| A typical challenge faced by Flash developers like me | | | | call to tell |
| is | | | | you that the font is too small. In the past such |
| getting fonts to look like you want then to. For any | | | | changes could |
| project | | | | be very time consuming, requiring developers to go |
| choosing the right font face and size is a process | | | | through the |
| that requires | | | | whole movie editing textfield after texfield one at a |
| both you and ultimately the client to see eye to | | | | time; |
| eye.In Flash MX and earlier versions fonts were by | | | | providing that the client was happy with the changes |
| default | | | | you'd might |
| anti-aliased, meaning that the edges of the text are | | | | get lucky and only need to run around that track |
| smoothed. | | | | once. |
| This is good when dealing with large type but it | | | | In my line of work I convert pre-designed web sites |
| causes small | | | | (web |
| text to appear blurry. Earlier versions of Flash also | | | | templates) into a unique Internet project (web |
| had other | | | | sites), in other |
| issues. For instance if one were to realign textfields | | | | words I work with pre-made website templates. |
| around | | | | The whole basis |
| other objects fonts might come out of focus | | | | for using a website template is to develop fast and |
| (because of | | | | high-quality |
| positioning), and getting it right could take several | | | | website in half the time that it would normally take a |
| tries.More recently with the advent of Flash MX 2004 | | | | regular |
| came the "alias | | | | design studio to do the same. Utilizing style sheets |
| text" option but, more importantly the | | | | with my |
| TextField.StyleSheet() | | | | Flash templates enables me to keep my production |
| class. What is the TexFiled.StyleSheet() class? I'll get | | | | time at a |
| to that | | | | minimum and ultimately the time I save will benefit |
| but first let me tell you about this new "alias text" | | | | my clients. |
| feature. | | | | For detail instruction on how to create a style sheet |
| The latter hides the anti-aliasing to make small text | | | | object in |
| sharper | | | | Flash MX 2004 simply open the help panel and |
| and more legible yada, yada, yada. However, most | | | | search under the |
| often than not, | | | | keywords "cascading style sheets". In all fairness I |
| fonts appear overly pixilated and cracked. In my | | | | must |
| opinion "alias | | | | mention something about Pixel fonts. Pixel what? |
| text " is nothing more than a little ransom note | | | | Pixel fonts are |
| generator | | | | fonts specially designed so that every part of every |
| making every character appear as if it had been cut | | | | character |
| out of a | | | | falls exactly on the monitor's pixel. Pixel fonts are |
| magazine. Adding insult to injury if you are publishing | | | | incredible |
| for the | | | | at getting fonts at small sizes looking crisp and |
| Flash 6 player or earlier versions on Flash MX 2004 | | | | legible at any |
| the "alias | | | | resolution. If you are wondering if Pixel fonts would |
| text" feature does not work on dynamic and or | | | | display |
| input textfields. | | | | correctly on the end user's computer or some other |
| | | | platforms |
| Moving forward with stylesheets. If you don't | | | | that does not have these fonts already installed. |
| already know | | | | The answer is |
| something about CSS don't fret the small stuff. Get | | | | yes, but Pixel fonts must be embedded to ensure |
| to your | | | | they are |
| favorite search engine and key in CSS (short for | | | | displayed correctly on every computer. The |
| Cascading Style | | | | downside here is that |
| Sheets), and in seconds flat you will find hundreds of | | | | embedding these fonts means an increase in file size |
| articles | | | | which in |
| on CSS benefits, syntax, usage and whatnots. Very | | | | turn causes an increase in bandwidth needless to |
| quickly, CSS | | | | say bandwidth |
| is the language of style on the web and as opposed | | | | determines the rate at which information is sent. |
| to other | | | | |
| languages CSS is much easier to read and write. One | | | | Nevertheless if you want to use fonts that look |
| of the | | | | crisp even at |
| reasons for this is you can pretty much read | | | | small sizes without the use of CSS, Pixel fonts are |
| everything just as | | | | right for |
| you would plain English, another is the ability to write | | | | you. To buy and or read more about Pixel fonts |
| everything in lowercase, something you could never | | | | checkout these |
| getaway with | | | | website and sum the choice is your, on smaller |
| in JavaScript. | | | | projects I would actually |
| CSS in ActionScript is relatively simple. The first thing | | | | prefer Pixel fonts over cascading style sheets, I |
| we | | | | mean why bring |
| want to do is open the Action panel and create an | | | | a gun to the snipe hunt when all you need is my |
| empty style | | | | gunnysack. On |
| sheet object. Basically the idea is to load our style | | | | the other hand you can do without a lot of |
| sheet | | | | unnecessary |
| information in there (font size, weigh, color etc.), and | | | | frustration going with CSS when working on larger |
| then | | | | projects.Dave Collado is a senior design consultant at |
| assign that information to some text. Not only will | | | | Foamers.net |
| you have | | | | offers quality website templates, template |
| more crisp and legible fonts but more importantly, | | | | customization, flash |
| this mean you | | | | templates, phpnuke themes, phpbb themes, |
| can change details about your font in an entire Flash | | | | osCommerce templates, |
| site by | | | | SWiSH templates, icon sets, web design tutorials, |
| simply editing one file. Pretty powerful stuff huh? | | | | and many other |
| Very handy | | | | web design and web hosting services. |
| when clients decided they don't like red anymore or | | | | |