Flash Design Resources
Flash Resource Websites:
Adobe
Developers of Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Acrobat and other essential tools for creative professionals.
SwishZone
Swish offers a variety of inexpensive alternate Flash editor platforms and templates for sale. Free on site resources include components, movies, tutorials and effects. You can also download the free trial version to see if you like it.
Flash Elements & Component Websites:
MMFiles
With over 5 years experience selling Flash & web components online, Adrian received many requests to sell files created by other users. Enter MMFILES (MultiMedia Files) where others can submit & sell their creations.
adrianTNT.com
Provides both free and commercial products and resources for web designers and developers. Building a good flash menu or other component from scratch could take too much of your time. With these components the hard work is already done and these products will help you build better looking sites much faster. All components are easy to use.
Patrick Jansen Design
Patrick Jansen Design offers a variety of Flash software components for text effects and animation, as well as the Astro Flash Creator.
FreeSpin3D
The FreeSpin3D Flash Extension integrates realtime 3D into Adobe Flash. A free 15 day trial version is available for download which is fully functional, but adds a watermark until you purchase the full version.
Flash Information Websites:
Flash Kit
Awesome Flash tutorials & indusrty news website. Does your Flash rate? Then submit your site to the Flash Sites links list. Also sports a very nice collection of sound loops/FX and fonts.
Cartoon Animation Software & Tutorials
Pencil
Pencil is intended to be a simple cross browser program that can enable anyone to animate in 2D. Pencil is an open source free 2D animation/drawing software for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. Exports Flash on Windows and MacOS X; and on Linux will export movies as well. The source code is also available on the download page.
Synfig
Synfig is a free open source software tool for producing feature-film quality animation. Supports a variety of Linux distributions, Windows XP/Vista (see notes), a MacOS X version and source code is available.
CreaToon
CreaToon® is a free and powerful commercial PC software solution to create 2D animation in the cut-out style. Features include real-time edit previews, automatic in-betweening, freedom of graphical style and the ability to combine bitmap images with vector graphics. Sample animations and tutorials are also available. Exports movies viewable in Media Player.
Express Animator
Express Animator© for Windows is the complete software tool for creating Flash animations, cartoons, games, animated videos and presentations with integrated sound and music. Very reasonably priced. Supports 2D cartoon skeleton puppeteering techniques.
Toon Boom Animation
Commercial 2D animation software. Puppeteering support. A worldwide leader in animation software for everyone from kids to pros. Several pachages available, including learning editions, Comic Boom and even a storyboarding suite.
smithmicro
mysmithmicro produces the commercial Anime Studio program for both Windows and MacOS X computer platforms. This is a commercial product, but priced very reasonably and offers intuitive controls to creat your own 2D animations. Supports 2D cartoon skeleton puppeteering techniques.
Calico Monkey
Calico Monkey discusses animation programs, cartoon software and the art of making your own cartoons. Some good cartoons are also available on the site.
About the Author:
This is a living document authored and Copyright 2009 by Douglas Peters that has been specifically authored (and updated as required) for his own Flash, web design, webmastering, web hosting and related online properties. The author Doug Peters' current contact information is available through the Doug-Peters.com portfolio website. Or you may contact the author using the Flash Extension website On-Site Contact Form.
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