This year the Radford campus has been adorned with many new additions, a reformatted cafeteria, a new soccer stadium and the not-so-noticeable computer updates. One of which being the update to Macromedia MX. MX was created to keep up with the up rise of new programming languages such as XML and XHTML.

For those of you experienced with the Macromedia programs, there really are not many differences. Definitely the most notable is the interface. MX has all the same features and options as 6 but you will have to either put the extra time in to look around and relocate all the options or take a spin back through the tutorial. The one big addition to the MX Studio package is Cold Fusion, which integrates databases, XML, Flash, etc. In simpler or laymen’s terms, it is great for building your own message board.

For those of you not used to the Macromedia software, the programs are very user friendly and truly add to websites. Fireworks is wonderful for manipulating images, anything from creating to converting, animating to making interactive. Fireworks is the program often used in making menus, and in particular buttons. Flash is most commonly known for its funny shockwave movies such as "Joe Cartoon." Flash can add humor and/or class to a website as well as be used very effectively for educating. Flash animations can also be very interactive, as best exampled in the multitude of shockwave games that can be now found on the Internet. If you have any photos you want to show off, but not share for others to use in their own work, then just add them to a interactive shockwave file. Without a set password you create, no one can steal those pics. FreeHand is for both web and print, a two in one program where you design once and then can use in both mediums. FreeHand can be used for tasks as little as photo manipulation to as complex as website storyboarding. Dreamweaver is the centerpiece, a web designer can take what he has created in all of the other programs and bring them into Dreamweaver to make one very respectable website. Dreamweaver works on multiple levels, beginners can just insert pictures, text, tables, etc. where they want directly onto the page and the program will write all the code. Intermediate users can split the screen between the output and code and can adjust the code as needed after inserting desired entities, and expert users if so choose can just type straight code.

If you are interested in learning how to use Macromedia products in addition to the 30 day free trial periods you can download from the Macromedia website, all on campus students can download the full educational versions of the programs for free onto their computers. In addition you can find the programs on most school computers. For help the tutorials are wonderful, they take you through everything step by step with examples. For a more human approach try the Multi-Media Center on the fourth floor of the library in addition to free monthly classes you can sign up for one on one help anytime. In addition if you have any further questions please check out Macromedia.com.