This document is an introductory presentation on Adobe Flash CS4, highlighting improvements from CS3, including a new layout for panels and tools. Users are guided through loading the software, adjusting preferences, and starting a new project, with emphasis on specifying document settings before beginning work. New features such as the 'motion editor' and various tools like '3D rotate tool' are also discussed to enhance user experience.

1. Introduction to
Adobe Flash CS4
By Vishal Raja

2. This is an introduction presentation on Adobe Flash CS4
where we look at the Welcome Screen, Default settings,
Properties, Layouts, Tools.
This version of Flash is a huge improvement from CS3.
Please load the software which is located by logging
onto your computer and following these steps:
Start > All Programs > Multimedia > Adobe CS4 >
Adobe Flash CS4 Professional.
When the software loads, you will get a screen as
follows:

4. If you do not get this screen go to ‘Edit’ which is located at the
top menu bar and click on ‘Preferences’ (or shortcut key CTRL+L).
In the General Category, the ‘On Launch’ option should be
‘Welcome Screen’. If not, click on the drop down menu and
change it to ‘Welcome Screen’.
Click ‘OK’ once that is done and should get the welcome screen.

5. One of new features of Flash CS4 is the
layout.
The ‘Properties’, ‘Tools’ & ‘Library’ panels
are now on the right side of your screen.
The panels do have a different setup to
previous versions but we will go through it
in detail.

6. At the bottom of your screen is the ‘Timeline’ and a new function
called ‘Motion Editor’.

7. On the welcome screen, lets start a new project by going to the
‘Create New’ section and clicking on ‘Flash File (ActionScript 3.0)’.

8. The white area is the areas where we will actually see things
occur when publishing the animation/movie. The only part of
your animation will be seen is inside the white area. You can
design your artwork within the grey area but will not been seen
until put onto the white area.
The ‘welcome
screen’ disappears
and we can see the
‘stage’. The Stage
Window also has
two areas of white
and grey. The white
area is surrounded
by the grey area.

9. As mentioned, the ‘Properties’ has relocated
to the right.
The Properties panel will have options
available for you to use depending on the
tool you are using.
For Example, if you click on the ‘Text Tool’,
you will get Text options in the Properties
Panel. If you click on the ‘Rectangle Tool’, you
will get options that relate to that tool.
Click back onto the ‘Selection Tool (black
arrow)’.

10. At the moment, the Properties Panel is
showing the properties of the document.
It is giving the information of its:
- Publishing settings
-Frame Rate Per Second
-Size of Document
- And Colour of Stage

11. I RECOMMEND YOU SPECIFY
YOUR FRAME RATE, SIZE OF
DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU
START YOUR PROJECT AND
THIS COULD LEAD TO A
NUMBER OF COMPLICATIONS
HALF WAY THROUGH YOUR
PROJECT.

12. If you would like to change the size of your
document, simply click on ‘Edit...’ on the same
row at ‘Size...’.
The following window will appear:
Here you can configure your measurements,
background colour, frame rate, and ruler units.
Click ‘OK’ once have done this.

13. The ‘Essentials’ button at the
top of your screen on the
Menu Bar gives you a list of
options to choose your layout
for the software.
Adobe Flash has categories
them in job roles and
customised the panels in the
software its suitable position
to make you work easier.
If you have used Flash before would like to go back to the original
layout, click on ‘ESSENTIALS’ and from the list, click on ‘Classic’.
I recommend working in the new format ‘Essentials’ as it places all
tools in one area rather than around the stage.

14. The toolbar is very similar to previous versions. It does
have the new tool of
‘3D Rotate Tool’
lets you flip and rotate objects in 3d space.
The ‘Deco Tool’, ‘Spray Brush Tool’, and the ‘Bone Tool’ are
some of the other new tools available in this new version
of Flash.