Foundation ActionScript 3.0 Image Effects

By Todd Yard

Flash has always been a tool for delivering compelling and unique experiences through dynamic visual presentation. The Flash platform has grown to include application development in Flex, video streaming with the Flash Media Server, and desktop delivery through AIR, but all of that content still comes down to pixels on the screen, and all of those pixels can be manipulated through the power of the ActionScript language.

In this book, you will find in-depth coverage of the graphics capabilities of ActionScript 3.0: the enhanced drawing API in Flash Player 10 that allows you to draw vector shapes at runtime; bitmap filters and blend modes through which you can apply special, built-in effects to display objects; and the powerful BitmapData class that gives you control over all aspects of an image. In addition, you will learn about the new Pixel Bender technology and how you can use it to create custom filters and blend modes for your content through shaders. Finally, this book also breaks down the new native 3D support in Flash Player 10 and reveals how you can take advantage of this through ActionScript.

You will find that this book is much more than just a reference, though. In the later chapters, the many techniques presented in earlier chapters are all brought together. The different features of ActionScript and its graphical control are combined through a collection of tutorials to demonstrate how you can create complex and fun effects. When you put down this book at its conclusion, you should have a firm grasp of the visual manipulation possible through ActionScript and how you can apply it to your work and play.

In this book, you'll learn how to:

• Use the drawing API to create vector lines and shapes at runtime and aid in the drawing of 3D objects.
• Work with the powerful BitmapData class and use it to manipulate images and their channels and pixels.
• Use the new Pixel Bender technology to create ActionScript shaders for new bitmap filters, blend modes, and fills.
• Apply dynamic, reusable effects to images, text, and video, as well as utilize webcam video and audio as input for visualizations.
• Take advantage of open source effects and animation libraries to ease development of complex image effects.

Summary of Contents

1. The Drawing API
2. Filters and Blend Modes
3. Bitmaps and BitmapData
4. Advanced Bitmap Manipulation
5. Pixel Bender and Shaders
6. ActionScript in the Third Dimension
7. Using an Animation and Effects Library
8. Elemental Animation Effects
9. Text Effects
10. Video Effects
11. Sound Visualization Effects
12. Interactive Effects
13. (Appendix) Developing Within Flash and Flex Builder

This book is part of friends of ED's 'Foundation' series

The Foundation series is perfect for beginners to a technology, because it doesn't assume any previous knowledge. Each book in the series takes you step by step through your chosen technology, starting with the absolute fundamentals and working through all aspects of the technology, ultimately providing you with a firm grasp of the basics that will enable you to create your own applications or web sites. You will learn by following complete examples at every stage of your journey, often by extended case studies that you will build upon throughout the book. The Foundation series will give you the broad and solid base you need in order to progress to a higher level of expertise.