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movie. You will learn how to create graphics, work with layers, and add motion, sound, and text to
your movie.
Get Started
To begin, open Flash CS4 Professional. The window shown here appears:
Click Flash File (ActionScript 3.0). The window shown here appears:
Note: The window
shown is the default
layout and is named
Essentials. If your
window has a
different layout, click
the down-arrow to the
right of Help on the Menu
bar and then select
Essentials.
On the far right edge of the window, you see the Tools panel, which contains the tools you use to
create or modify drawings and text. You select a tool by clicking it. If there are multiple tools in a
single well, click the visible tool a second time and a popup menu appears. You can then choose the
tool you want. Wells with multiple tools have a small triangle in the bottom-right corner.
Tool modifiers for the selected tool are shown at the bottom of the Tools panel. You use modifiers to
set tool options.
When you hover your mouse pointer over a tool or display a tool menu, you will see that each tool
has a letter associated with it. You can choose a tool by pressing the letter. For example, when you
hover your mouse pointer over the Selection tool , you see "Selection Tool (V)." Pressing "v"
activates the Selection tool.
The Property inspector and the Library panels appear to the left of the Tools panel. You use the
Property inspector to set object and tool properties. You store objects in the Library.
The Timeline appears in the bottom portion of the window. You use the Timeline to lay out the
sequence of your movie.
The Stage is in the center of the window. You create your movie on the Stage.
You start creating your movie by setting the Frame Rate, Dimensions, Background Color, and Ruler
Units.
You can set these properties in the Document Properties dialog box.
2. Type 400 px in the Width field to set the width of the Stage to 400 pixels.
3. Type 400 px in the Height field to set the height of the Stage to 400 pixels.
4. Click the Background Color box and then choose white as the background color.
5. Type 12 in the Frame Rate field.
6. Choose Pixels from the drop-down menu in the Ruler Units field.
7. Click OK. Flash sets the document properties.
Display a Grid
In the exercises that follow, you will be drawing. Displaying a grid of horizontal and vertical lines is
often helpful when drawing.
Display a Grid
2. Click the Color box and then choose gray to make the grid lines gray.
3. Choose Show Grid to cause the grid to appear.
4. Choose Snap to Grid to cause the edges of your drawing to align with the grid lines.
5. Set the Horizontal field to 20 px to separate horizontal lines by 20 pixels.
6. Set the Vertical field to 20 px to separate vertical lines by 20 pixels.
7. Set the Snap Accuracy to Normal to tell Flash how close your drawing has to be to the gridline
for Flash to use the gridline to determine where to place the drawing.
8. Click OK. Flash creates a grid on the Stage.
The Property inspector, which is located on the Properties tab, is one of the most frequently used
panels in Flash. You use it to set the attributes of objects as you work. If the Property inspector is not
open:
Choose Window > Properties from the menu. The Property inspector appears on the right side
of the window.
The Property inspector is one of many panels found in Flash. When you are not working in a panel,
you can collapse it. To collapse a panel, click the Collapse icon . The Collapse icon turns into an
Expand icon . To open the panel again, click the Expand icon .
The Property inspector for a particular tool or object may be divided into several sections. Each
section heading is preceded by a triangle. Clicking the triangle toggles the section between open
and closed . When a section is open, you can set options.
In the exercise that follows, you will use the Rectangle tool to draw a rectangle. Symbols are reusable
objects you store in the Library. Later in this tutorial you will turn the rectangle into the button symbol
that movie viewers press to start the movie.
After you choose the Rectangle tool, the Rectangle tool options appear in the Property inspector.
There are two color boxes. You use the color boxes to set the stroke and fill colors. The stroke color
outlines your drawing. The fill color fills the center of your drawing. Stroke lines can be thin, solid,
dashed, and so on. You choose the line style. You can also set the line thickness. The line thickness
can be any value from 1 to 200; the larger the number, the thicker the line.
The corners of a rectangle can be squared-off or rounded. For squared-off corners, set the Rectangle
Corner Radius fields to 0. For rounded corners, set the field values to any value between -100
and +100. Negative numbers round inward; positive numbers round outward. The further the number
is from 0, the rounder the corner.
Draw a Rectangle
Note: You can also use the Modifiers area of the Tools panel to set the stroke and fill colors.
Create a Symbol
You are now ready to turn the drawing (the rectangle) you created into a button and store the drawing
as a button in the Library. In Flash, a symbol is defined as a graphic, button, or movie clip. A graphic
symbol is a static image. You can use a graphic when creating an animation. A button symbol
responds when you click the mouse, roll over it, or perform some other action. A movie clip symbol is
a static image or a piece of animation. Symbols and other items stored in the Library can be used
more than once.
Note: If the Library tab is not available, choose Window > Library from the menu. The Library opens.
If you do not see the Start Button, click and drag downward to open the viewing area.
8. Press the Delete key to delete the rectangle from the Stage. Don't worry. You have a copy of
the Start Button in the Library.
Create a Gradient
When you click a color box, the color dialog box shown here appears.
Gradients show changes in color. They are located on the bottom row of the Color dialog box. You
will use a gradient to create the movie's sky. But first, you must create the gradient you will use.
Create a Gradient
1. Choose Window > Color from the menu or press Shift+F9. The Color panel appears.
6. Click and drag the second Fill Gradient Range icon to the three-quarter point on the Gradient
Range slider to increase the amount of white in your gradient.
