Flash is a 2D vector graphics package in the style of Adobe Illustrator with the added feature of animation and the facility to publish on the web. It can also create standalone interactives or output to video, making it an interesting and inexpensive option for traditional animators. Its drawing and paint tools could also offer a bump-it-out-quick medium for illustrators. You can even use it as a title and graphics generator and compositor for Quicktime video.

The essence of vector graphics is data economy and resolution independence. Flash's web focus means that streamlining and low bandwidth for quick download and playability inform most of its attributes. Instead of thousands of images of animation or video, Flash merely needs to transmit basic parameter information which is interpreted and reconstructed on the user-end by the web browser plugin.

Flash's drawing tools let you work rough and clean up after you with optional straightening smoothing and rounding functions. You can specify degrees of correction or smoothing and use a range of fills, paint-behinds and gradients on a multilayer canvas for a quick clean result.

Animation in Flash is keyframe based with in-betweening - or "tweening" - of the shape, colour scale, rotation or motion of your objects. You can also draw motion paths. Flash can build complex layered animations efficiently from multiple instances of a single graphic element. These elements may be static or animated with each instance displaying variations of tint, rotation size, even transparency. Pixel based images and movies can form part of a Flash composition as well but add to the download size for web users.

NEW IN VERSION 4

Some revamping of the interface and new features including symbols that your audience can click and drag around the screen. Editable text fields can accept data input from users. You can sort, group, and track the use of compositional elements in the library. Flash 4 now supports synchronized MP3 streaming audio so Flash movies can include prolonged animations with voiceovers and music with no need for prior download.

More info: www.macromedia.com

David Nerlich