The Department of Visual Arts Greenville
Technical College Greer Campus
Lead Instructor: Shane T Howell, M.F.A. Office: 301-226 E-mail:
howells@gvltec.mailcruiser.com
Class
Meeting: Tuesday, Thursday 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Instructor: Shane T Howell Room:
G 301/225
Instructor: Shane Howell, M.F.A.
Office: G 226A
Phone: 848-2021 Call 848-2023 for appointments.
Email: howells@gvltec.mailcruiser.com
Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 12:00-2:30 pm.
Prerequisites: ARV 227 Web Site Design I and ART 200 Type Designing
Credit Hours: 3
Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Hands-On Training By: Rosanna Yeung with Lynda Weinman
Weinmann and Lourekas, Photoshop CS for Windows and Macintosh, Visual Quickstart Guide
This course introduces techniques of creating the illusion of motion and three-dimensional space. Using Macromedia¨ Flashª students produce both animated interface designs and timeline-based movies intended for the publication on the Internet.
To demonstrate and become proficient with processes and
applications utilized to produce Flashª sites
employing the Apple computer system.
The student who achieves a 70% proficiency in this course will:
1. utilize Macintosh applications for Flashªweb design by completing exercises and projects.
2. demonstrate the use of Flashª interfaces by browsing, researching, and comparing work with other professionally designed web sites.
3. use drawing tools to create vector graphics by designing an introduction/loading page in Flashª.
4. create and import bitmap files by designing an introduction/loading page in Flashª.
5. use graphic symbols to lower file memory and download times by designing an introduction/loading page, home page and multiple scenes in Flashª.
6. use both keyframe and motion tweening animation by designing an introduction/loading page, homepage in Flashª as a project for the course.
7. design a SWF homepage interface with buttons, sound effects, and animation in course project.
8. create a movie or game that incorporates animation, synchronized sound tracks, and advanced ActionScript in course projects.
9. be observed attending to client needs incorporating previous skills and the use of multiple scenes in Flashª by building a full SWF Flashªsite in course project.
10.
apply ActionScript coding, set up forms with Flashª, create
and use Flashª templates by completing exercises and course projects.
Students will:
1. complete a series of exercises to be evaluated with each project.
2. complete assigned readings throughout the semester.
3. participate during critiques and classes.
4. take 4 quizzes to establish a proficiency in semantic and technical knowledge of web page design.
5. complete four projects of Flashª design.
6. take one cumulative final exam.
Project 1-3 15% each
Final Project 25%
5 Quizzes 10%
Final Exam 10%
Work Ethic 10%
1. 2 CDRWs.
2. Sketch Pad
3. Note Pad
Project 1 – Design an Intro/Loading Page
Students will design the Introduction/Loading Page for a
Flashª Web Site. This Introduction page will be for a client that student will
continue to develop throughout the course.
The purpose of this page is to entertain/inform viewers while
the SWF timeline downloads to the clientÕs browser. Internet psychology tells
us that people will wait for downloads as long as they perceive something is
progressing and donÕt feel as though they are wasting time.
Students will use drawing tools to create vector graphics,
and import any necessary bitmap files. The single introduction page will have a
graphic symbol timeline animation using keyframe and/or motion tweening. The
student will utilize Flash symbols and instances to allow for a dynamic level
of animation and a fast download.
The timeline must be divided and labeled so that it informs
the viewer of the % of download. At least 25% increments will be used. Each
section will play twice.
The students will use this page in the final project this
semester. Designing to fit a
Òbigger pictureÓ. The student will later add the necessary ActionScript to make
the Òprogress barÓ be proportionally related to the amount of information the
site is downloading.
Project 2 – Design the Homepage
Students will design a homepage for a chosen clientÕs Flash
website. This project is the primary ÒdesignÓ of the entire site.
The homepage will contain at least five rollover buttons
with sound effects. These five+ buttons are the primary information links to
the site. They are made from
having multiple button symbols added to the stage.
Students will also create at least one animated rollover
button. Students can use either an animated graphic symbol or a movie clip.
This button will eventually link to a SWF movie that the students are creating
for Project 3.
Another requirement is to have a ÒcontactÓ button to
automatically open the end-userÕs default email application. Students will put the clientÕs email
address in the Òsend toÓ box.
Finally, the homepage will have a timeline animation
Òbringing upÓ the entire interface.
Project 3 – Create a Movie/Game
Students will design a movie or a game that will be
incorporated into the final site.
The movie file will be related to the needs of the client,
but it can be primarily informative or fun.
The movie will use timeline animation and be a minimum of
one minute in duration.
Students will incorporate buttons to control the animations
timeline to stop, play, and close the movie.
The movie must have a synchronized soundtrack relating to
the animated events.
Games will be related to the clientÕs needs, but are usually
more fun than informative.
Games require extensive ActionScript coding with endless
possibilities. As a formula for success,
a Òshooting galleryÓ type game is suggested.
Games will have either sound effects or a scorekeeper.
Project 4 – Final Site
Using the Homepage from a previous project, students will
design and build a full Flashª site specific to your clientÕs needs. The site
will be informative and fully functioning.
Students will have a single FLA file comprised of multiple
ÒscenesÓ. A minimum of eight scenes: Intro, Homepage, 5+ other scenes, plus
your Movie/Game scene are requirements.
Students will duplicate the Homepage scene and modify them for
the other 5+ scenes.
Somewhere in the site, students will use dynamic text with
scroll buttons.
Students will link their animated rollover button to load
their Movie/Game.
Students will program all linking ActionScript for the site.
Students will program your intro scene to now load the %
download animation in relation to their determined amount of preloaded frames.
This will prevent users from viewing choppy animations or clicking unloaded
buttons.
Students will produce One SWF as the final project.
Everything will reside in a single root folder ready for FTP
transfer to a server.