Calendar for Web Animation ITNW 1492.7426 / Summer 2003
Terms, Abbreviations & Icons
- Readings = articles or chapters that should be completed BEFORE the class session
- Topics = short graded papers or projects
- Quizzes = short multiple-choice quiz on designated material
- Activities = ungraded assignments done in class that expand on material on the textbook or from lecture.
- Exercises = graded practices covering specific objectives. Exercises generally will be completed in one class session.
- Projects = graded assignments. Projects take from two class sessions to an entire semester.
- References = documents provided for additional information. You will never be tested on a reference document. If you're falling behind in class, the reference documents should be ignored.
- ECR = Extra Credit
- Admin = administrative items needed to make the class run more smoothly.
- Notes = tips on how to handle particular assignments.
- Don't Think = textbook, Don't Make Me Think
- Secrets = textbook, Secrets of Successful Websites
- FFMX = textbook, Foundation Flash MX
= Content posted after we've covered associated material
in class.
= Gallery of web sites serving as examples of techniques or
concepts discussed in class
= Viewlet (short movie) demonstrating a software technique. Hoover over
the icon to see the show's title. Please remember that a Viewlet's content
does notreflect all the material in a chapter.
= Link to a web site used in lecture. Hoover over the icon to see the
site's name or URL.
= Supplemental reading
| Type | Activity | Due Date |
| Week of Monday June 2 | ||
| Note | All work is due by MONDAY 10:00 PM of the following week unless otherwise stated. | --- |
| OPTIONAL | Optional Flash On-Campus Orientation, Thursday June 5th at 7:00, North Lake College, room T242. Please email Sharon Huston if you plan to attend. (Since this is a small class Sharon won't hold orientation unless she is sure someone will be present!) | 6/3 |
| Admin | Syllabus, Lab Policies, Open Lab Informaion, Class Participation Guide | --- |
| Admin | If you have not purchased Flash, please download and install the 30 day trial version. Lacking software is not an excuse for not doing your classwork. | ---- |
| Admin | If you have some extra cash we highly recommend purchasing a Wacom Graphire2 tablet. This is a great starting tablet, and is a blast to use in Flash. | ---- |
| Exercise | Scavenger Hunt | ic |
| Reading | NLC Web Design Copyright Guidelines | 6/9 |
| Quiz | NLC Web Design Copyright Guidelines | 6/9 |
| Activity | What Is Flash? | 6/9 |
| Activity | Critical Viewing: Flash Animations | 6/9 |
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 1: Flash Movie Essentials FFMX Ch. 2: The Flash Toolbox Note: Post the MUSHROOM file and the CASE STUDY from Ch. 2 to your web space for grading. Instructions below. |
6/9 |
| Admin | Publishing Your Animations: Post your work to your NLC-provided webspace. Viewlets on WS_FTP will show you how to use the software. | ---- |
| Reference | Movie
Properties
Publishing Animations |
--- |
| Project | Sesame Street | 7/7 |
| Reference | Sesame Street Student Examples | --- |
| Monday June 9 | ||
| Exercise | Flash Storyboard -- Graded assignment. | 6/16 |
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 3: Symbols and Libraries FFMX Ch. 4: Managing Content Note: Post the Case Studies at the end of the chapter to your website for grading. |
6/16 |
| Reference |
|
---- |
| Cool | Todd Galina, Flash Animator, has two short Flash files that show how he works with scans and how he arranges animation in a Flash movie. These are great overviews! Pay attention to all the layers and objects. | 6/16 |
| Progress Check |
Spend this week developing symbols for your movie. DO NOT worry about animation at this stage -- concentrate on organizing your library. Save your .FLA file (one file) to your website as CHECK1.FLA for your instructor to review. Your progress will impact your final project grade. |
6/16 |
| Reference | Flash Websites | ---- |
| Resources | Paletteman.com is helpful for developing color schemes. | ---- |
| Monday June 16 | ||
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 5: Improving your Apperance FFMX Ch. 6: Motion Tweening |
6/23 |
| Reference |
Creating a Motion Tween Using Movie
Clips |
--- |
| Progress Check | No official check this week -- work on animating your movie. Remember to include motion paths! | --- |
| Monday June 23 | ||
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 7: Shape Tweening Note: From here out you are responsible for uploading your case studies. You will no longer be reminded. |
6/30 |
| Reference | Flash Transparency
Creating a Shape Morph
Advanced Shape Tween |
---- |
| Progress Check | Now your animation should be moving along. (grin.) Be sure to include a shape tween or two, and save your .FLA file (one file) to your website as CHECK2.FLA for your instructor to review. Your progress will impact your final project grade. | 6/30 |
| Monday June 30 | ||
| Note | We are going to have to skip a few chapters in the textbook in order to finish the Sesame Street project. This week please work trough Chapter 11, but don't work on the case study. (You won't be able to complete in until your finish the case studies for Ch. 9 & 10.) We'll come back and pick up the case study later, after we cover the skipped chapters. | --- |
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 11: FFMX Ch. 11: Sound This chapter will contain a few concepts related to ActionScripting we haven't covered yet. For now, concentrate on how to add EVENT and STREAMING sounds to your project. |
7/7 |
| Reference |
Insert an MP3 Into Your Movie |
--- |
| Reading | Sound Websites | 7/7 |
| Resource | Locate inexpensive or free Sounds Effects and Loops at Flashkit.com | ---- |
| Project Due | Attach any needed sounds to your animation, and upload the finished animation as SESAME.FLA. Also upload the .SWF file. | 7/7 |
| Monday July 7 | ||
| Exercise | Creating a Screen Saver with FlashJester -- email your instructor the .SRC file. | 7/14 |
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 8: Masking | 7/14 |
| Exercise | Using Embedded Video in Macromedia Flash MX. Upload to website as VIDEO.SWF. | 7/14 |
| Reference | Tips
for Deploying Video in Flash MX
Simple Mask |
7/14 |
| Project | Project 2: Photography Studio | 8/9 |
| Progress Check | This week you need to accomplish the following:
Upload the .FLA as CHECK3.FLA. |
7/14 |
| Monday July 14 | ||
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 9: ActionScript | 7/21 |
| Reference | |
--- |
| Progress Check | Create buttons in each scene which will move users to other scenes.
Buttons should be animated, and should make noise. (Don't forget to add
a STOP to each scene!)
Upload your file as CHECK4.FLA. |
7/21 |
| Monday July 21 | ||
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 10: Intelligent Actions | 7/28 |
| Activity | Flash Menu (required in Project 2) | 7/28 |
| Progress Check |
Complete the Menu Tutorial, and place the menu movie clip in each scene of your .FLA file. Upload as CHECK5.FLA. | 7/28 |
| Monday July 28 | ||
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch 11: Sound (complete case study) FFMX Ch. 12: Optimizing |
8/4 |
| Monday August 4 | ||
| All work due by 5:00pm FRIDAY August 8, 2003. | 8/9 |
|
| Bookwork | FFMX Ch. 13: Publishing | 8/9 |
| Project Due | Project #2 due | 8/9 |