help estimating a Flash and ActionScript project

[artsytekky]

Hi all! I am new to Flash but have an opportunity to develop a small flash project for a client. It will involve using ActionScript to cause animation over images rolled over (e.g. opening a door to reveal the inside of a house), and action taken (e.g. a pop up displayed) if clicked on.

I want to do this project to gain experience in this area.

Is there a rule of thumb as to how many hours a typical flash programmer would allot per animation, so I don't overcharge my client for my learning curve? (I would say it's safe to say anyone on this forum isn't 'typical' but, rather, a cut above. Still, I want to charge a fair number of hours, not including my learning curve and am at somewhat of a loss, given my lack of experience in doing this kind of work).

Each animation is about 200 pixels square.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

[artsytekky]

Since I see people looking at this post, but not answering, I guess this question was inappropriate for the forum. I'm still learning what's okay to post and what's not. But... for anyone out there interested in the answer to the question, if it's okay with the moderators, I thought I'd record what I learned as I go through the process of discovering what an estimate would be, if that's not considered self-indulgent and may be helpful to someone else in the same position.

So far, I've created a small animation of a turning page of a book. This took me 50 minutes. This time does not reflect the creation of a real artwork for the book - it used simple squares and text. I transformed the images in successive keyframes to simulate the steps in animation.

This leads me to believe that animation of each of the images should probably take a day?

Will update with what I learn as I go...

[artsytekky]

Frankly, I'm uncomfortable talking with myself on this topic, so I'll stop now. :)

[gnomeontherun]

I don't think there is a way to say that, you have to know your skill and the complexity of the project to provide an accurate estimate.

Most projects require some work and research that you've never done before. Don't be afraid of it.

[artsytekky]

Thanks for the encouraging words.