Flash is a vector-based Web design programme from Macromedia that delivers beautiful animations, music tracks, sound effects and state-of-the-art interface design without requiring a lot of bandwidth. More than 90% of current Web browsers are delivered with Flash plug-ins pre-installed. The Flash Player is also available as a free download. Flash is the standard for Web animations and multimedia effects and the market for Flash-proficient designers will only continue to grow. Despite Macromedia's claims, Flash is not an especially easy programme to master. FlashX is expected to feature significant upgrades and differences from the current version 4. Flash 5 Virtual Classroom is aimed at beginning to intermediate users. The CD-ROM included with the book features a dozen short, hands-on demonstrations of specific Flash techniques. Running under Real-Player, which is also included on the CD, the lessons combine streaming video and audio of the author with animated screen shots, active Flash demonstrations, slides and graphics in a complete multimedia experience.

The topic of Flash 5 is enough to sell this book, the premier title in Osborne's new Virtual Classroom series. Content-wise, it is much like other introductory books on the ueber-popular Web animation software, offering solid instruction on manipulating objects and importing images, for example. What makes this stand out from its competitors (see Computer Media, LJ 3/1/01) is the accompanying CD-ROM that offers ten lessons in streaming video. Users will need a fairly good machine to run the tutorial and stay in sync with the audio. Libraries needing supplementary Flash 5 guides should purchase Sahlin's guide.

Doug Sahlin is a digital artist, Web site designer and computer book author who lives in Lakeland, Florida. In addition to writing numerous magazine articles on Web design and graphics, he is the author of Carrara 1 Bible and Carrara 1 for Dummies, both from IDG books. He also develops Flash 4 courses for Digital Think