We've gone over three relatively large sections so far (here are links to part 1, part 2, and part 3 in case you missed them), so in wrapping up our grand tour of Flash 8 Professional's new features, it's time to think small. This article aims to be the dumping ground, the Larry King stream-of-consciousness column, the veritable scrapple, if you will, as we attempt to round up some of the "little" features in Flash 8 Professional and give them mention all at once. And with the very real potential for numerous health code violations, it's much like the scrapple-making process itself. So let's get started.

Filters? Check. Blends? Check. Since the design crowd has gotten its due in parts one and two of this series, today we're going to shift gears a bit and focus on the improved video features included in Flash 8 Professional. The new stuff should simultaneously appeal to right-brainers and left-brainers out there, making Flash Video pretty much a no-brainer. So whether you're just looking for a simple way to post clips on the Web or wanting to create a super-immersive, video-heavy interactive application from scratch, Flash Video probably has something to offer you.

Fresh off of our riveting foray into the exciting world of Flash 8's filters, it's now time to turn our collective attention to another new feature: blends. That's right—they're not just for Photoshop and After Effects anymore. As you'd probably expect, Flash's new blend modes open up some powerful live compositing options, but there just may be a surprise or two hidden in all the blend-y goodness as well. So let's dive right in, shall we?

Now that Flash 8 has formally been announced, there's no better way to kill time until the September release than by highlighting some of the new features the soon-to-be-Adobe Flash has in store. While Flash 8 packs numerous improvements for just about every type of Flash user, it's probably not a stretch to say that designers will be especially pleased. And since that's as good a place as any to start, today we'll be taking a gander at an addition that designers have been coveting for ages: filters.