Simple, maintainable code is beautiful. However, when we have a sequences of actions that need to trigger each other, our code can get messy, making it impossible to change later. The Command Pattern keeps things clean.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a minimalist AS3 Command framework, capable of performing actions in sequence, in parallel, or with a delay. You’ll lean how to use this framework to create a complex effect with simple and clean code.

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A Context Menu is a menu in a graphical user interface that appears upon user interaction, such as a right-mouse click. The Flash Player context menu allows you to add custom menu items, control the display of the built-in context menu items (for example, Zoom In and Print) and create copies of menus.

In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to take advantage of these items.

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In this Quick Tip, we’ll look at how to use the ExternalInterface class. This allows us to write AS3 which can run JavaScript code, and vice-versa. That means you can use Flash to alter parts of the webpage in which it’s running!

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In this tutorial you’ll learn how to separate an image’s three different color channels to create an RGB shift effect. I’ll also show you some graphics tricks to mimic an old CRT display.

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In this Quick Tip I’ll show you how to examine the way visitors are using your websites, widgets and games. Then we’ll look at how to improve them based on this info!

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In my previous tutorial Shoot Out Stars with the Stardust Particle Engine, I explained the basic workflow of Stardust. This time, we’ll take things further and examine a couple of techniques for creating true 3D particle effects!

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Sometimes, Flash just isn’t the right tool for the job at hand. It’s not great at creating textured buttons, for example. Luckily for us Adobe users, Fireworks is – and we can drag an object from Fireworks to Flash in about ten seconds.

This Quick Tip will show you how.

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The creative uses for alpha channel video aren’t limited to your local weatherman. In this Basix installment I’m going to show you how to pull a key in After Effects CS4, how to create an alpha channel video in the Adobe Media encoder, how to use that video in Flash and then we’ll wind up the lesson looking at ways to creatively use alpha channel video in Flash.

Ready? Let’s get started..

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We’re making some changes at Activetuts+. From now on, our tutorials will be using class-based code, instead of timeline code, wherever possible. This Quick Tip explains what you’ll need to know.

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Getting started with the bones tool can be intimidating and tricky, but it can be your best friend for animating once you’ve had some practice. You can create bones (armatures) for graphic shapes (like a simple triangle) or a set of movie clips. During this screencast, I’ll demonstrate using the bones tool with shapes and will follow up using bones with movie clips.

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