,
for navigation, is a menu similar to the one used in the "FINAL FANTASY IV"
flash. That is the basic layout. My normal old HTML text and images I plan
to go under the top Flash and to the right of the menu. My question - this
is possible right?

quote:

>
> Thanks to anybody that helps me!
>
>

Whitecrest

2004-01-27, 7:29 am

In article <bv4s0f$6bu$1@forums.macromedia.com>, rob@east9.net says...

quote:

> quickly. Plus, completely separate from knowing Flash (but very important
> to the final result) is your ability to create graphic designs that look as
> nice as that website.

The Flash, and Scripting can all be learned. The graphic design, is
more art than learned. No one can teach you to be an artist. Sure they
can teach you how to use the tools, but that is never the same

--
Whitecrest Entertainment
www.whitecrestent.com

JS User webforumsuser@macromedia.com

2004-01-27, 5:30 pm

Thanks for the quick reply,

As you stated, I have a monumental task on my hands, as far as site design goes, but I'm familiar with JavaScript and I'm willing to learn all I can in flash.

As for the site design, using screenshots from the game and Adobe ImageReady, I could probably pull the same result off.

JS User webforumsuser@macromedia.com

2004-01-27, 7:29 pm

Ah, I just realized, I have another question.

Macromedia obviously offers a wide range of products, much more than just Flash. My question is, is Flash MX 2004 the BEST product for designing Web pages? (such as the one I asked to visit.)

Also, what do they offer that provides help for Web designers, for making Flash programs and incorporating the Flash into your HTML documents?

Thanks to repliers!

jemac2003 webforumsuser@macromedia.com

2004-01-28, 2:28 am

well, you have to be a good designer and know what you are doing to create a site like your reference.
i use illustrator for my design work, and then export layers as .swf files.
freehand is a great solution as well if you buy the studio suite thing.
to me, i need to keep the design aspect a seperate thing, rather than doing it all in flash.
this is most likely not the best solution, but i use flash as an animation/webdesign tool, and use illustrator and photoshop as my creative tools. once i have all my symbols created in flash and the layout is setup, then i start animating with flash and t
ell everything what to do. that is when flash creativity begins with my projects.
but then again, i don't know that much