Setting Up Your FLA

Abstract

In Chapter 2, we discussed the importance of a well-organized character library and the difference it can make in your production. In this chapter, we will discuss best practices for organizing and structuring your FLA for character animation as well as some of the technical issues you should be aware of before you animate. While some of the more technical aspects (e.g., frame rate, aspect ratios, square versus nonsquare pixels) are solidly on the science side of the fence, the structure and organization topics discussed here are more of an art and subject to debate. Once again, if you have a method of organizing your FLAs that works for you, by all means use it. If you are new to Flash character animation or looking for ways to improve your production pipeline, I hope this chapter will help.