From the book lists at Adware Report:

 All information current as of 17:51:37 Pacific Time, Sunday, 20 March 2005.

Flash Studio Secrets

   by Glenn Thomas

  Paperback:
    Wiley
    15 February, 2001

   US$34.99     

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Editorial description(s):

Michelle Welsh, Cofounder of FutureWave Software, Inc.
What a pleasure to see such a remarkable book on Macromedia Flash!

Book Info
Reveals all the secrets to putting Flash software to the absolute limit, creating multimedia rich animation, and enhancing applications in advertising and on the Internet. Shows examples from giants like Eddie Bauer, which created cinematic marketing messages and advertising using Photos in Flash that emulated videos. Softcover. DLC: Flash (Computer file).

From the Author
Glenn Thomas, co-founder of Smashing Ideas, Inc., in association with Hungry Minds Publishing (formerly IDG Books Worldwide), has published Flash Studio Secrets, a readable, comprehensive, instructional book about Macromedia Flash, the leading tool for the creation of vector-based digital media. The book is the latest installment of the popular Studio Secrets series and offers the reader insights into the world of creating award-winning, rich media websites, animation, games and advertising using Flash.

Flash Studio Secrets includes chapter contributions from various Smashing Ideas' studio experts on animation, programming and motion graphics, as well as notable guest authors such as Phillip Torrone on Generator, Heather Perkins on sound for Flash, and Manuel Clement on 3D in Flash. The book offers the reader an all-inclusive look at the ins and outs of developing real projects in Flash, and includes inspirational interviews with such renowned web professionals as: Todd Purgason, Natalie Zee, Jason Snyder, Josh Ulm and Shannon Rankin.

From the Back Cover
Flash™ studio secrets® Smashing Ideas has been at the forefront of Flash content development since 1996, when Flash made Smashing Ideas' debut as FutureSplash Animator. Now, the firm's cofounder at last reveals the secrets of its success. Drawing on interviews with noted Flash artists as well as a generous helping of Smashing Ideas' case studies--ranging from Zombie College animation to Lycos brand-building to the Gameshow Network quiz show--Glenn Thomas shows you how to push Flash to the limit, whether you want to create cutting-edge entertainment programming or enhance the customer experience at an e-commerce site. Companion Web Site! www.flashstudiosecrets.com

About the Author
About the Author GLENN THOMAS is a cofounder of Smashing Ideas, a leading developer of Flash content. The firm has animated Zombie College and Dilbert, created award-winning content for Devo and Madonna, developed the LAUNCHcast streaming audio player and an e-mail chess game, and completed projects for Eddie Bauer, Intel, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., RealNetworks, and Icebox.com, among other clients.

Book Description
This stunning, four-color book is built around specific projects with underlying themes that introduce specific points about using Flash. Each project features a world-class Flash designer or organization, and includes a real-world case study detailing the objectives of the project. Each case study includes a description of the techniques and skills used in the project. Also integrated into these chapters would be specific notes on how doing these projects might differ slightly with Flash 5.


Reader review(s):

Intermediate book. Expensive. Good tricks. Overview., November 6, 2001
Flash Studio Secrets was insightful but expensive. It's one of those books that are nice to have if you have the money, but enhances books already in your collection. It would not be useful being your only Flash book. The studio/business point of view and analysis of projects were very good, but I think the books suffers from a "Jack of all trades mentality" Then again, maybe that was their target audience for people buying the book. If you want to specialize on just web design, focus just on cartooning or focus on actionscript/gaming, buy another book. If you were looking for a good overview and another perspective to add to your library, this book would be ok.

I found the chapter on sound and programming a good read. Unfortunately there are a few typo's which annoy and the source code promised for the chess game in chapter four is not included on their website. I emailed them for the working version of the chess game they talk about, but am yet to receive an answer. The chapters on edutainment and marketing are also an interesting read. Furthermore, there are some good tricks and ideas mentioned throughout.

This is an intermediate book. This book will generate ideas and let you look at things regarding Flash in a different perspective. Don't buy this book if you're looking to learn how to use the program. This book will give you ideas on how to improve on what you already know and improve your workflow.

An Intermediate-Level Variety, May 22, 2001
The book is a bit spendy, but a solid piece best suited for intermediate users. While it doesn't start at beginner learning-level Flash or go into deep advanced depths, it does do a good job of covering the wide range of possibilities with Flash. Flash Studio Secrets is similar in structure to other books in the Studio Secrets series, but with a focus on the diverse projects within one studio, namely Smashing Ideas. The book touches a range of topics including motion graphics, flash interactivity and gaming, action script, some stuff on simulating 3-D and video, optimizing files, rich media and viral advertising, some Generator, a bit on sound and "broadcast quality animation." Each chapter is on a different subject, so it doesn't really build in complexity, but looks at a different application of Flash created content. That is a lot different from a tutorial book, so I would not expect to start at square one and have it teach you everything there is about action script. The advantage of this resource is broad coverage: cartoons, gaming experiences, rich media, immersive ads, entertainment players, and personal expression ideas. While there is no CD, there is a packed companion web site that allows you to view virtually all the projects and download the files. This was very helpful for going through the book, but something that isn't made real obvious at all in the text or on the cover. I found Flash Studio Secrets to be a good overall look at possibilities with Flash, showing the variety, and taking you through some tips, tricks and insights.

