Flash is one of the most pervasive technologies on the Web, delivering interactive and immersive multimedia. Leading corporate Web sites use its streamlined graphics to communicate their brands, major motion picture studios promote theatrical releases with Flash video, and online news and educational sites provide rich user experiences.

Adobe Flash Professional CS5 is the program for industry professionals to create Flash content. As a vector-based animation and authoring application, Flash is ideal for creating high-impact, low-bandwidth sites incorporating animation, text, video, sound, and database integration. With robust support for complex interactivity and server-side communication, Flash is an ideal solution for developing Internet applications as well as sophisticated Web site designs. From designer to programmer, Flash is an indispensable tool for delivering dynamic content across various browsers, platforms, and devices.

As the popularity of Flash remains high, so does the demand for designers and developers who know how to tap its power. This book is designed to help you meet that challenge. Learn how to build complex animations; integrate sophisticated interfaces and navigation schemes; and dynamically control graphics, video, sound, and text. Experiment with the techniques discussed in this book to create the compelling media that Flash makes possible. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Flash has revolutionized the Web. This book will help you be a part of that revolution—so boot up your computer and let’s get started!