Ploforia

It sounds like your layers are locked. And/or you are attempting to edit(draw over) a locked layer. In the timeline you will see the names of the layers on the left side. To the right of the layer name you will find the lock, which will lock or unlock the layers allowing or disallowing edits. You MUST unlock the layer in order to edit any of the content. Try that and see if it helps any.

FYI - I recently was reading a graphic design book covering multiple graphic design programs, and I found a short few pages on flash and actionscript. The book states that actionscript was developed from javascript. Why they didn't just incorporate java I don't know but that is what the book said. How reliable is this info? Who knows - I didn't check the bibliography or anything so the credibility is questionable but it seems similar enough to javascript to validate the claim.

Does anyone know anything about the shockwave flash activex control required to view flash content in say microsoft word or on a html page?? It is a free download from macromedia but if you want to include it in a program you've created, you need to fill out a licensing form at macromedia's website. I need to include the control on a disc for people at my company but probably can't get approval to fill out the licensing form (stupid right!?) anyways....Does anyone know where else I can find this freely available since it is shareware or how else I might go about deploying this activex control on another computer via a CD only???

Does anyone know if there is a way to view or browse pdf files in flash?? Is there an add-on available?? Is it easy to use?? If so, has anyone used it? I am trying to create an all-in-one program to browse various file types in place of a web browser. Mainly I need to view pdf files without opening a seperate window to do it. Any suggestions would be helpful thanks. I posted more info on this problem under animation if someone is capable of helping.Thanks to everyone in advance for all of their usual fine assistance!......give me graphic design or give me death!

You can import pictures into flash of course - and you can edit them!You cannot however, for instance, import a photoshop file or something into flash and expect to preserve layers or filters. What you see is what you get with the pic. You can draw overtop of the picture or erase parts. I don't see why you couldn't edit the picture. What gives you the impression you can't edit the picture??? What did you do to try to edit it that didn't work? Tell me more - I could probably help.

Greetings! I am working on a project for my work which entails converting a 1,000-or-so page manual into an electronic format for ease of transport. I had previously done this project using a browser (ie) to open various file formats such as .doc, .pdf, .jpg, .gif etc... , but today our IS dept decided we cannot author anything to use a browser for security reasons. So now my delimma is - how to display all file formats using an all-in-one program (program must be idiot proof). I was thinking to use flash for the GUI and some active content which would let me view jpegs gifs etc... but in order to view pdf files it would still have to open acrobat reader or something in a seperate window. Does anyone know if there is an available pdf add-on for flash and if so - is it difficult to implement?? Has anyone used it before?? Also, if anyone has any suggestions as to how else I might get around my little problem, that would be extremely helpful. If anyone who is knowledgeable with this type of stuff could please offer some suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it because I have been working on this project for 7 months and they just informed me today that we are instituting a NO BROWSER USE policy!!!! *&*% it!!! Love the communication in this lovely place I work.Please help thanks!

I have photoshop elements for work and am waiting to be upgraded to CS. Elements is virtually impossible to do most of the stuff available in the full versions of photoshop. Is anyone familiar with Photoshop Elements?? I would like to know more of the limitations or maybe some shortcuts to do stuff that would be more apparent with photoshop. I have been told that not everything is in the book. Any info anyone knows about this program would be helpful cause I am having a difficult time using it for anything. Thanks.Happy Designing.

Cool. You might try to make the rocket faster and you could also move it along a motion guide layer to make it go in less of an exact straight line. Might also want to do something with that url in the top corner it looks a little ghetto. But the little drawings are cool. I definitely agree some flames would be cool. You might even find some shareware or freeware animated gif flames. Search google or something. Happy Designing!

The first thing you will want to do before you do anything is obtain all the information that you need. You need to get the video clip. Then you need to get the sound clip. Additionally, you will need the info for your credits and decide on what animations you would like and what info will be animated. Once you have this gathered you can move on to your next step of trying to learn how to make what you want. There are going to be tons of ways to do something with animation, a video clip, a sound clip, and credits etc.. So really I think your best option would be to find tutorials on the web (there are some also to be found on Xisto in the tutorials section. Flash isn't learned overnight, but you should be able to complete what you want in a few weeks if you really try to learn it. Or you might also be able to find someone to make it for you.Good luck.Gather all the info though first or you'll be stopping every few moments to get the next info.

I am currently trying to get some 3d animation going for some projects at my work. Renderman is what pixar uses huh? Any idea who makes that?? Or where to get it? Why do you have to have a team? Is that actually a licensing requirement?? If anyone has more information on this topic - it would be great to hear about. I would expect that there are at least some similarities to other more archaic 3d programs so that some experienced with other programs might make an easier transition to Renderman.Happy Designing to All

I agree with some previously stated arguments as to the use. Really each medium has it's pros and cons. Obviously if you want to touch things up - you are going to want to go the electronic route and if you are 'le artiste' you may be more prone to go the film only route. Whichever route you choose I think it's at least important to realize there are more differences between the mediums than just sheer preference - each has it's individual uses.

I just recently tried swish3d max as suggested by Avalon and it seems pretty cool. I thought it was supposed to be easier than flash but so far I am still having a problem doing basic stuff. Perhaps I need more than a couple minutes here and there to learn to use it but I thought at least the simple stuff would be easy. Is this program better than swish 3d? I haven't used much 3d rendering software but I could probably integrate some cool stuff into my designs at work with a good 3d program. I also am not sure if you can model other objects in swish either - I am highly interested in making models of objects that don't come with the software. Is there software capable of this?? Swish 3d? something else??

I have found as an artist, musician, writer, and graphic designer that no matter what 'creative' project you are working on, there is a necessary amount of revision that must be done to obtain your best results. If you focus on trying to get a creative project "perfect" on the first try, you are only going to create a writer's block type dilemma. People who tell you otherwise are usually amatuers who haven't yet come to appreciate the advantage of being able to revise one's work. Usually they are so in love with thier initial creation that they are unable to see how it could be any better and thus never pursue the revision process. This usually leads to doing the same types of works over and over. I suggest that instead of trying to 'get so good you do it right on the first try', you embrace your ability to revise your work and come up with better material than your initial attempt. That ability to revise is, in my opinion, a major advantage over those who cannot revise. I might also add that Thomas edison, while creating the light bulb, tried some 2,000 different materials before he settled on the tungsten filament or whatever he ended up using at that time. As have countless others in many area's of creative output. Successful business owners also share this 'ability to revise' as many of them have several failures under thier belt before they become largely successful. Failure is only failure when you refuse to learn from your mistakes.Revise ReviseReviseBest of luck to all with creative ventures

When creating a web page, I prefer to do a little bit of preplanning first. I sort of brainstorm about what colors I might use and the overall image I want to project and the vibe I want to create with a site or page. Then when I actually get down to business, things change as I design it. I come up with new ideas as I'm coding or designing stuff. It's good to get creative while you are designing because it seems that once you get into the creative 'groove' you come up with the better stuff. So I brainstorm for the overall idea and the actual aesthetics of the whole thing sort of come together as I design. This also seems to hold true for whatever graphic design project I undertake. The revision process is another largely overlooked part of designing. If you get too in love with your first design, you are likely to miss out on all the cool ways you could really make your design better by revising it.

What are you trying to do Avalon?? I might be able to help with something - I know some action script and use it regularly for work. I greatly appreciate your help in the past. If you are looking for something other than background on actionscript I might be of at least some help.