If you want to use the Terminal:

1. Make sure you have a Debugger version of the Flash Player installed.
2. Create a txt file, name it flashlog.txt and place it here: /Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player/Logs/flashlog.txt
3. Create a mm.cfg file and add the following code:
   ErrorReportingEnable=1
   TraceOutputFileEnable=1
   MaxWarnings=0 
   You can also download the mm.cfg here. If you want to change the maximum number of warnings, open it with TextEdit and make the change.
4. Place a copy of the mm.cfg in the following locations:
   /Library/Application Support/Macromedia/mm.cfg
   /Users/YourUserName/mm.cfg
5. Open the terminal and type in:
   tail -f /Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash\ Player/Logs/flashlog.txt

To use FlashTracerX by Brandon Meyer click here and download the application. Follow the instructions provided in the website.

Packed with hand-drawn graphics, an insane amount of detail, smooth animations, superb character design, outstanding soundtrack, challenging puzzles and mini-games, Machinarium is a treat for casual gamers and art lovers alike. It is whimsical, engaging and challenging, a showcase of the amazing things that can be accomplished with Flash when placed in the hands of skilled, talented people.

Stop by Amanita Design’s website and give it a try,  there’s a demo you can play for free. You’ll be glad you did.

In our day and age, most people overlook the fact that computer art is in fact done by artists, not computers; that the hardware and software utilized to create engaging visual experiences are simply tools to enable artists to execute their visions. Most often, digital artists are considered mere technicians which, in my opinion, is unfair and inaccurate. Mastering specific software or being able to program complex applications to achieve artistic expression constitute the technical aspect of a digital artist’s craft, as knowing how to properly use chisel and mallet to transform a piece of stone constitutes the technical aspect if an sculptor’s craft.

Every art form has evolved from a fairly simple human activity, constrained and often shaped by the available tools which in most cases have had previous practical applications. The tools we have developed over the centuries have enabled us to expand the range of possibilities for human expression and, without a doubt, the introduction of computers has expanded that range even more. Technology should not be exclusively associated with the applied sciences but with both, the sciences and the arts.

Anyway… that was me thinking out loud. Just stop by the SVA website, you’ll be amazed.

The image above is a screenshot from the short film Catenaccio by Gilad Kenan, one of my favorites in the site. I love how the artist introduces elements that can be familiar to anyone and the amount of detail put into the piece (the cat’s pupils actually dilate and shrink according to the amount of light). On a side note, I particularly enjoyed the fact that I immediately identified myself with the character. It’s pretty funny, but it seems we share some things in common: love for cats and soccer, a thing for toys, Macs in our desks and apartments that look way too similar including some Ikea furniture in the living room!

About the author of this ActionScript class:
Moses Gunesch has spent a decade teaching and working with ActionScript, inspired early on by Flash phenomena like Flight404.com, Remedi Project, Praystation, Second Story, Deconcept, Natzke.com, Yugop.com, and Robert Penner[...] Read more at friendsofed.com

Alejandro was interviewed for myFonts newsletter in August 2009 and I just wanted to share the link with you.

Click HERE to read Alejandro Paul’s interview.

You can downloaded it HERE and put it to the test whenever you feel like you could use some of the magic that Flash casts upon PNGs. Depending on your settings, you can reduce file sizes to less than 20% of originals without compromising image quality. This is something you won’t be able to use for certain projects, but you’ll definitely find a good fit for it. I know I have!

But this ironsmith (yours truly…) just made new shiny cutlery for herself! Yeah… It was long overdue, my online portfolio was missing from the World Wide Web until today. Now that’s not the case anymore, here it is! I hope you like it.

I have learned some interesting stuff playing with WordPress, like building my own WP theme from scratch and inserting Flash components within the WP platform while providing alternative content for those browsers that don’t support Flash. I also enjoyed the design challenge of  having to create a website only using system fonts. Some of the tasks were a bit tricky and I will be happy to share some of my discoveries in future posts.

I want to thank my friends Lee Felarca and Richard Tom for their invaluable comments and suggestions. Guys, you rock!