Image before the flash video starts

[eleven82]

Does anyone know how to put a clip of the video on the screen before the user hits play in flash? I have it set to autoplay=false but I would like something on the screen instead of a black screen.

Here is an example :
http://markflavinblog.com/increase-website-traffic/watch-stephen-colbert-interview-craig-from-craigslist

Thanks.

[djr33]

I don't see this as a specific technique, but basic design.

Simply place an image on the screen, make it a button then play the video when that button is clicked. Or any variation of that.

If you don't want a separate bit of media data, you could instead use actionscript to place the playhead at a certain frame in the video until clicked, at which point it plays and moves the playhead to the beginning.

[BLiZZaRD]

Basically what djr said. What you are looking at is the first frame of the video with a stop(); command.

Then another layer that has an alpha-ed out white block covering the whole thing and a play button.

on (release){
_root.gotoAndPlay(2);
}

Where frame 2 does not have the white mask and play button.


If that is too complicated you could load the video in an empty movie clip using LoadMovie(); and use stop(); untill play is clicked, using the method above or a mask to make the play button.