SfC Home > Flash >

Explanation of how 3-dimension images can be used in Adobe Flash animations. Also refer to 3D, 2D, marketing, advertising, games development, realism, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

3D in Flash

by Ron Kurtus (revised 23 July 2002)

Vector drawings created in Adobe Flash are primarily flat and in 2 dimensions. Basic gradients can be applied to some objects to give them the look of 3 dimensions, but in essence Flash is a 2D application. There are some tools that will create simple Flash animations in 3 dimensions, as well as Web sites devoted to 3D Flash.

Questions you may have include:

• What is 3D about?
• What tools can be used?
• What 3D Flash Web sites are worth checking out?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

What 3D is about

Flat drawings are acceptable on the Web, but an object with depth certainly look more realistic. This is especially true and necessary in advertising and game applications.

3D car looks more realistic

Animations in 3D can be as simple as rotations or may be having the object simulate reality.

Software

Software available for developing 3D Flash images, include:

Insane Tools 3D Flash Animator - $49.95 - A simple Flash animator with basic 3D drawing tools. Trial version available.

Electric Rain Swift3D - $159 - 3D vector drawing tool that produces Flash files. Can do some animation in 3D.

Web sites

Web sites specializing in 3D Flash include:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/3d_animation.html - 3D Animation development articles from Adobe

Creating real-time 3D objects with Adobe Flash MX dynamic drawing tools - http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/flash_3d.html

http://www.kirupa.com/developer/actionscript/3dindex.htm - Scripting 3D in Flash (includes source code)

http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Flash/3D/1

Summary

3D in Flash is a real possibility that can add value to some animations, especially in marketing and games.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Seek excellence

Resources

The following are resources on this subject.

Websites

Flash Resources

Books

Top-rated books on Flash

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. What is the advantage of 3D images?

2. What software can you use to create 3D Flash images?

3. What is another way of creating 3D Flash?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Flash development. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

What do you think?

Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Share link

Feel free to establish a link from your website to pages in this site.

Or use our form to send this link to yourself or a friend.

Students and researchers

The Web address of this page is
www.school-for-champions.com/flash/3dflash.htm.

Please include it as a reference in your report, document, or thesis.

Where can you go from here?

School for Champions

Flash topics

3D in Flash