Director Mx

by Wilson, Scott J.; Weaver, Paul; Salvatierra, Rich

• ISBN13: 9781401814779
• ISBN10: 1401814778
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-20
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

Tap into the power of one of today's most popular multimedia authoring tools for CD-ROM, Internet, and Intranet development! Unlike other books that try to incorporate every bit of information on every last feature, Director MX allows readers to focus on truly important, practical aspects of real-world multimedia development in order to strengthen their knowledge of useful authoring techniques. The 'learn-by-doing' approach has proven effective in classroom- and self-paced learning, providing readers with the skills they need to create leading edge, interactive presentations. Comprehensive instruction begins with the basics of Director's interface and tools, and moves swiftly to exercises that teach readers how to work with text, graphics, other media, and libraries. A companion CD-ROM, containing all of the support files for use in completing exercises in the book, equips users with everything they need to get started. Special icons also appear throughout the book enabling more experienced developers to access the information they need to take full advantage of new, exciting Director MX functionality when designing and building their own multimedia projects.

Author Biography

Richard Salvatierra is a Senior Programmer with Prinexus Halo Solutions Paul Weaver is a Graphics and Animation Director at Video Ideas Productions, Inc. Scott J. Wilson, Ph.D., has been managing the development of multimedia and Web development projects for more than 18 years. Currently, he is the Vice President of Instructional Architecture

