From understanding the basics to creating advanced effects like explosions and smoke, ActionScript 3.0: Building Particle Systems covers each step involved in creating particles and building particle systems. Instructor Todd Perkins explains how to make a versatile particle class that controls particle movement, gravity, friction, spin, rotation, fading, scaling, and other movement effects. He also demonstrates how each unique particle system can be added to a real world application. Exercise files accompany the course.

The elusive alpha channel remains one of the most misunderstood yet powerful tools in Photoshop. Alpha channels are collections of luminance data that control the transparency of an image, and they inform just about every aspect of Photoshop. As he builds transitional blended layers, fashions a depth map, makes edge adjustments, and takes on extreme channel mixing, Omni Award-winning expert Deke McClelland teaches Photoshop users that where there's a will, there's a way. Photoshop CS3 Channels and Masks: Advanced Techniques covers mapping texture on an image, turning flesh into stone, using vector masks, working with all different channels, creating a rustic edge effect, and much more. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.

In Windows Vista Essential Training , instructor Jeff Van West offers comprehensive guidance through the often-daunting task of upgrading Windows system software. After discussing Vista's many new features and demonstrating the initial installation, Jeff explains how to run older software, customize settings and the desktop, and troubleshoot along the way. The tutorials also cover the ins and outs of taking Vista on the road for portable computing, from setting up security to working with all types of media and optimizing performance. Exercise files accompany the training.

In these tutorials, instructor Rich Shupe delves into the essentials of delivering Flash to mobile devices. He covers everything from creating applications with ActionScript to making basic wallpaper and screensavers. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.

In The AJAX Crash Course, published by SitePoint, instructor Kevin Yank explores the many technologies that come together in AJAX applications. These technologies include the Document Object Model (DOM), Extensible Markup Language (XML), JavaScript, and XMLHttpRequest (XHR). Along with providing an application tour, Kevin explains how to make intelligent decisions about which of these tools to use, and gives hands-on examples of how to apply them.
Running Time: 1.25 hours