If you are a digital media artist, making the transition from hi-res publication into lo-res rich online content, one's initial impression of Macromedia Flash is commonly disorientation. It is anything but intuitive, due more to the restrictions of creating documents for a variety of web browsers and systems. A simple function can require many steps which must be followed in order, and are not easy to retrace if an error occurs. Instead of images on a canvas, you are creating instances and events on a stage; you were a designer, but now you are becoming a scriptor and director.
I believe that of all books written on digital graphics publication, Flash is probably second only to Photoshop as having the most titles. Many claim to be the best starting place. This book, as many other titles in the lynda.com H.O.T. series, gets my vote hands down. It is easy, it is quick, it works great for someone who can barely fit spare time into their schedule, and that's because it's fun. You see, for all its techno-razzle-dazzle-complexity, Flash is a program with FUN as its essential purpose. It is designed to make mere information displayed on a scrolling screen sing and dance, and be interacted with.
As with her outstanding intro-tuitive book on Flash 5, author/instructor Kymberlee Weill presents us with an 18-chapter tour of Flash's various tools and abilities (as well as a healthy interest in snowboarding and Red Bull), with in-depth explanations of what each tool and command is capable of, and a series of economical exercises I'm sure anyone could fit into their schedule. Previous exercises are referenced in later chapters, something I especially appreciate, and moderate Flash veterans can skip ahead without fear of missing needed information. Another thing I really enjoy is how this is not just an update of the previous book; like the program Flash itself, Weil has upgraded both the content and teaching approach, unlike the books by Macromedia with their damn Compass Travel "client" (sometimes the source is not the best place to seek training). One of the few computer instruction books I would actually call "fresh".
In short, Flash MX H.O.T. is an optimal starting place for Flash virgins who need to get up and running in short order. I'm sure the program will become less awkward in future versions; in the meantime, Ms Weil's softcover classroom makes conquering the present-day Flash online theatre a productive and enjoyable experience.
