Adobe LiveMotion (LM) is a software package for creating the integrated graphics, animations and accompanying sound that make Web pages interesting and effective. It is aimed at professionals. However, novices aspiring to create Web pages may master this software with some determined effort; acquaintance with Adobe PhotoShop helps tremendously.

The system requirements for LM are: Pentium II or faster; Windows (98, 2000, NT (Ser. Pak. 4), or ME); 64MB Ram; 100MB HD. This software involves extensive graphics operations, so it works better … the faster is the CPU and the more is the RAM and HD space available for software use.

The first thing I learned about LM was that the original, packaged, CD software could not be installed, because it was incompatible with the Win ME operating system in my computer. Lots of unhappy comment on the Internet, at the time, revealed that this incompatibly was a prevalent problem with no official Adobe fix. However, Adobe ultimately did send a replacement LM CD that allowed an easy installation.

Following the installation, I found a recommended, substantial (4MB), LM-software update on the Adobe website, which I downloaded. Also, the Adobe website had a wealth of hints, tutorial features, and downloads to expedite the use of LM. Going to a vender’s website, following the installation of some new software product, should be standard operating procedure for everyone. These updates may include not only software improvements but may also include patches for defects in the original software issue.

Included in the LM software package was a compact 207-page “User Guide”, containing both tutorial material and instructions on using LM. Also, an easy-to-follow, descriptive, hands-on, LM tutorial (found in the ‘Help’ menu) may be activated and used. With LM, all key web-page items like graphic-animations, rollovers, and navigation bars can be created and incorporated into full Web-page displays and then exported to host sites.

Reading the guide’s step-by-step descriptive exercises lead one: from creating various basic elemental Objects (geometric forms, texts, sounds, and images) for building a the Web page; through manipulating Object appearances (shape, color, texture, etc); through sequencing Objects in a timeline for animations with sounds and rollovers (effects such as glow, color, sound changes when the mouse cursor moves over an Object); through exporting the composed page (in various suitable file formats) to a Web site.

As has been mentioned, familiarity with Adobe PhotoShop helps greatly with using LM. The screen layouts for working with LM are much the same, and work much the same, as in PhotoShop. There is a workspace with peripheral boxes containing various graphic editing tools and accompanying pallets that allow changing a tool’s characteristic and mode of operation. To use LM well, one needs to learn the interactions between tools and pallets. Aldo, in addition to the various means for creating and manipulating Objects, LM contains a pallet for setting up the timelines used in sequencing items in animations.

I went through the excellent exercises in the ‘Help’ tutorial and found them comprehensive and totally informative on using LM. The lessons enabled me to create a rudimentary Web page. However, it will take a lot more practice with LM to actually venture out on the Web with a created page.

This LM software package … with its extensive Adobe-site support … will allow anyone to become adept at producing professional Web pages.