Multimedia & Graphics : Examining the Substance of Studio MX

Summary : ...a powerful tool for web site design that combines the best of graphic design and web development functionalities...

There has been an exciting development for web designers! Macromedia has released a powerful tool for web site design that combines the best of graphic design and web development functionalities; Studio MX. This is the ideal bundle for professional web designers, bringing together Dreamweaver MX for page design, Flash MX for animation and interactivity, and Fireworks MX for editing and optimizing graphics. With all these components, it certainly provides professional functionality for every aspect of web site design.

Resource Integration

With the bundling of these professional web design resources, there was a chance Studio MX could be overly cumbersome, but I must say that the integration is generally very good. It begins with the interface which uses common elements such as dockable, collapsible panels and a dynamic property inspector, so that you can switch comfortably between products. On a technical level, the key feature is roundtrip support. You can embed Fireworks graphics and Flash movies in Dreamweaver pages without losing any information, letting you later reopen an element in its original application, with all its features intact. Also, in effect, the combination of Dreamweaver and ColdFusion provides an easy path into dynamic, Java-based web development.

Flash As A Client

Moreover, Flash MX also has potential as a rich client, with an interface driven by embedded JavaScript. Through a technology called Flash Remoting, Flash MX offers support for web services. The Studio MX bundle makes it relatively easy to set up ColdFusion to supply these services, and for Flash to consume them. While it may seem strange to think of Flash as a rich client moving beyond the web page, it does make some sense when you consider that it is cross-platform and very widely deployed. In addition, ColdFusion itself can consume web services hosted on other platforms.

Drag-and-Drop Tools

In addition, you can now take advantage of drag-and-drop visual tools and components, code libraries, and extensive code editing support for web development using HTML, XHTML, XML, ColdFusion, ASP, ASP.NET, JSP or PHP. Its integration with ColdFusion MX gives you a fast way to develop Internet applications that incorporate Macromedia Flash. Also, creating each element of the web production process such as developing graphics, laying out HTML pages, coding application logic, building rich user interfaces, and assembling complete solutions is really made easy in this all-in-one suite.

Indeed, Studio MX makes it easier to design and develop rich, interactive sites and Internet applications delivered across major platforms and devices with improvements to common tasks, a more consistent user interface, and deeper integration across the products. With it, web designers and web developers are working in a familiar, customizable environment with consistent user interface elements. These elements include color management, drawing tools, code editing, a common Property Inspector, and panel management, all making it easy to move between the applications.

Taking everything together, Studio MX is an essential web development tool for every web designer.

About the author : For additional information about creative designs from Mart Gil Nash, visit http://www.ucreative.com