Table of Contents

Introduction	iii
Table of Contents	v
Getting Started with Director MX	1	(28)
Introduction	2	(1)
Guided Tour I A: Opening Director for the First Time	3	(4)
Director's Metaphor	7	(1)
An Overview of Director's Interface	7	(2)
Restoring Director's Default Interface	9	(1)
A Closer Look at the Interface Elements	10	(10)
Guided Tour I B: Default Panels and Inspectors	20	(6)
Guided Tour I C: Working with Panel Groups	26	(3)
Working with the Tools Palette	29	(26)
Introduction	30	(1)
The Tools Palette	30	(3)
Guided Tour 2A: Using the Tools Palette	33	(15)
Practice Exercise 2-1: Using Director's Basic Tools	48	(7)
Opening, Playback, and Control of Movies	55	(22)
Introduction	56	(1)
Guided Tour 3A: Using the Control Panel	56	(5)
The Cast	61	(1)
Guided Tour 3B: Cast Member Properties	61	(3)
Practice Exercise 3-1: Multiple Casts	64	(6)
Practice Exercise 3-2: External Casts	70	(7)
Working with the Score	77	(38)
Introduction	78	(1)
Frames and Channels	78	(2)
Guided Tour 4A: Marker Channel	80	(3)
Guided Tour 4B: Tempo Channel	83	(3)
Color Palette Channel	86	(1)
Transition Channel	87	(1)
Sound Channel	87	(1)
Script Channel	87	(1)
Playhead and Frame Numbers Channel	87	(1)
Guided Tour 4C: Working with the Score	88	(3)
Practice Exercise 4-1: Working with Sprites	91	(12)
Practice Exercise 4-2: Adding User Interaction	103	(12)
Creating Animation	115	(22)
Introduction	116	(1)
Animation Techniques	116	(1)
Practice Exercise 5-1: Real-time Recording	117	(6)
Practice Exercise 5-2: Step Recording	123	(5)
Practice Exercise 5-3: Tweening Recording	128	(9)
Application Chapter: Front-end Splash Screen	137	(8)
Application Exercise Objectives	138	(1)
Application Project Overview	138	(1)
Application Chapters	139	(1)
Application Exercise 6-1: Front-end Splash Screen	140	(5)
Creating Graphics	145	(64)
Introduction	146	(1)
Graphic Formats	146	(1)
Guided Tour 7A: Exploring the Paint Window	147	(34)
Practice Exercise 7-1: Paint Window	181	(15)
Vector Graphics	196	(1)
Guided Tour 7B: Exploring the Vector Window	197	(5)
Practice Exercise 7-2: Vector Window	202	(7)
Working with Color	209	(22)
Introduction	210	(1)
Color Depth	210	(1)
Changing the System Color Depth	211	(2)
Color Palettes	213	(1)
Guided Tour 8A: Exploring Color Palettes	213	(4)
Guided Tour 8B: Working with the Color Palettes	217	(2)
Guided Tour 8C: Transform Bitmap	219	(2)
Alpha Channels	221	(1)
Practice Exercise 8-1: Alpha Channels	221	(10)
Creating Visual Impact	231	(20)
Introduction	232	(1)
Designing Visual Space	233	(1)
Guided Tour 9A:Visual Space	233	(1)
Practice Exercise 9-I: Creating Raised and Recessed Objects	234	(15)
Guided Tour 9B: Alpha Channel	249	(2)
Getting Started with Lingo	251	(18)
Introduction	252	(1)
Introduction to Event Handlers	253	(1)
Guided Tour 10A: Sprite Scripts	254	(4)
Guided Tour 10B: Cast Scripts	258	(1)
Guided Tour 10C: Frame Scripts	259	(1)
Guided Tour 10D: Movie Scripts	260	(2)
More on Event Handlers	262	(3)
Practice Exercise 10-1: Using the Message Window	265	(4)
Adding Interaction	269	(38)
Introduction	270	(1)
Script Examples	270	(1)
Practice Exercise 11-1: Working with Markers	271	(14)
Practice Exercise 11-2: Transitions	285	(5)
Behaviors	290	(1)
Practice Exercise 11-3: Working with Behaviors	291	(7)
Movie in a Window (MIAW)	298	(3)
Practice Exercise 11-4: Working with a Movie in a Window	301	(6)
Application Chapter: Building a Project Interface	307	(6)
Application Exercise Objectives	308	(1)
Introduction	308	(1)
Application Exercise 12-1: Building a Project Interface	308	(5)
Application Chapter: Adding Functionality to the Main Menu	313	(6)
Application Exercise Objectives	314	(1)
Introduction	314	(1)
Application Exercise 13-1: Adding Functionality to the Main Menu	314	(5)
Working with Text	319	(24)
Introduction	320	(1)
Creating Text within Director	320	(1)
Guided Tour 14A: Exploring the Text Window	321	(6)
Guided Tour 14B: Exploring Field Text	327	(3)
Practice Exercise 14-1: Using Editable Text Fields	330	(4)
Practice Exercise 14-2: Text Inspector and Hyperlinks	334	(6)
Additional Options with Text	340	(1)
Guided Tour 14C: Exploring Embedded Fonts	341	(2)
Application Chapter: Creating a Help File	343	(8)
Application Exercise Objectives	344	(1)
Introduction	344	(1)
Application Exercise 15-1: Creating a Help File	344	(7)
Including Sound in Your Application	351	(22)
Introduction	352	(1)
Obtaining Sound Files	352	(1)
Prerecorded Music and Sound Effects	353	(1)
Using Professional Talent and Studio	353	(1)
Recording Your Own Sound	354	(2)
Properties of Sound Files	356	(2)
Importing Sound Files	358	(1)
Director's Sound Channels and Cue Points	359	(1)
Practice Exercise 16-1: Working with Cue Points	359	(6)
Using Lingo for Sound Control and Cue Points	365	(1)
Puppet Sound	366	(1)
Guided Tour 16A: Controlling Sound Volume	367	(1)
Practice Exercise 16-2: Sound Using Lingo	368	(5)
Application Chapter: Adding Content about the Products	373	(4)
Application Exercise Objectives	374	(1)
Introduction	374	(1)
Application Exercise 17-1: Adding Content about the Products	374	(3)
Including Digital Video in Your Application	377	(22)
Introduction	378	(1)
Obtaining Movie Files	378	(1)
Recording Your Own Video	379	(2)
Properties of Movie Files	381	(1)
Delivering Enhanced Media	382	(3)
Guided Tour 18A: Importing Digital Video Files	385	(2)
Using Lingo to Control Digital Video	387	(1)
Practice Exercise 18-1: Controlling Digital Video	388	(11)
Real-time 3D	399	(32)
Introduction	400	(1)
Director's 3D Engine Capabilities and Limitations	401	(1)
Concepts Employed within Director's 3D Engine	401	(8)
Guided Tour 19A: A First Look at 3D Using Lingo	409	(3)
Guided Tour 19B: Installing the 3DPI Xtra	412	(1)
Practice Exercise 19-1: Using the 3D 3DPI Xtra	413	(16)
Organizing Cast Members	429	(2)
Application Chapter: Video Presentation	431	(4)
Application Exercise Objectives	432	(1)
Introduction	432	(1)
Application Exercise 20-1: Video Presentation	432	(3)
Packaging Your Project	435	(12)
Introduction	436	(1)
Guided Tour 21A: Creating a Packaged Project	437	(3)
Guided Tour 21B: Protecting Your Director Files	440	(2)
Linked Media	442	(1)
Include Xtras	442	(1)
Stub Projector	443	(1)
Cross-platform Issues	444	(1)
Memory Management	445	(1)
CD-ROM Delivery	446	(1)
Index	447