Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Now that you have a taste for the advantages of open web standards in the
field of web animations, this chapter will give you a closer look at the authoring
tool, Adobe Edge Animate, and explain how you can use the program in your
regular creative workflow. Only those who truly master the tools of the trade
can optimize workflows, work in interdisciplinary teams and deliver results when
faced with unusual demands. On the following pages, not only will we cover
the installation of the software step by step, we will also look at Edge Animate
from the perspective of different types of user groups. With the software's many
potential applications in mind, you will learn about the different panels and how
to control animation and scripting functions. I will also go over pertinent back-
ground information on Edge Animate Runtime that you will need to unleash
your creativity.
2.1 User Groups
Unlike other media, such as radio, TV, or print, the web (particularly interactive
animations and user interfaces) has one very distinctive feature—it combines
a variety of disciplines. Online productions are a cross between visual design
and technology-driven programming, in which factors such as usability and user
experience play a very central role. The environment around Adobe is a melting
pot of creative developers. For nearly a decade, the Adobe Flash ecosystem was
the first point of contact for web designers who wanted to create more than
just lifeless websites cluttered with monotonous text. Anyone who wanted
to produce stunning, interactive websites had a hard time without the Flash
plug-in solution. For a long time, the Flash scene was a pivotal point for creative
programmers who constantly tried to define the limits of what was possible. The
open web standards for HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript have caught up and their
higher availability and compatibility make them a better alternative to the Flash
Platform for many scenarios. Edge Animate is one of the flagships of the new
Adobe web platform, and the focus was on its relevant user groups, which can
roughly be defined as follows:
