Flash MX Magic

Flash MX Magic follows a proud tradition of offering cutting-edge inspirational and customizable Macromedia Flash projects written by leading Flash designers and developers. Each of the 15 projects focuses on a project such as game programming, creating a poll with a dynamic database, movie-making, and e-Card creation. By giving you clear instructions, full 4-color graphical display of steps, all the code and components and an explanation of modifications, you have all the tools necessary to complete the projects and use them as a launching pad for your own sophisticated work.

New Riders is absolutely honored that so many bright stars in the Flash community collaborated to share their valuable insight on how to this all-new, third entry in the Flash Magic series. The Magic series is perfect for a multi-author book. Its non-linear design allows each chapter to stand on its own as an independent project. And with the leading Flash designers and developers authoring this book, you get the best tips and tricks from those who have proven themselves in the field.

Matthew David, Mark Baltzegar, Jim Caldwell, John Dalziel, Aria Danika, Robert Hall, Andreas Heim, Jason Krogh, Stephanie Novak and Eric Jordan, Jessica Speigel, Helen Triolo, Glenn Thomas, and Joe Tripician give you their latest insights and from-the-trenches experience with Flash MX. And the framework for the book is provided by the one and only David Emberton (of Flash 4- and Flash 5 Magic). And the artwork is designed by the best new talent in graphic design. As always, the project files are on the CD, so you can try these yourself and learn from some of the best and creatively varied minds in motiongraphics.

QUICK NOTE: Flash Magic books aren't for most absolute beginners. If you're brand new to Flash, you may want to start with an entry-level book that gets you familiar with the basics of motion graphics and Flash's tools, before jumping into a Magic book. When you're ready, we promise, it'll be worth it...

Fifteen tutorials demonstrate how to use the scripting features and design tools new to the latest version of Flash. Written for web developers, the book provides examples of object-oriented scripting, Flash application development, client/server interaction, rich media content development, and animation. Color screenshots accompany the step-by-step instructions. The CD-ROM contains project files and demonstration versions of Flash MX and Fireworks 4. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Library Journal

Older patrons are attracted to audiovisual material on the web, but this video unfortunately misses the mark. It only covers usage of AOL which the narrator consistently conflates with the Internet. Shots of computer screens are blurry, nearly unreadable, and often cut off at the edges. Explanations are incomplete and, in some cases, incorrect (a modem, for example, is defined as "a piece of software"). Not recommended. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Matthew David has over eleven years of multimedia experience, as a theater and video producer and director and, over the last six years, as an Internet Technologist. Matthew is a respected author on Macromedia technologies and contributed to Flash 5 Magic among many other books. He has also written courses for Ziff-Davis, SmartPlanet.com, and eHandsOn.com. He is Allen Interaction's lead instructor for Macromedia Flash, Fireworks and Dreamweaver.