----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Learning A2 Flash is fast and easy
A2 Flash Tutorial 5
-------------------------------
Arrange a Background and Create an A2 Flash Template with Random Effect
In this A2 Flash Tutorial you learn:
- how to arrange a background to insert in A2 BuilderS;
- position the Miniatures Box on this background;
- arrange images to insert in a slideshow with POLA frame;
- change the dimensions of an Swf display, images, the miniatures strip, and text boxes;
- insert a background and hide the navigation buttons graphic in A2 BuilderS; and
- use RANDOM effects.
STEP 1
Arrange the Background in Photoshop or in Macromedia Flash
In Photoshop, or a similar programme, or Macromedia Flash, create a background.
The format chosen in this sample is 750 x 560 pixels .
Save in .JPG or .PNG format with the Photoshop option "Save for web".
STEP 2
Arrange the Images with ”Pola” frame in Photoshop
In Photoshop, arrange the images with the frame Pola.png.
(See folder Goodies > folder: FrameXPhotoshop).
Save the images in .JPG format with the Photoshop option "Save for web".
STEP 3
Launch A2 Flash ComposerS:
- Double click "A2Flash_ComposerS.jar" .
- Select template "A2_Tutorial_3_Random".
See also NOTE 1 (at the end of this document).
STEP 4
Create a Customized A2 Flash Template
Modify the edge spacing (1):
- Insert the new size in the field: Padding (1) = 0
- Press the key "Enter" to execute.
Modify the Swf Display size (2):
- Insert the size (in this case that of the prepared background) in the fields (2) Width = 750; Height = 560.
- Press the key "Enter" to execute.
Hide the Images Box (3).
- Click “Hide Images Box” (3).
STEP 5
Display the Prepared Background:
- Click the button “Insert JPG reference background”.
- With the button “Browse”, select and load the aprepared background.
STEP 6
Modify the “Miniature” Box
Modify the miniature box size:
- Click the “Miniature Box” .
- Decrease the number of columns (1) - in the “Row/Column” box select from the drop-down menu = 4
Decrease the miniature size (2):
- Insert the value = 60 in the appropriate field.
- Press the key "Enter" to execute.
Decrease the width of miniatures box (3):
- Click the anchor point (3) and, with the mouse key depressed, modify the width.
STEP 7
Modify the “Miniature” Enlargement
Modify the miniature enlargement percentage:
- Click “Options” (1).
- In the box “Miniatures scrolling” (2), from the drop-down menu, select the required value eg = 130.
STEP 8
Set the “Miniature Box” in the Space Arranged in the Background
- Click the “Miniature Box”.
- With the mouse key depressed, move the box to the desired position (1).
Move the “Buttons Box” (2).
- Click the “Buttons Box”.
- With the mouse key depressed, move the box to the position in the figure (2).
Move the “Subtitle Box” (3).
- Click the “Subtitle Box”.
- With the mouse key depressed, move the box to the position in the figure (3).
Modify the “Font size” (4).
- Select from the drop-down menu = 10.
STEP 9
Modify and Position the “Image Box”
- Click the button (1) “Show Image Box”.
Size the “Image Box”:
- Click the anchor point (2).
- With the mouse key depressed, modify the size.
Move the “Image Box”:
- Click the “Image Box”.
- With the mouse key depressed, move the box to the required position.
Centre “Subtitle Box” and “Image Box” vertically:
- Click the “Image Box” (2).
- With “Shift” key depressed, click the “Subtitle Box” (3) and then click the button (4) to centre vertically.
.
Remove the “Prev/Next buttons”:
- Remove the check (5) on the appropriate field.
Click “Preview” (6) to check the work.
Create a New A2 Flash Template:
- Click “Build” (7).
In the dialogue window:
- Click the folder: e.g. “My_Templates”.
- Name the new A2 Template Flash.
- Save the new A2 Flash Template .
DONE!
Now, in A2 Flash BuilderS in the step “Template Choice”, in the menu “My_Templates” the new A2 Flash template is visible.
.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CREATE A FLASH PHOTO-GALLERY (.Swf File) WITH A NEW A2 Flash TEMPLATE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 1a
Launch Sw A2 Flash BuilderS
- Launch Sw A2 Flash BuilderS - click on: A2Flash_BuilderS.jar.
STEP 2a
Select a FlashTemplate Previously Created
- Click “Template Choice” (1).
- Click “My_Templates” label (2)
In the Flash Template Box:
- Click “Select Template” (3).
STEP 3a
Insert the Arranged background:
Note: only for preview of your work
- Click “Add background” (1).
- Activate the check.
- Click “Select .JPG” (2).
- Click “Browse” - Select and load the arranged background.
Remove the “Controls menu bar”:
- Remove the check for all the elements (3).
Insert “Background audio and/or click-sound on miniatures” (4)
- Activate the check.
- Click “Browse” - Select and load the .Mp3 file.
STEP 4a
Work check
- Click button “Preview” (1).
Create the Photo-Gallery template (.Swf File) from the new template
- Click the button “Publish” (2).
- In the dialogue window, create a new folder.
- Open the new folder, name the file, and save it in this location.
- the.Swf file of new Photo-Gallery to upload online with the “A2 Control Panel” is created
Note – Create a folder in which to save the .Swf file of the Flash Photo-Gallery before beginning.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISH ON-LINE THE TEMPLATE (.Swf File) OF NEW FLASH PHOTO-GALLERY
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 1
Make the login to enter in A2 Flash Control Panel
- Launch the browser and connect to the link supplied during the installation: www.yourdomain.com/a2flash/admin/login.php and make the login
STEP 2
Make a new Category or select a Category
- ATTENTION:
- If you want replaced the already online Flash template (.Swf) of a category it's important that the size of sWf Display, miniatures and images in the new Flash Template (.Swf) to be the same ones as Flash Template (.Swf) you want replace.
STEP 3:
Upload the new Flash Template (.Swf) in the new Category or in the selected Category
- In the A2 Flash Control Panel, in the Category panel: upload the .sfw file
- Upload the new images in the new Category.
- Now your new Photo-Gallery is displayed OnLine!
STEP 4:
Upload the background (.Jpg / .Swf file) in the new Category or in the selected Category
- From the A2 Flash Control Panel, in the Category panel: upload the background (.Jpg file)
STEP 5:
Upload the images (.Jpg files) in the new Category
- From the A2 Flash Control Panel, in the “Add new photo” panel: upload the new images (.Jpg files)
- Now your new Photo-Gallery is displayed OnLine!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE 1
------------
To Create a Flash Photo-Gallery with Random Effect Beginning from any other A2 Flash Template
- Click the “Miniature Box”.
- In the window on the left; click “Miniature scrolling”.
- In the drop-down menu click “Random effect”.
- Select the zoom factor - the effect is now applied.
- Size the “Miniature Box” using the command “Number of columns” and the anchor-point as shown in STEP 6.
- Size the miniature format as shown in STEP 6.
- Click the “Image Box”.
- In the window on the left, click “Image Open Motion”.
- In the drop-down menu click “O X Random”.
- Click the label “O X Random” - the opening effect is now applied.
- In the window on the left, click “Image Close Motion”.
- In the drop-down menu, click “C X Random”.
- Click the label “C X Random” - the closing effect is now applied.
NOTE – When using “Random Effect”, the work area preview shows only the “Miniatures Box” area where the miniatures will be arranged - not their number or order.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A2 Flash Official web site:
A2 Flash Technical Support:
-------------------
-------------------