A growing collection of ActionScript 3.0 and Flash CS3 tutorials, some were prepared with a mathematics and science educator in mind but a great majority are of interest to all Flash developers. We are adding new tutorials to this site all the time. Visit our site often! Click on the menu items above to browse the whole collection.
NEW TUTORIALS
Magnifying Glass Effect in Flash CS3 and AS3, Displaying Load Progress of Runtime Assets We show how to easily create a magnifying glass effect. When the user mouses over an image, a magnified portion is displayed. We use the bitmapFill method rather than masking to accomplish the effect. Since a high resolution image is loaded at runtime, we show how to create a simple load progress display. The image, the shape and dimensions of the magnifying glass, the magnification factor are all easily customizable.
Earth and Other Celestial Bodies in 3D in Flash CS3 and AS3, The ActionScript 3 GlowFilter In this experiment we build a gallery of 3D textured planets, including Earth, Mars, Venus and others. The planets auto rotate or can be rotated in 3D by the user. We present a new, easier to customize version of our popular BitmapSphere AS3 class. Since our planets glow, we discuss the AS3 GlowFilter class.
Using the Timer and Date Classes in Flash CS3 We use simple examples to illustrate the AS3 Timer and Date classes. We explain how to use a Timer object to create animated motion or a repeated event. In one of the examples, the user generates a random number and a game piece moves around a board that number of spaces. In another example, we show how to combine the Date class with a Timer object to create a digital clock effect.
Billboard Transition Effects in ActionScript 3 and Flash CS3 Clever transition effects reminisent of billboards. Images (or display objects) are divided into slices that rotate in 3D to change the image. You choose the number of slices and the horizontal or vertical flip. The code is encapsulated in an AS3 Billboard class that makes it easy to create your custom billboards.
Loading Random Images from an XML List in Flash CS3 Learn how to store images' addresses in an external XML file and load them randomly at runtime. We give a few simple examples: a random image is loaded when a button is clicked; a random image is chosen when the swf loads; several images are randomly shuffled. We illustrate the difference between the AS3 Loader and the URLLoader classes.
The drawTriangles Method in Flash Player 10 for 2D Image Transformations One of the most powerful new AS3 methods that will become available in Flash Player 10 is the drawTriangles method. It allows for sophisticated 2D and 3D bitmap transformations. In this experiment, we illustrate and explain the drawTriangles method in the context of 2D image transformations. (Requires Flash Player 10 Beta.)
LaTeX2swf Utility, Mathematical Notation, and ScrollPane Component in Flash CS3 In this multi-prong tutorial, we show how to use a LaTeX to swf utility to insert elegant, scalable scientific formulas into your Flash movie. We also discuss the ScrollPane component. We show how to configure the component and how to use it for displaying photographs, text, or formulas.
3D Particles Experiments in AS3 and Flash CS3 Four stunning 3D particle experiments by Dan Gries. A sphere separates into several spheres based on the particles color; particles revolve and tend to a gravity center; particles transition throughout a cube, and more. You can rotate and manipulate the particles in 3D. Don't miss this one!
Texture Mapping in ActionScript 3 and Flash CS3: Bitmap Spheres In this tutorial, we deal with the important subject of texture mapping in AS3. We use custom AS3 classes to paste a bitmap image around a sphere and to create a textured sphere. Spheres that we create can be rotated in 3D with the mouse. We give two examples: a wood-textured sphere and a sphere with a beautiful image pasted over it. The examples are easily customizable.
XML-driven Check Box and Combo Box Quizzes in Flash CS3 We show a simple way to create quizzes that use CheckBox or ComboBox interfaces. Questions and answers are pulled at runtime from an external XML file.
MOST REQUESTED TUTORIALS:
Simple 3D Drawing in Flash CS3 A step-by-step tutorial that walks you through the basic techniques of 3D rendering in ActionScript 3. We begin with a revolving cube and end with a parametric surface. (Advanced section.)
