How did you learn??

[Darkclaw]

So how did you learn Flash?? Did you just kept toying with it?? Did you read a book on it (if so, what book?)

I'm new to Flash (started this week), so I feel completely lost. I know my way around, but there's just so much you can do with it. I was wondering what is the best way to really learn it??

So how did you guys learn??

[ahmed]

online communities, online tutorial/articles and books:beam:

[kaotic]

kirupaville

[reverendflash]

I had learned HTML from my brother and online, then decided to go to design school. They showed me Flash 2 for 3 hours, and I was hooked. I immediately started abandoning HTML, Flash 3 just came out, and I started spending about 6 hours a day, 4-5 days a week trying stuff out (there were no books out at that time that I knew of) for about 6 weeks producing webistes for my friends and myself. Then started marketing myself as a Flash developer both online and socially (there were a lot of dot-com free-booze parties going on).

I didn't get a job doing Flash work until I had worked as a Webmaster for about a year first, to show I had knowledge in the basics of the web, and how the web works.

The rest is history...

Revhttp://www.aulman.com/rev.gif

[RenaissanceGirl]

I learned everything on my own - no formal training. But not without help from my fellow Kirupians and lots of books ofcourse. :)

I learned on a need to know basis. I learned HTML because I wanted to have a personal site. After that, I learned Flash because a client wanted a Flash site. Same thing with PHP - had a project that needed it.

I'm just floating along.

[lostinbeta]

Kirupaville helped me the most, it is the site I learned all my information from that I didn't learn on my own.

The rest I learned by going through the AS Reference in Flash and experimenting with commands in AS to see how they work.


In my opinion, experimentation is key, sure you can copy and paste code, or have someone show you how to do it, but I feel you learn best from finding out how things work on your own and learning from your own mistakes.


This method isn't really for everyone though, it works for me, but it may not work for you.


I do know own, nor have I ever read a book on Flash... but I am beggining to think I should invest in some...lol.

[RenaissanceGirl]

You should at least get Colin Moock's book, "Actionscript: A Definite Guide." It's not really a "learning" book, but it's a great referrence guide for advanced Flashers. Mine never collects dust on the book shelf - but sits dog-eared from overuse on top of my unused Wacom.

[lostinbeta]

I was thinking about getting the second one because that is MX actionscript right? I want the Colin Moock book either way.

And an unused Wacom!!!!!!!!!! Boy, what I would do to have a Wacom to use and you are saying you never use yours :!: LOL.....


<~~~ Super Jealous

[Ryall]

Im gonna get the Moock book... like Ren said it seems like it would be a great desk reference type book.

Other suggestions: Anything by froends of Ed, "Flash MX Studio" is good, but you'll need to have a decent understanding of Flash for that to be helpful....

Good Luck, and Happy Flashing:smirk:

Peace

[eyeinfinitude]

I started with Google, did a search for "flash tutorials" and Kirupa was one of the many returns I got so I was destined to be part of this forum and from here, I absorbed tid bits here and there from reading other peoples posts. Reading the information was one thing, but I also did a lot of experimenting as well since I'm a visual learner, I had to try out the stuff right away before it forget it. I always have MX open and ready for action when I'm browsing through this forum because I'll probably see something cool I want to try out. =)

[Ryall]

Ahhhh... the tried and true method of Kirupaville.... C:-)

Peace

[RenaissanceGirl]

Lost: believe me it makes me sadder than anyone! I shelled out over $300 months ago on this Intuos and suddenly I have no time to use it! Not only that, my job won't let me bring in my Graphire because the Big Brother Computer Tech Guy says he "dun know 'nuff 'bout them." So instead I'm using this crappy Microsoft mouse.

[novatake]

well i started when i learnt html and java then got flash 5 and couldnt do it good job it was a trial i got, then wen MX came out i thought what the hell so i had a crack with a trial and it was alot easier so i bought it im still learning and probably always will be i got FLASH MX FOR DUMMIES a while back which really helped me out but just with the basics im lookin to get actionscript for dummies next the dummies series are so good. Just remember to stick at it i used it for ages then 1 day it suddenly clicked mainly thanks to kirupaville i have to say.

-Tom

[lostinbeta]

Ren: That sucks monkey butts!

novatake: Yeah, I crept up to Flash too. I started with HTML, then got into Javascript, then CSS, then DHTML (failed miserably there).... and I saved and saved and saved and bought Flash MX (saved for Flash 5, took so long, that MX was out by then).

