Macromedia - Flash MX 2004
Help International Search
Your Account Home Productsq Showcaseq Supportq Developersq Solutionsq Downloadsq Companyq Store q
You may not have everything you need to view certain sections of Macromedia.com. Please see our site requirements.

HomeProducts

Macromedia Flash MX 2004
Create rich content and applications across desktops and devices
Flash MX 2004 Buy or upgradeFree 30-day trialOrder by phone: 1-800-457-1774
Flash MX Professional 2004 Buy or upgradeFree 30-day trialOrder by phone: 1-800-457-1774
Introducing Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004. See how the versions compare.
Latest News Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger" Compatibility Macromedia Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004 are both compatible with Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger." Any future updates about compatibility will be reported in the Emerging Issues TechNote. $100 Value Add the excitement of video to your website easily with Flash Professional. Buy Studio MX 2004 and get Flash Professional free a $100 value. Offer ends June 30, 2005. Terms and conditions Buy now
Macromedia Video Kit This set of extensions and resources helps you take video assets, encode them to run on the web, and insert them on your web pages using Dreamweaver MX 2004. Learn more
Flash MX 2004 in Action The MINI Cooper website uses Macromedia Flash to lap other car-maker sites with a high-speed custom configurator for prospective car buyers.

Launch presentation

MINI Cooper configurator

Read more

Why Upgrade
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/ (1 of 5)6/20/2005 2:21:25 PM
You design. You code. See what's new for both sides of you.
Flash Video Updater: Get the new 2pass encoder plus samples and tutorials.
Swift 3D XPRESS: Effortlessly convert 2D assets into 3D animations Flash.

Get started

View more plug-ins
Flash MX 2004 Create rich interactive experiences to achieve superior results.
Flash MX Professional 2004 Develop advanced Flash content, applications and video experiences.New!
What's new in Flash MX 2004? (15 min)
Deliver high-quality Flash video
Everything in Flash MX 2004, plus great new features for:
High Quality Video Deliver high-quality video with new professional
How do I use Flash MX 2004? (50 min)

video capabilities.

Twice as Fast Applications and Data Boost runtime performance by 2-8x with the Build rich Internet applications with a familiar formsenhanced compiler and the new Macromedia Flash based development environment and powerful data Player 7. binding. Third Party Extensions Advanced Interactive Content Create charts and graphs, animate text effects and Create sophisticated interactive content using slides more with extensions (sold separately) to organize and sequence your project. High Fidelity Import Mobile and Device Development Integrate rich media content faster with high fidelity Produce and test content for devices and mobile import of PDF and Adobe Illustrator 10 files. phones with device templates and emulators. Timeline Effects Rich Media Advertising Simplify common timeline and scripting tasks with Create advanced rich media ads and deliver them new Timeline Effects and Behaviors seamlessly to DoubleClick DART Motif.

More new features

More new features Top reasons to upgrade System requirements

Top reasons to upgrade

System requirements
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/ (2 of 5)6/20/2005 2:21:25 PM

FAQ Read more

Macromedia Flash Player Deliver effective Macromedia Flash experiences across desktops and devices through Macromedia Flash Player. Installed on more than 97% of the Internet-enabled desktops and many popular devices, Macromedia Flash is the worlds most pervasive rich client.

Read more

Get More Done with Studio MX 2004 Get more done by purchasing Flash as part of Studio MX 2004, the integrated tool set that includes the newest versions of Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks and FreeHand. Studio MX 2004 is also available with Flash Professional.

