As a Graphic Artist I am naturally a visual creature. I can read instructions and actually enjoy doing so when necessary. But, if you're like me, punching the HELP button on any given application does not always provide the guidance you are looking for. Instructions in most HELP guides provide only a text explanation with no visuals. For me, the degree of explanation clarity is often in question.

Teach Yourself Visually: Flash CS3 Professional (TYV) provided that extra bit of clarity I was looking for in learning a new app. I was starting from the ground up to learn Flash Professional and this gave me the hold-my-hand-and-step-me-through-it way to approach Flash.

Being very familiar with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator has helped in understanding many of the functions in Flash, but there are a few tools that behave differently. TYV clearly explains the tools and functions along with color coded subheads and icons to highlight where everything is located in the workspace. For me, this is a big plus. It does not do me any good to tell me to push button “X” if I can't find it.

TYV is child-like in it's simplicity. In fact, my only criticism of the book is that it's a little too child-like visually. The color graphics and illustrations are nice, but I felt like I was looking at a preschooler's version of an adult tome.

All in all, TYV is a great book for any Flash newbie to get their hands on. With over 300 pages of step-by-step instructions, TYV can teach anyone to operate this ubiquitous application... even a preschooler. ;-)