[novatake]

well when i started to learn flash mx i thought wot the hell i go the whole hog so i started to learn DHTML, asp, php,cgi,actionscript obviously and a few others

which is prob why i aint that good at flash lol
not bad for a 16 year old

-Tom

[pom]

Grand master Upu taught me :+) by the way Novatake, you stole both his footer and his location... :-/

[Clayman]

I learned everything myself, i download the trial for flash 5 and then decided to buy it, as for HTML, i just read a whole bunch of tutorials. :smirk:

[Jubba]

I learned everything I know about Flash from Kirupa.com!!!

[bcogswell11]

Originally posted by ahmed
online communities, online tutorial/articles and books:beam:

Exactly! :-)

-brad-:evil:
(formerly bcogswell11)

[Marz]

Wlel Let's see here...

I started out years and years ago by sitting there and flipping through old code on my Macintosh LCIII... I knew then I was addicted to coding.. hehe.. But the years went past...

Finally some 10 years ago.. I sat in front of my computer with a notepad on my computer desktop and keyboard in hands and I sat there and had fun making my first HTML based website.. I had this printout of all the commands of HTML.. TO the basic < BLINK >

Talk about fun.. This went on for several months.. I was playing around with Paint and some other low end programs making a couple of graphics and having fun with them... But mainly.. I learned to design sites without graphics at all..

The next step up was DHTML and Photoshop.. I started doing both of these some many years ago and I just stuck with it... I started learning mroe and more.. XML, CSS, CGI, Java and JavaScripting...

Then the new server languages came out.. And at the time I was learning basic C++ and Visual Basic... It was allright.. But I still needed more challenge...

So.. I started learning ASP, PHP, and hardcoe C++... I made my first C++ game then.. 4-Player Pong-a-thon..It was fun.. And I enjoyed it... And from then on.. I was hooked into the funness of C++ ad game programming.. I wrote down tons of ideas for game sinto what I now have.. 20 notebooks... Most of you wonder where I can come up with algorithms and stuff like that from easy and quick.. That's why....

So then.. I explored Flash.. And I've been here ever since.. Why do I like Flash over C++? Because I don't have to build a drawing and sound interface.. Or a movie interface into Flash.. It's already there... I like building the bases of games.. not the foundations...

Throughout these years.. I usually find ONE good book... And it's usually some kind-a Bible book that's 1500+ pages long and include very few pictures or diagrams... And I use those for reference.. And right now.. I'm looking for a good book on Flash MX to be my reference guide...

I have the Friends of Ed : Flash Games Studio BOok... It's veyr enlightening.... BUT DONE IN Flash 5! BAH! hehehe...

Take care.. DOn't fall asleep too early in this.. :)

Peace

[Ryall]

Originally posted by ilyaslamasse
Grand master Upu taught me :+) by the way Novatake, you stole both his footer and his location... :-/

He did, didnt he? I didnt even notice until you pointed that out...hmmm.

Peace

[upuaut]

you know you're stuff is well liked when people rip you off blind. ;)

[lostinbeta]

So true... so true. I like your new footer now though david, it is also .... so true... so true...lol.

[Raydred]

learned flash by reading some small tutorials, and going to Flashkit(at first) then i found Kirupa.com and with my determination and kirupa.com i just learned it =)

[mdipi]

for as mostly books and a litter here. but books gave me everyting in more detail. but for just flash, friends, fooling around, MM tuts, and here, mostly here.

[novatake]

yo david i didnt nick ur footer i asked u for it and u happily obliged i just aint got round to makin another yet as for the location I am a huge pink floyd fan as u will prob realise so it aint exactly ripping off but hey i aint fussed.

-Tom

[mdipi]

novatake where have you been? i never see you post!

[novatake]

ive been around mdipi im always online i just only really post on stuff i can actually help people with or if i need help and i aint needed help for a while with my site so u know just saw every1 slatin me for stealing so i thought i better answer back im tryin to think of a decent idea for a footer but the one david gave me rocks but anyway im here.
-Tom

[pom]

Arghh!! Another Pink Floyd fan :hangover: :hangover:

And nice new footer, by the way.

[mdipi]

pom, thats not a new footer...but anyway tom your site is down.

[mdipi]

nvm it wasnt loaded when i posted that. i like i like! very nice job. :P i got swift open right now. lol

[andr.in]

oh yeah!

Guess who's back,
Back again,
Syko's back,
Tell a friend!

---now let's get to the point!
online tute's | ~95% KirupaVille! :)

[mdipi]

syko where you been? btw on Live i played against a sYkO :P

[telekinesis]

Your signature contains way too much content, pick one thing to put, not 4 ;)

[Marz]

*goes and tells a friend but gets slap with a salmon*..

Gee. Thanks syko... :-p

[andr.in]

lol! No problem! :)
btw ppl check out the smiley-thread in the Random forum! Doh' pressed the wrong button again!
hey I can delete my posts by editing it but can I delete my own threads?