Read more System requirements FAQ
Streamlines web development
Flash Home Flash Professional Home At a Glance Features Evaluation Guide Upgrade Center System Requirements FAQ Reviews and News Third-Party Extensions Flash Player Home
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/ (3 of 5)6/20/2005 2:21:25 PM

Purchase Options

Buy or upgrade Flash Professional
Buy or upgrade Flash Call 1-800-457-1774

Flash in Action

Showcase Flash & Applications Flash & Video Flash & Devices Flash & Accessibility Flash & Advertising Partners

Flash Developer Center

Tutorials & Samples Building Applications Deploying Video Designing & Animating More

Support and Training

Flash Support Center Documentation Training & Certification Online Forums Register Your Product

Downloads

Get Flash Player Free Trial of Flash Professional Free Trial of Flash Flash Exchange
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/ (4 of 5)6/20/2005 2:21:25 PM
Related Products Dreamweaver MX 2004 Add Macromedia Flash elements to your HTML web page using Dreamweaver.
Fireworks MX 2004 Directly import native Fireworks PNG files into Macromedia Flash.
ColdFusion MX 7 Build dynamic applications with Flash and ColdFusion.
Macromedia Captivate Create interactive simulations and software demonstrations. Read more about the MX 2004 product line
Flash Platform The Flash Platform delivers the most effective experiences for rich content, applications and communications across browsers, operating systems, and devices.
Company | Site Map | Privacy & Security | Contact Us | Accessibility | Report Piracy | Send Feedback 1995-2005 Macromedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this website signifies your agreement to the Terms of Use. Search powered by
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/ (5 of 5)6/20/2005 2:21:25 PM

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Designer
Certification Examination Specification

Introduction

This is an exam specification for Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Designer. The specification defines the content of the examination and the relevant background and experience needed to become a certified Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Designer.

Exam Purpose

This examination is based upon the most critical job activities a Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Designer performs. The skills and knowledge certified by this examination represent a professional level of expertise for a certified individual. The critical job activities of a Designer are: Effective planning Visual design implementation Experience design Optimization and publication of application output
Background and Experience
The test specification is intended to address the knowledge and skill areas that demonstrate competency as a Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Designer. The knowledge level required is defined as having experience with non-code based software that uses visual objects in development and the following general suggested prerequisites: One to two years experience with Macromedia Flash At least six months experience with Macromedia Flash MX and some experience with Macromedia Flash MX 2004. One to two years of involvement in Web design, production, and graphics in the full development process in Web site creation.
The Macromedia instructor-led training course that will assist in exam preparation is: Macromedia Flash MX 2004: Rich Media Design (2 days). The Macromedia online training that will assist in exam preparation is: Macromedia Flash MX 2004: Fundamental Design with Flash MX 2004 Macromedia Flash MX 2004: Enhancing Functionality Using ActionScript Macromedia Flash MX 2004: Adding Media and Interactivity with Flash MX 2004
The skills and knowledge measured by this examination are derived from an understanding of the jobs of current Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Designers. A team of highly qualified Macromedia Flash MX 2004 design experts defined the test content and wrote the test items.

Exam Structure

The knowledge domains measured by this examination and the extent to which they are represented in the examination are shown in the table below. Domain
1.0 Planning 2.0 Visual Design 3.0 Experience Design 4.0 Optimization, Publishing and Workflow Total
% of Examination 15% 35% 30% 20% 100.00%

Response Limits

The examinee selects, from four (4) or more response options, the option(s) that best completes the statement or answers the question. Distracters or wrong answers are response options that examinees with incomplete knowledge or skill would likely choose, but are generally plausible responses fitting into the content area defined by the test objective. Test item formats used in this examination are: Multiple-choice: The examinee selects one option that best answers the question or completes a statement. Multiple-response: The examinee selects more than one option that best answers the question or completes a statement. The question will state how many options are correct, i.e. (Choose two).
Sample Directions: Read the statement or question and from the response options, select only the option(s) that represent the most correct or best answer(s) given the information provided.

Content Limits

The basic knowledge and skills required at this level should include all of the following content areas and objective components below.

