About Flash

What is it?

Adobe Flash is a popular digital media application. Flash can be used to make compelling animations as well as non-linear interactive applications. Often, flash is used in combination with .html files and even databases to create complex media-rich websites. Lately, Flash has been positioned as a delivery platform for mobile devices, such as cellular phones.

Flash is available for Windows or Macintosh, and in theory it is possible to bring your files between platforms. These authoring files have a .fla extension. Published (exported) Flash files have a .swf ("swiff") extension.

Example projects

• Sample Flash 1 (animation w/tweens)
• Sample Flash 2 (interaction w/buttons & actionscript)

Adobe acquired Flash (as well as many other applications) when they purchased the Macromedia company in 2005.

Accessing Flash

Flash, as part of Adobe Creative Suite, is available in the Computer Center and some other locations on campus.