This book investigates the technical capabilities and creative potential of the Flash 5 software environment for web-based animation and interactive design. Authors Brooks Patton and Derek Franklin provide a structured manual for designers and developers to master the software's interface and core functionality. By focusing on the transition from static graphics to dynamic web content, the text establishes a framework for building interactive user experiences through the application of symbols, layering, and sound integration.

Experts and practitioners of the era identified this text as a standard instructional resource for transitioning to the Flash 5 environment. Readers frequently note the practical, project-based approach to learning complex animation software features.