The ActionScript 3.0 language brought a lot more power and flexibility to Flash, enabling developers to build powerful applications that hadn’t been possible before. One usage of this increased power is in processing 3D graphics, and many Open Source 3D engines sprang up. This scene has matured now, and there are a few clear winners in the 3D engine space – such as Away3D, Papervision3D and Sandy. With the release of Flash CS4, Adobe added some basic 3D support into the main Flash IDE, increasing the public’s awareness of what’s possible. At the same time, the support they added was very basic, meaning that to perform any impressive functions developers still had to use a dedicated 3D engine, so the interest in these engines has grown and grown. This is the first book to deal with the popular Away3D engine, and one of the first up-to-date books on 3D in Flash. It is written by the Away3D development team. If you are an ActionScript developer or designer and you would like to work with 3D in Flash, this book is for you. You will learn the core Flash 3D concepts, using the open source Away3D engine as a primary tool. Once you have mastered these skills, you will be able to realize the possibilities that the available Flash 3D engines, languages, and technologies have to offer you with Flash and 3D. Describes 3D concepts in theory and their implementation using Away3D Dives right in to show readers how to quickly create an interactive, animated 3D scene, and builds on that experience throughout the book Each chapter contains a number of tutorials that focus on one specific feature or group of features If You Are An Actionscript Developer Or Designer And You Would Like To Work With 3d In Flash, This Book Is For You. You Will Learn The Core Flash 3d Concepts, Using The Open Source Away3d Engine As A Primary Tool. Once You Have Mastered These Skills, You Will Be Able To Realize The Possibilities That The Available Flash 3d Engines, Languages, And Technologies Have To Offer You With Flash And 3d--resource Description Page. Rob Bateman & Richard Olsson. Description Based On Print Version Record. Includes Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Getting Started....Pages 1-8 Creating Your First 3D Project....Pages 9-17 The View, Scene, and Camera....Pages 19-46 Primitives, Models, and Sprites....Pages 47-86 Materials, Lights, and Shading....Pages 87-120 Vector Shapes and Text in 3D....Pages 121-146 Procedural 3D Content....Pages 147-169 Interactivity....Pages 171-191 Animation....Pages 193-215 Optimizing Tips and Tricks....Pages 217-250 Back Matter....Pages 251-264 Provides instructions for creating 3D content for Adobe Flash, covering such topics as the Away3D library; primitives, models, and sprites; materials, lighting, and shading; vector shapes; and animation.
