The techniques covered are for 2D animation of the kind that that might end-up on a website or broadcast. Each chapter proceeds along the path of creating an animation, from the concept, through setting up the Flash workspace, using Flash’s features to create the animation and then into post-production using Adobe’s After Effects.

It should be noted, there isn’t an over-arching animation project created in this book; However, readers could certainly follow along with their own project as the process is fairly linear, from the planning stages, through effectively using Flash’s library and a host of useful plug-in for tasks such as timing and motion tweening. There is a fair bit of coverage of Adobe’s After Effects, and the book discuses the pros and cons of doing various tasks in either software. With Adobe’s purchase of Macromedia in 2007, readers shouldn’t be surprised if the two products become more integrated with each future release.

For Flash animators, two chapters stand out in the 300 pages: There is one chapter on how to properly use Flash’s tweening tools so as to avoid the overly-precise look common with generated animations. A second is on 2D effects, covering common special effects like smoke, fire and water.

The book then wraps up with a chapter on how to avoid the “Flash-look”, which most readers will know exactly what this means- clean, mathematically-precise lines (would a computer produce any other?). Here the authors provide some straightforward ways to obscure the typical Flash look by altering lines to give them a more hard-drawn or at least, less rigid look. Combine this with the chapter on tweening and you’ll be on your way to some natural-looking animation.

This book is probably best for the reader who has some drawing experience, and preferably, a grasp of animation principals as well as some Flash experience. As with other Friends of Ed books, the layout is attractive, with lots of black and white illustrations and screen-shots taking the reader through each process.