Nishant Kothary, July 22, 2001
I don't believe that nobody noticed that the OOP chapter (chapter 4) was simply outstanding. I spent 2 years programming, before I decided that I hated computer science and happily enrolled into a technology program that lets you use your aesthetic eye too... but, no offense to all you liberal arts majors, the technology program (I won't name the university I'm at, because I'm very patriotic :) )isn't all that I thought it would be. It's a cesspool of Liberal arts majors who actually think they have the technical saavy to create electonic media, which of course they fail at miserably. Where am I going with this? I'm just saying that I don't hate computer scientists any more than I hate Art majors who cook up this deep world for themselves and incessently brew up theories about how beauty must be percieved.

The point I'm trying to make is that Flash is not an eye-candy machine. It was till version 3. Version 4 tore Flash away from that easy paintbrush-like stereotype, into a programming environment one. It would be cruel to use Flash 5 without maximizing its actionscripting engine. Take my word for it, Flash 6 and later versions are going to give Java and its peers a run for their money... it's simple, you take a supermodel, and transplant her with stephen hawking's brain, and voila... you have perfection, metaphorically speaking in e-terms of course ;) Flash is the rookie that can throw farther than the main QB with dead-on accuracy... it's just that very few people have noticed that yet.

Come on people, look at the bigger picture here! My vision is no better than any of your's... so why is it that only a few people are seeing the same light that I am?

Take your Flash development to the next level., May 18, 2001
I just finished reading through this book and all I can say is Wow!!. I know Flash very well, but this book taught me so much more.

It is especially strong if you are interested in creating animation and sound using Flash. In particular, I loved the chapters on animation, and although I can't draw or animate, this book walked me through step by step on how to get started.

It also includes all of the small tips and tricks that you can normally only pick up after working with Flash for a long time.

There are also very good chapters on using Video with Flash, 3D in Flash, Flash as a learning tool, Branding and Advertising, Using Sound in Flash, creating dynamic content with Flash, middleware and also Generator, etc...

Of course, this shouldn't be a surprise, just look at the main authors and the authors who contributed to the book

Glenn Thomas : smashing ideas - one of the leaders in flash development and animation.

Phillip Torrone Phil Scott Manuael Clement

Andreas Heim

to just name a few.

This is one book that stays on my desk. Highly recommended. I know that this sounds like a marketing blurb, but the book is that good.

Smaller File Sizes Don't Lie, Very Informative, July 17, 2001
The best thing about this book is Chapter 2, "Optimizing, Loading, and Playback". The other books that I have read about flash don't even touch on this issue. It was worth the price of the book. Learning how to use the movie report option in flash, and how to properly bring in images for use from Illustrator has DRASTICALLY reduced my file sizes. My bitmap files look 20 times better, and are WAAAAaY smaller.

The animation chapter was also good. That chapter also had cool optimization techniques, like the modify>optimize pallate that I had never used before. Using it on all my drawn symbols reduced my file size by about 30 percent, and the drawings didn't look any different.

This book has a lot of information in it, I think it definately has something for everyone, especially if you are new to flash. I think this book gave me the basics on just about everything. It was a decent read,and the book is really nice to look at with TONS of color pictures, and I like that Smashing Ideas Robot Guy.

The Sound chapter is also really good, especially for non-sound people like myself. I picked up a lot of new techniques here that I had no clue about.

I have definately referred to the optimization techniques in this book in every flash project I've done since. I do recommend picking up this book if only for the drastic reduction in file sizes you will experience after reading it.

Worthless, May 17, 2001
I rated it one star because I couldn't go any lower.

Some nice tid bits, October 26, 2001
I would have to say that there are some nice tid bits of flash wisdom spread through out this book. Not sure if that's worth the price of the book!

Also, not really a teaching tool about flash, more of a teaching tool about how Smashing Ideas in Seattle do things!

Great Book! Smashing Ideas RULES, May 20, 2001
all the staff who bought this book found it *very* useful for their projects, the sound chapter is one my favorites!

Awesome!, January 24, 2002
This book is tremendous compendium for FLASH afficionados. I already had a strong background with experience using and developing in FLASH. But to see the ideas, code and they way it was architected by Smashing Ideas and other experts is really great.

Also, I found it very inspirational to read the thoughts of industry marvels like Jason Alan Snyder and Glenn Thomas who have been incredibly innovative with their creative use of FLASH in the areas of advertising and marketing.

I highly reccomend this title to anyone who wants to gain additional insight from the best and brightest the industry has to offer.

An Intermediate-Level Variety, May 22, 2001
The book is a bit spendy, but a solid piece best suited for intermediate users. While it doesn't start at beginner learning-level Flash or go into deep advanced depths, it does do a good job of covering the wide range of possibilities with Flash. Flash Studio Secrets is similar in structure to other books in the Studio Secrets series, but with a focus on the diverse projects within one studio, namely Smashing Ideas . The book touches a range of topics including motion graphics, flash interactivity and gaming, action script, some stuff on simulating 3-D and video, optimizing files, rich media and viral advertising, some Generator, a bit on sound and "broadcast quality animation." Each chapter is on a different subject, so it doesn't really build in complexity, but looks at a different application of Flash created content. That is a lot different from a tutorial book, so I would not expect to start at square one and have it teach you everything there is about action script. The advantage of this resource is broad coverage: cartoons, gaming experiences, rich media, immersive ads, entertainment players, and personal expression ideas. While there is no CD, there is a packed companion web site that allows you to view virtually all the projects and download the files. This was very helpful for going through the book, but something that isn't made real obvious at all in the text or on the cover. I found Flash Studio Secrets to be a good overall look at possibilities with Flash, showing the variety, and taking you through some tips, tricks and insights.
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