Adobe released Creative Suite 5 (CS5) last month. While the tools are mostly geared towards creative professionals in web, design, photography and video, one tool that stands out is Adobe Flash Catalyst.
If you’ve ever wanted to create simple Flash applications or websites, Flash Catalyst is the tool of choice. It requires no code and can still deliver excellent results.
How it works:
- Import artwork.
- Drag and drop artwork onto the stage.
- Connect elements and create interactions.
- Export and publish.
While the above is a simplistic explanation of how it works, basic applications are just that simple to create. As a content creator, if you’ve ever looked at Flash code (called ActionScript), it requires multiple steps. However, with Flash Catalyst, you require no code.
Drawbacks:
While it’s easy to create interactive applications, don’t expect too much from the application. Unlike Flash Professional, it’s designed only for those that don’t want to learn code and as such, could be limiting. However, it’s still a great tool to create simple video interfaces or Flash based websites.
