Book excerpt: The perfect primer for learning Adobe Flash, whether you're new to Flash or updating your skills You'll get quickly up to speed on the essentials of Adobe Flash with this clear, task-based book. From the fundamentals of rich media design to specific techniques, it's a thorough introduction. Using step-by-step instruction, this book clearly shows you how to draw shapes, use the Timeline, add video or audio, create complex animations, and much more. Moreover, if you're preparing for the Flash Professional Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) exam, this thorough guide is the perfect preparation. Covers Flash essentials for beginners and assists candidates preparing for the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) for Rich Media Communication Using Flash Professional certification Introduces you to the principles and practices of rich media design as well as Flash basics and essential tools Delves into topics and techniques, including creating designs using Flash shape tools, the essentials of layers and the Timeline, using text and symbols, and creating simple animations