Loading External Clips and Videos in Flash CS3. Learn how to load and control external swf files at runtime, including those contaning Flash Video (flv) files. (Intermediate section.)
Cube in Bloom: Distorting Images in AS3, 3D Menu on a Cube We construct a vibrant gallery of flowers on a cube. We provide custom AS3 classes: BitmapTransformer, CubeMenu, and ImageLoader. These classes make it easy to customize and to create 3D menus, galleries and other applications that require image loading and distortion.
Tween Tricks in ActionScript 3 and Flash CS3 In this tutorial we explore less common ways of using the AS3 Tween class. The class is remarkably flexible. Instead of tweening properties directly related to motion or appearance, we tween a property of an auxiliary object. We show how to use the technique to create tweened nonlinear motion, tweened text effects, and a 'balloon' effect. We also illustrate the built-in AS3 easing functions.
AS3 Experiment: A Bitmap Rotating in 3D Explodes into Particles Don't miss this stunning visual effect. An image revolving in 3D dissolves into a changing cloud of thousands of particles. The cloud can be rotated with the mouse before the particles come together again. (Advanced and Experimental.)
A Gummy Bitmap: Custom Bitmap Transformations in ActionScript 3 We show our custom AS3 BitmapTransformer class in action. In one example we have a bitmap whose vertices can be dragged in an arbitrary way and the image is distorted accordingly in all sorts of contorsions. In the second example, we throw in a dash of tween, and create 'an elastic' image. Great visual effects!
Rotating 3D Objects with the Tween Class in ActionScript 3 We use the AS3 Tween class and the AS3 collection of easing functions to create interesting rotation effects for a hexagonal cylinder drawn at runtime. The Tween class can tween any numerical property of any object! And it has many events to play with.
A Simple Function Grapher in Flash CS3 In four setps, we explain how to built a simple function grapher in AS3. The user can choose the x and y ranges as well as the function being graphed. This simple applet uses our mathematical expressions parser, the custom AS3 class MathParser.
ColorPicker Component in Flash CS3, Drawing with the Mouse in AS3 This tutorial shows how to apply the new and really cute ColorPicker component in Flash CS3. We built a simple applet in which the user can draw on the screen using the mouse. The user chooses color using the ColorPicker. (Basic Section.)
A Gallery of Customizable 3D Surfaces in Flash CS3, A Custom 3D Surface Class in AS3 We build a collection of spectacular 3D surfaces that can be rotated by the user. Then we create a custom ActionScript 3 class that makes it easy to use the collection for creating a variety of visually engaging Flash apps. Don't miss this one! (Advanced section.)
Using the Tween class in Flash CS3 and ActionScript 3 We give several examples of using the new class in AS3 - the Tween class. This class allows for easy creation of interesting visual effects and animations. We build control panels that smoothly slide in and out of place, with a nice 'bounce' to them. We also show a 'spin and snap back when dragged' example. (Basic Section.)
Introduction to Writing and Using Custom ActionScript 3 Classes with Flash CS3 We discuss the three ways that AS3 custom classes can be used with Flash CS3. Then we present a simple applet. In the initial version of the applet, the code is placed on the MainTimeline. We show how to move the code into a custom class. (Bridging the Gap Section.)
Loading Images and Spinning Them in 3D in Terms of AS3 Custom Classes - Take 2 We show how to use custom AS3 classes to construct a Flash CS3 applet where a couple of two-sided images can be span in 3D creating a flipping card effect. This time, images are loaded at runtime from external files. The concurrent loading is done by a custom ImageLoader class that extends the EventDispatcher class. We show how to create custom events in AS3.
Flash Tools for Developers: 3D Graphers in ActionScript 3. A new article at the MathDL Flash Forum that contains custom AS3 classes and customizable templates for creating 3D graphers in Flash CS3. (Custom Classes for Mathematics Section.)
