Buying Flash

[GenArmegeddon]

Well its my 16th birthday and as a present my parents are buying me flash, and i need help

I heared rumors that CS4 isn't as great as CS3 so i dont know what to go with.

Whats the right choice?

[14hourlunchbreak]

I don't have either but I've heard that CS4 is good for animating. At least it looks decent for animating...

[Jereminion]

obviously get the latest version if you can choose anything..

[Battlesec]

Well, I work in CS3 but my dad uses CS4. He likes Cs4 better, but I've never used it. If I were you though, I would get CS4, just because it is new and might not have many bugs, and can do way more things!

[KaynSlamdyke]

At 3/3/09 07:50 PM, GenArmegeddon wrote: I heared rumors that CS4 isn't as great as CS3 so i dont know what to go with.

Since Adobe took over Flash when it became part of the Creative Suite, most people have lampooned the Interface something horrid. Personally, I stick with Flash 8 for a number of reasons - most prominent amongst them are specific demands for Version 7 And Lower flash files and the low power of my tablet laptop.

However. From the look of the Feature List, CS4 is the most essential upgrade from Flash 5 to Flash MX, and if you're into animation will be the best thing to get a hold of. Too early to guess what CS5's going to contain, but I'm guessing it won't be nearly as many little animation bits.

If your a coder, just grab Liveswif and Flex. Coders can make games for free and deserve no sponsorship moneys.

hee hee hee

[Ironosaur]

Well, CS3 is more classic. It doesn't have a collection of new, confusing tools, or new tweens. It's easier to use, and has a slower, less difficult learning curve.

CS4 is more powerful. It has new tweens that can handle multiple objects, and powerful new tools like the 3D tool and the inverse kinematics tool, which you can use to make very professional-looking animations. However, it has a much steeper, much more difficult learning curve.

With the right experience, you can make anything equally as good in either.
I recommend you start with a trial of both and see how it goes.

Whichever you get more done with in 30 days should be the one that you buy.

CS4 Trial
CS3 Trial

[Ansel]

If Adobe is going to keep charging forward like an enraged rhinoceros and force their new tween system/UI down everyone's throats (likely) you should probably go with CS4. If you're not already accustomed to the older layout of 8 or CS3, you'll have a much easier time adjusting to it than if you had been working in the old interface for years.

[TheSongSalad]

i have flash mx, but i think getting the newest version would be a good idea if you having made much of anything in an older version. good luck.

[MonkeyShrub]

I actually asked my media and design teacher about this topic...

According to him, earlier versions of Flash (CS3 and 8) are far easier to learn with, though not as powerful as CS4 or later versions may become.

He uses CS4, but he is nothing less than a Flash genius, and would not suggest learning with it.

However, if you are going to buy you may as well get the latest version. You don't want to find yourself thinking "Gee, that CS4 feature is really great, I should have gotten it"