Create Slick Email Forms Using Flash

Just released, 2 Hour video lesson which teaches Actionscript 3 Flash Email Forms (with "Flash Cookies")

Watch Step by Step Instructions for Creating the Form shown on the sales page, with these key features....


- Locally Shared Objects (basically, Flash "cookies") are created to save the form for filling in later.
For example, fill in some of the fields in the sales page. Press TAB or "Save Form", then close the window and come back. Upon return the information filled in previously will appear. This is a good feature for lengthy forms that might extend over multiple swfs.

- Restrict input text to specific characters. Also error messages can prompt users about typing restricted text. You can test this out in the Order # field on the sales page. If you type letters instead of numbers, an error prompt will show up.

- Prior to submitting the form, required fields can be tested for accurate info. For example, if you exclude the @ symbol or a period in the Email field, the form will prompt you to enter a valid email address

- Learn to use four common Components: Checkboxes, Label Buttons, Pulldown Menus, and Scrollbars. Also these components can workhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif together, for example certain pulldown menu's will switch the checkbox to being selected.

- Scripted Motion Tweens can be added to make user messages slide in instead of appearing abruptly. You can test this out in the Order # field. If you type letters instead of numbers, an error prompt will slide / fade in.

- Input and Dynamic Text boxes are taught extensively.
- The PHP file to send the form is also included and can be modified as well

To grab this video tutorial on

Flash Based RSS Reader or XML Parser

Learn How to Use XML to Create a Flash Based RSS Reader - PLUS this tutorial includes a short lesson on exporting the RSS reader to Adobe AIR*!!

So how's this work... The Flash file will parse the RSS/XML files and use your own custom "shells" for displaying the information. You can populate the reader with your own RSS feeds are thousands more from other sites! If you aren't familiar with RSS, it stands for Really Simple Syndication, and in basic terms and RSS reader will display a site's new articles and provides quick ways of reading them without visiting the actual site itself.

The tutorial also teaches how to make the Flash reader display HTML tags, for example the reader (on the sale page) displays pictures because the source feed (Yahoo) includes image tags.

Example Flash files are provided for three readers (essentially templates), but the design possibilities are limitless. You choose how it can look to fit your site's branding.

*This Tutorial also includes a separate movie file which describes how to update your version of Flash CS3 for creating an Adobe AIR application. Ultimately this same RSS reader (or any of your previous Flash files) can be published as an installable application for your desktop

Check out the full example for this RSS Flash Tutorial here.

CartoonSmart Bulk package

We're offering a rare bulk package price for EVERYTHING on the site... Here's the link to grab that offer.

Actionscript 3 Video Player Tutorial (using XML)

Learn to program a Flash based FLV video player using Actionscript 3. The tutorial and features list includes...

-Dynamically load video locations and details from an XML document. Easily update your player without republishing by simply editing file names (like "video1.flv" ) in an XML document

-Create a scrollable playlist with details about each video and preview thumbnails. Your video details aren't limited to those in the preview example above, use as few or many as you choose.

- Use the Fullscreen button in the bottom right of the player to maximize the viewer's experience Viewers can kick back and watch your video take up their entire screen space. Hitting ESCAPE exits this mode.

- You always have the option to change the visual appearance of the player. Tint it, stretch it, brand it, add sparkles and unicorns! Do whatever you want to the player design.

- Use your choice of FLV components to control the video, without relying on preset skins. Components (like the PLAY button, PAUSE button, etc) can be added individually and positioned wherever you choose.

- Cue Points can be embedded in your FLV files to trigger events in your Flash file. Actionscript can listen out for specific points in your video and then trigger an event when that point occurs.

In a Hurry?.... The first hour shows how to create a Flash video file, apply quick playback skins for it, and then program a simple playlist. The next two hours demonstrate how to create the example above, which uses XML and sets up a scrollable playlist.

Check out the full example and tutorial details here

New Animation FX Tutorials!

This latest lesson is a hodge podge of various Flash animation effects. The list includes, how to create (and animate)...

Smoke Ring Explosions
Crazy Frenetic Highlights (think Ren & Stimpy style highlight)
Electricity Beams ( think Ghostbuster beams)
Spiky Explosion Blasts
Spiral Trails (could be used as a gun shot after-effect)
Glamourous Lighting ( think over-exposed twinkly lights )
Impact Smoke Puffs (think piano-dropping after effects)
Club Lights or Police Lights (blazing spiky lights)
Gloomy Mist / Metallic Liquid (could be good for a ghosty look)
Water (check out the image below)




Check out the site for full details and animated versions of each Flash effect.

Flash Lite Basics Tutorial!

Here's what's taught in this Basics of Flash Lite Video Tutorial...

Introduction to Flash Lite and Adobe Device Central
Flash Lite Navigation and Buttons
Changing the Focus Rectangle Color
Key Listener Events for detecting the phone keypad, softkeys, or numeral keys
Static, Input or Dynamic text for Flash Lite
Programming Scrolling Text Boxes
Common FSCommand2 script.
Getting Phone Info
Thumbnail Galleries in Flash Lite
getURL for Connecting to
Websites or Image Downloads.
getURL for Sending SMS, MMS, Mail or Dialing a Number
Dynamically Loading Text or Images from a website.
And Tips on Mobile DevelopmentBest Practices

Everything taught will work with Flash Lite 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 2.1 & 3.0


And in case you don't know what Flash Lite is...

Using Flash CS3 Professional or Flash 8 Professional, you can publish content for Flash Lite 1, 2, or 3, which can be transferred to a mobile phone as a standalone application, wallpaper, screensaver or viewed online if the phone can run Flash Lite player within it's web browser. Currently the most common use of Flash Lite is as a standalone application on the mobile device. This means your published .swf file would ultimately get transferred to phone either by web download or by connecting the phone to a computer via bluetooth or cable. Each phone might have a different way of transferring files to it but testing your finished .swf on the actual device is not necessary for this tutorial. Flash CS3 Professional includes Adobe's Device Central which emulates hundreds of phones to test on. Flash Professional 8 also has an emulator but not as refined. It is beyond the scope of this lesson, or any Flash tutorial, to include instructions for transferring the .swf to every possible cell phone. So if you are interested in testing the final .swf on your own phone you'll need to consult your phone's included documentation for transferring files to it.

Advanced Shading Techniques in Flash

Learn Advanced Shading Techniques using Flash Professional 8 or Flash CS3 Professional. Watch the 2 Hour videos and practice along using some of the provided unshaded vector art. By the end of the video, you should be able to create exactly the same image seen in the example.