[Marz]

Hmm.. I think it has somehting to do with the replies you get from your thread.. If you have a reply by someone else they probably won't let you delete it..

Maybe?

[lostinbeta]

Originally posted by dan4885
Your signature contains way too much content, pick one thing to put, not 4 ;)

Actually he has about 5 things

1) The name with smilies
2) ugler spiser mus!
3) #of times posted at the same time w/someone else:10
4) Flash Footer w/instructions
5) Gamer Tag for nasty x-box


And yes... that is way too much content in the signature.

[mdipi]

i know! he should totaly change it! who has 5 themes to a footer?!

[lostinbeta]

Well time for you to change it then mdipi.

[Marz]

:cyclops: Hmmm... hehehe

[novatake]

it aint down at my end but hey who knows it does what it wants most the time shud be ok though workin fine here
my footer was being a **** and not changing shud be ok now

-Tom

[novatake]

p.s wots wrong with pink floyd they rock

-Tom

[kirupa]

Hey everyone,
I learned Flash through messing around with the program. Before Flash 3, I used Microsoft's LiquidMotion. Since I liked LM more than Flash 3, I did not touch Flash until LM was discontinued and Flash 4 came out. Since Flash 4, I was hooked on the program.

At that time, very few Web sites or books existed regarding Flash. So, I trolled Flashkit for a while, looked through Macromedia's manual, and just experimented till I could do simple animations. Colin Moock's book really helped me get invovled with ActionScript, and since then, I've been flashing daily =)

Cheers!
Kirupa:bad:

[novatake]

u dirty flashing swine lol i try but im rubbish at it so u know i fluke my way around flash

-Tom

[.soulty]

I learnt flash in collage, had a 3 year course in graphic design, and we partly learned what we could do in the course, but non of the teachers had advanced skill in the program , so with the help of some collage (tafe) mates (known as Dave on this forum!!), we bounced ideas and skills to each other and became more advanced in it. The teachers started asking us how we managed certain effect, lol. Other than flash, ive been involded with many programs, mostly the ones used for graphic design such as Photoshop, illustrator, quark Xpress.

Then to some multimedia, director, aftereffects and some flash where we went into website, and worked on Image ready, fireworks, dreamweaver, and flash.

This was in the course, but personally i've been teaching myself 3d with the awesome program of Maya. as well as some web related 3d, in swift 3d and plasma.

other programs i have learnt are audio related, that are fast tracker, acid pro and soundforge.

I can learn really any program i can get my hand on, with a little of time and concentration.

Usually i set myself a project and along the way find out how to do certain task i research and learn.

So here iam on kirupa , getting help and giving help to those i can.

[Kitiara]

I first learned it by having to alter some other peoples' programs for my last job. I took these movies and code to pieces and figured it out for myself. Then they upgraded to Flash 5 and bought me a book, The Flash 5 Bible, and I started to write my own stuff for them. Later I got the MX upgrade and I'm fairly confident with the whole thing now. :)

[Guig0]

flash 5 the bible and Colin Moock - AS the definitive guide

[sintax321]

I had taken some classes and thought I knew flash. Then I found kirupa and realized i kewn nothing. I learnt more in a week here then I ever learnt in class. You do not need to pay for a class to learn flash. Just hang out here for a month and you will learn it all on your own. Go though the tutorials start to finish. Make sure you learn the stuff in them though don't just do i and forget aobut it. This i think is one ofthe best ones http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/full_site.asp

It really teachs you alot how to properly setup a site in flash. Stay here and you should be fineC:-)

[zcarrington1]

I basically learned by toying with it, but I wasn't doing too well. The I discovered Kirupaville
and took a few tutorials. I'm still not great after a year and a half, but the good thing about Flash is you
don't have to be great, or the most artistic person in the world, to use it. Flash is pretty difficult to get the hang
of but once you do it's pretty easy to realize your ideas.

[upuaut]

hmm.. my story. Not too much too it really. I've always enjoyed animating things. From clay to plasic cells, I've been doing it all since I was a kid. When I met my fiance, she was (and still is) a design major doing freelance web work. She had a copy of Macromedia's Director, and I put together a short production using it. I had been using a 1980's program called Disney's Animation shop a few times, but it was very limited. I found Director to be so advanced though that I just couldn't handle all the options availiable to me. Eventually I found the middle ground.. a truely intuitive animation package with basic programing options. Flash 4.0 was killer. Still though, there was a lot of background information that Flash programers were using that I just couldn't get the hang of. With 5.0 that changed. The program opened up to the average mind. I did a lot of good work with that one. MX is only that much better, again, making the most obvious functions more basic.