Domain 1.0 Planning

This is the planning and conceptualization process of how all the elements of a Flash MX 2004 Designer project and their production come together as a unified application. 1.1 Identify basic requirements in project architecture. Strand A Site dimensions, browser / platform capability Site mapping Navigational structure Global / secondary navigation systems Menu structures (drop-down / tabbed, etc.) Site maps / search options Strand B Content Static vs. Dynamic content Movie structure loadMovie / Multiple SWF file usage Loading JPGs, FLVs and mp3s Movie Clips o Referencing a movie clip, instance / variable names o Level and target locations 1.2 Identify basic requirements in page and interface layout. Strand A Use of template images Guides / guide layers Alignment panel Rulers Grid

1.3 Recognize important target audience considerations in usability and accessibility for implementing a Flash MX 2004 designed solution. Strand A Flash Player options, such as Magnification (zoom), Printing, Quality settings Compatibility (browser / platform / audience) File size / download time / reusability Legible / resizable text Sound volume on/off

Domain 2.0 Visual Design

This is the activity of visualization, creation and implementation of text and graphics within a Flash MX 2004 application. 2.1 Recognize effective visual design in building Flash MX 2004 applications using bitmap and vector images. Strand A Importing (Freehand / Fireworks) Relative vs. absolute scaling effects Transform Fill / Tiling effects Strand B Control points / sub-select tool Symbol / Instance effects Round-trip editing feature Run-time JPEG feature Free transform tool Trace Bitmap Strand C Fill / Strokes Resolution Size Color Color Swatches (custom creating, saving, selecting from) Instance Effects Tint, Alpha, Brightness, etc. Hexadecimal colors / web-safe The Color wheel Dropper tool Color Mixer Gradients Alpha
2.2 Recognize effective visual design in using text to build Flash MX 2004 applications. Strand A Character properties (leading, kerning, justification) Paragraph layout Font Mapping Font families Embedded fonts Device fonts Strand B Dynamic text boxes HTML text formatting Calling an external text file (loadVars) Input text boxes / creating forms Serif vs. San serif Text components Scrolling Tabbing Relative vs. Absolute scaling effects Alias vs. Anti-aliased
2.3 Recognize effective use and creation of symbols and buttons in designing the Flash MX 2004 application. Strand A Placement / Registration points of an object / snap ring Symbol / instance creation / behavior types Populating UI components Scroll Bar components Strand B Skinning components Styling components Swapping symbols Handling assets Buttons
Domain 3.0 Experience Design
This is the creation and implementation activity of interactive elements, such as animated sequences, sound, and video within a Flash MX 2004 application. 3.1 Recognize effective use of ActionScript for creating interactivity in building Flash MX 2004 applications. Strand A Using the Button component States button, graphic, movie clip Up, over, down and hit areas With sound Animated Strand B Basic actions stop, gotoAndPlay (Stop), getURL, loadMovie Calling different timelines / movie clips Attaching ActionScript to timelines Timeline defined events Sound completion event Movie Clip properties Use of frame labels Defining events _parent 3.2 Recognize effective animation and media design in building Flash MX 2004 applications. Strand A Creating a Video object Video components Embedded Linked FLV files Masking Strand B Sound Sound Completion event / volume control Basic sound editing features Streaming sound Event sound

Strand C Animation Tweening (Shape and Motion) Animating with ActionScript enterFrame setInterval Keyframes, blank keyframes, frames, etc / editing of Scale / rotation / translation of objects, instances Masking / transitional effects Strand D Animation Distribute to Layers Breaking Text apart Path (motion guide) Use of 3D elements Ease-in / Ease-out Frame by frame Onion Skinning Duplicating Timeline Layers
Domain 4.0 Optimization and Publishing
This is the process activity of creating efficient, streamlined productions and their workflow implications in a Flash MX 2004 application. 4.1 Recognize effective publishing and output design approaches and their use in building Flash MX 2004 applications. Strand A Bandwidth profiler Protect from import Size report Pre-loaders HTML code for SWF embedding and posting- <OBJECT>, <EMBED> tags Publish Settings formats Flash, HTML, GIF, JPEG, Mac/ PC projectors (executables)
4.2 Recognize effective optimization considerations in building Flash MX 2004 applications. Strand A Image compression GIF , PNG , JPEG compression lossy vs. lossless Use of Fireworks / PNG file format Vector optimization Video compression / formats / size MPEG, etc MOV AVI
Strand B Sound compression / formats AIF (Mac) WAV (PC) ADPCM MP3 Raw Libraries Author time & runtime sharing Library folders /options Shared Libraries