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ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook

Will 2 Comments

In order to help my migration to Flash 9, I went ahead and read the ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook by Joey Lott, Darron Schall and Keith Peters.

Overall, I would say that it was helpful and recommend it, but even though my copy was a first edition, it did seem like the book contained way too may typos (both grammatical and in the ActionScript itself). Typos aside, the chapters on the Display List and XML were both extremely concise and informative. If you’re unfamiliar with either, I’d recommend giving them a look.

Like the other books in O’Reilly’s Cookbook series, the ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook works as a quick reference to commonly encountered problems. Focusing on the end results, their problem/solution approach to education works well when you’re already somewhat familiar with their subject.

Adobe CS File Corruption on OS X 10.5.3

Robbie 8 Comments

A little warning for anyone out there running OS X Leopard 10.5.3 and using any of the Adobe CS products to edit files on a remote or network server: beware of file corruption.

Folks started picking up on this last month when the 10.5.3 update was released. According to AppleInsider:

When users attempt a save command, the file on the server becomes unusable, even when copied and opened locally. The issue occurs regardless of the format and doesn't appear to occur for locally saved files, which can still be uploaded to the server afterwards. The corrupted files appear to have a modified header that prevents them from being recognized properly.

We all work off of a file server in the office. Unfortunately, this bug reared its ugly head and rendered a few Photoshop documents useless. Luckily, we pulled files off our daily backup, so not all was lost. However, we're anxiously awaiting the fix from Apple included with OS X 10.5.4, which should be released in July prior to the iPhone 3G launch. Until then, to all those working with said configuration: copy your files locally before make any changes.

Update: Apple has released the OS X 10.5.4 update, which should resolve the issues described above. Upgrade your OS today.

9-Slice Scaling in Flash

Will 2 Comments

One of the humbling things about working primarily in Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash is that I've been using these applications for years and I'm still stumbling across new features. My latest discovery is Flash 8's 9-slice scaling.

Down at the bottom of the advanced options of the Symbol Properties window is a checkbox labeled "Enable guides for 9-slice scaling." When enabled, a set of guides will be positioned in your symbol and when you scale an instant of this clip asymmetrically in your published SWF – it will maintain a crisp, clean appearance with undistorted corners and edges.

Papervision3D

Will 0 Comments

Up until this year actual 3D in Flash has been nonexistent. If you wanted to achieve some sort of faux 3D effect you’d more than likely have to rely on importing an image sequence or vector animation from some third party application – so needless to say, I was really excited to learn about Papervision3D.

Papervision3D is an open source realtime 3D engine for Flash. Basically, it allows you to texture map and render a low polygon object, which you can then affect with Actionscript and any of the other resources in your Flash movie.

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Deep Linking in Flash

Will 1 Comments

For sometime now I’ve been trying to find a more elegant solution to deep linking within a full screen flash site and I think I’ve found the answer with Asual’s SWFAddress.

Basically, the SWFAddress records a history of all of your swf’s “pages” and (through Javascript and Flash 8’s External Interface functionality) enables your browser’s back, forward and reload buttons to affect your swf – while at the same time allowing your swf to affect the browser’s url and page title. This allows the user to have a much more intuitive navigational experience with your flash site.

Just think: users will have the ability to bookmark sections of your flash site and link back into them whenever they want, or use the browser’s back and forwards buttons to navigate through your swf. This is quite a step up from Robert Penner’s back button fix.

Keen Keyboard Shortcuts

Will 1 Comments

Seeing as I've been using Adobe products almost everyday for the past ten years, I've come to appreciate a number of keyboard shortcuts that aren't generally known or used.

General

• Tab – Hide/Show Tools
• Apple, Alt, Semicolon – Lock/Unlock Guides
• Alt, Left/Right Arrow – Adjusts Kerning of Selected Text
• Alt, Up/Down Arrow – Adjusts Tracking of Selected Text

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