Let's get ANIMATED!

O.k., so you've built a website. Now let's see how to jazz up the world wide web a little. How about adding a little animation to it?

Adobe Flash is a great way to add animation to your website. But be careful: If overdone, it can look tacky. Flash is one of those things where a little dab will do it. So instead of trying to build an entire site out of flash, let's focus on something a little smaller.

Let's make a web banner!

You've seen them all over the web. Little banners that advertise everything from Shamwow's © to Ginsu © knives! Small boxes that play music or animate text are staples of advertising on the web. So let's learn how to make them!

First, you'll need some background. I want you to read up on what Flash is and what it can do here. I want you to read ALL TWELVE sections. Remember, each section may have 5-10 pages! I want you to read it well, as there WILL be a quiz. And no, this time it WON'T be open book! Quiz will cover "Frame rates", "Timelines and Keyframes", "Motion Tweens" , and "Motion Paths." I want you to start to understand what Flash is and what it can do.

Once you've read the Flash learning guide (above) I want you to start thinking about your flash banner. We are all going to design a banner for a local South Boston business. Pick out a business in downtown South Boston (or near) that is a mom-and-pop shop. No big corporations allowed! Prepare some ideas on what you'd like to advertise for this business and make some drawings of what you'd like your ad to say. You will be required to animate some text for this project, so think of what you need to say and how you might like to animate it. It can fade in or our, zoom in or out, fly in from the side/top/bottom, etc. Think about what the banner should look like and decide if you will need any photographs to use. If so, I want you to go out and take the photos yourself. If you don't have a digital camera, the Higher Education Center has a few they can check out for your use. But think ahead: Other students use these and they may already be checked out. Plan in advance if you need to borrow a camera!

Homework (due March 29):

• Read all twelve sections of the Flash Learning Guide

• Study sections listed above for quiz - NOT open book!

• Pick a local South Boston business to make a flash banner for

• Bring in 3-5 color sketches of your banner (MINIMUM of 3!!)

• Take any photos you might need for your banner.

ALL OF THIS WILL BE GRADED!