Flash Math Creativity

pretty dated by 2015 standards. the coding concepts no doubt remain valid but the graphic results don't compare very favorably with contemporary stuff. recommend seeking out something more recent.

This book would be good for building a screensaver, but otherwise didn't seem of much use. The authors should have dived farther into the mathematics behind the algorithms they used, instead of just hasing out the code and showing a pic of the resulting sine wave, whatever. I ended up giving my copy to a friend (who lost interest in it like myself after a couple hours).

this book as some great ideas that are applicable beyond flash. i have actually rewritten a few of these in javascript, just to test my skills. highly recommended. also, the book is BEAUTIFUL!

Again can't say much about this book except that my friend who I bought it for is more then please with it.

If you're into Flash and into math, then this is a book for you. If you're into Flash and into math, then this is a book for you.

I don't know if I had more fun writing my chapter, or going through the other author's chapters. The only problem I have with this book is that once I start messing around with one of the experiments, I know the next two hours are going to vanish without a trace.

This book is stunning visually and is just overflowing with inspiration. This is a book intended to show us what the Flash community has been able to come up in terms of creation and allows us to tinker around with the code. If you like to take a basic principle and see it evolve given enough time and interest, then this is the book for you. If you enjoy seeing "how" things function rather than "why" they work, you have the opportunity to tinker and toy with the variables to see exactly "how" it changes the overall look of the final piece. To get the most from this book the reader is expected to understand the basics of ActionScript as well as the techniques common in most projects. This is not intended to deter the beginner, as you will surely learn much.The book is laid out pretty straightforward. There are 15 chapters with each one dedicated to a certain individual who goes through each of his creations and iterations.Suggested reading by the people at "Friends of Ed" is to grab the source files, run them, and then read the chapters. Some of the source files are adequately commented so in some, the book isn't even needed. That is not to say, however, that this book is not necessary to understand what's going on. The book gives you quick insight to the authors' mindset and thinking, and each chapter begins with an overview of where they are from, what they do, how they have come to do this, and interests.There are actually two parts to the book. The second part consists of the last three chapters and has what you'd consider an "application" or an "engine" for viewing the creations and being able to manipulate them directly. The first part of the book is dedicated to finding a variable, which for the most part is explained in the book, changing it to your liking, viewing the results, and reviewing the code. At the end of the book there is a Tangents page which provides 54 links to explore.In case you are wondering where the math fits in, it's scattered throughout the book. However, sometimes, we are not presented with the reasons for using "128" for variable "p" to multiply by var "b" which has the value of "14". You may often be left scratching your head and asking why, but that isn't the point. Sine and Cosine are presented quite clearly in the first chapter and there is a terrific example from Gabriel Mulzer, but if you are looking to the find the mysteries behind using atan2 to get an angle, then this book will not answer that question. It is up to you to play the part of explorer to find those answers. You are presented with a wealth of methods that people use, inspiration for them, and experiments that the reader is encouraged to break. You are given a chance to use these methods to have fun and use them as springboards to access that creativity that lurks in each and every one of us.In conclusion, if you enjoy going through code with a fine toothed comb and if you want to pick up valuable techniques for doing certain things with Flash, as well as be dazzled by some of the innovators of our time, get the book. It is the perfect culmination of what Flash ActionScripting can do. I would show the table of contents at this point, but all of the chapters are named after the innovators themselves, and would provide little insight to the contents.

The Flash Math books are great. But not if you want an O'Reilly cookbook of answers to your design problems. It's all about inspiration. Being able to look at something and say "wow, that's so beautiful" and either need to make it yourself just on principal, or see that maybe one day you can use the idea yourself on all those practical things you're so worried about. If you get all juiced up creatively from the things you see around you, this is a perfect book. It's 4 instead of 5 because it doesn't come with a CD. But you can go to the website for the book and see things in action.That probably appealed to the left brain folks.For the right brain ones among you. No, this will not teach math. No it won't explain much in the math department at all. It does give the code, it allows you to experiment with what Flash will do, it might renew your interest in Flash. Kind of like watching one of the a-lister Flash kids talk at a Flash Forward conference, it might do that more than looking at a Hockney photo collage (both work for me). If you don't work that way, buy it and give it to one of your left brain Flash friends.It will be great fun for them, they will get to feel like they remember their math and are much better at it now. And it will make pretty things.

Flash Math Creativity is a great book.BUT - if you have version one - ALL the examples and actionscript wizards are the same.I bought this thinking i was going to get new inspiration. I just feel a bit ripped-off.If you don't have the first edition - buy this! the work is incredable, and i certainly found the examples useful and inspiring first time 'round.

洋書って言うと「I CAN'T UNDERSTAND!!!」と心で叫びたくなってしまう。そういう人って僕も含めて結構多い。でもFLASHのスクリプトを勉強するのであればそう言う心配はいりません。もちろん多少の知識が無いと理解できませんけどね。きれいな写真（オールカラー）でFLASHのグラフィック表示ってこんなことできるんだと思わされます。モーショングラフィックで自由自在の動きをさせたいと思っている人にはいい本だと思います。海外のアーティストがそのスクリプトを大胆にも公開してくれています。こういった本の日本語版は未だ見た事ありません（2003/08）

アクションスクリプトで図形等をモーションさせたサンプルスクリプトが掲載されている。パターンも何通りか解説しており、意図的な動きを作り出せることができる。AS1.0対応。若干AS2.0も含まれている。かなりの良書ではないだろうか？英語ってことで☆4つ・・orz