7. Click the Menu Options button to open the menu.
8. Click Add Swatch.
9. Close the Color panel. Flash adds the gradient you created to the color box.
Use a Gradient
In this exercise you will create a rectangle and fill it with the gradient you just created. You will then
turn the resulting drawing into a symbol and use it later to create the sky.
Use a Gradient
Later you will use the drawing you just created. For now, turn it into a graphic symbol.
When working in Flash, you can use the Pencil tool to draw freehand shapes and the Paint Bucket
tool to fill enclosed areas with color. In this exercise, you will use both of these tools to draw the tree
trunk and treetop you will use later to create a tree.
Note: While drawing, you may want to use the Eraser tool . Double-click the Eraser tool to erase
everything on the Stage. Use the Eraser Shape modifier that is located in the modifier area of the
Tool panel to select the size and shape of your eraser. Make sure the Eraser Mode is set to Normal,
and then wipe over the area you want to erase.
11. Click the Fill color box in the Property inspector and then choose brown as the fill color.
12. Click inside the trunk to fill the trunk with color.
Note: If your tree trunk does not fill with color, you probably have gaps. To close the gaps, click on
the Gap Size modifier that is located in the modifier area of the Tool panel and then choose Close
Large Gaps.
Group Objects
Flash CS4 Professional views the tree as two objects, the treetop and the tree trunk. In the next
exercise you will group the treetop and the tree trunk to cause Flash CS4 Professional to view the
tree as a single object. Then you will turn the tree into a symbol.
Group Objects
You can use the Oval tool to draw circles and ovals. In this exercise you will create a car. You'll start
by using the Oval tool to draw a hubcap.
Create a Hubcap
Converting the hubcap to a symbol places the hubcap in the Library. Later you will take two copies of
the hubcap out of the Library and place one copy on each tire.
You can use the Line tool to draw straight lines. In this exercise you use the Line tool to draw the car
chassis.
You want Flash to view the car as a single object. You need to group the car.
1. Choose Modify > Convert to Symbol from the menu. The Convert to Symbol dialog box
appears.
2. Type Car in the Name field.
3. Choose Graphic as the type.
4. Click OK. Flash stores the graphic in the Library.
5. Press Delete to remove the car from the Stage.
Import an Image
You can use pre-existing graphics in your Flash movies. Simply import them. In this exercise you are
going to import a driver for the car.
Import an Image
1. Click here to download the driver and the horn sound zip file.
2. Open the Zip file.
3. Place the driver.wmf file and the shorthrn.wav file in a folder. You will use the shorthrn.wav file
later.
4. Choose File > Import > Import to Stage from the menu. The Import dialog box appears.
5. Find and select driver.wmf and then click Open. Flash places driver.wmf on the Stage. The
image is ungrouped.
1. Choose Modify > Convert to Symbol from the menu. The Convert to Symbol dialog box
appears.
2. Type Driver in the Name field.
3. Choose Graphic as the type.
4. Click OK. Flash stores the graphic in the Library.
Note: If your car and driver look like the one shown here:
1. Click the driver to select him. Do not select the car (a rectangle should not surround the car).
2. Choose Modify > Arrange > Send to Back from the menu. Flash places the driver behind the
car.
Draw the Buildings
You have created all your graphics and have stored them as symbols. You are now ready to create
your movie. Start by drawing buildings.
1. Click the Fill color box and then choose blue-green as the fill color.
2. Click in the second building to fill the building with color.
1. Click the Fill color box and then choose pink as the fill color.
2. Click in the last building to fill the building with color.
Use the Paint Bucket tool to fill the doors with brown and the windows with light yellow.
Understand Layers
Think of a layer as a transparent sheet on which you paint. You can see through each layer to the
layers under it until you add color. You can add layers, delete layers, and change the position of
layers. Each layer is independent of all other layers. The layer you are currently working on is called
the active layer. You can view layer information on the Timeline.
Rename a Layer
When working in Flash you should give your layers relevant names. You can use the Layer
Properties dialog box to rename a layer.
Rename a Layer
1. Click the layer you want to rename. In this case, you will rename Layer 1.
2. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu. The Layer Properties dialog box
appears.
3. Type Buildings in the Name field.
4. Click OK. Flash changes the name of the layer.
Note: You can also change the layer name by double-clicking the current layer name and then typing
the new layer name.
Create a New Layer
You use layers to organize the artwork in your movie. You can draw on each layer without affecting
the other layers. If a portion of a layer has nothing on it, you can see through to the layer below.
Note: You can also create a new layer by clicking the New Layer button in the bottom left corner of
the Timeline.
1. Make sure Sky is the active layer. When a layer is active, it is highlighted and designated by a
pencil icon . You click on the layer name to make a layer active.
2. Choose the Selection tool .
3. Activate the Library panel.
4. Click the icon next to Sky and drag an instance of Sky onto the Stage.
Rotate an Object
You can use a Modify menu option to rotate an object. You need to rotate the Sky instance 90
degrees clockwise.
Rotate an Object
Resize an Object
You need the sky to fill the top part of the Stage. You must resize the Sky instance. You can use the
Property inspector to resize an object.
Resize an Object
Objects that are on higher layers appear to be in front of objects on lower layers. You can change the
order of layers. You want to place the sky behind the buildings.
Add a Road
1. Click the Fill color box and choose bright gray as the fill color.
2. Draw a second rectangle below the green rectangle. The second rectangle is a road.
Now you will add two trees to your movie. Make sure Buildings is the active layer. (You click on the
layer name to make a layer active.)
1. Choose Insert > Timeline > Layer from the menu. A new layer appears at the top of the
Timeline.
2. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu. The Layer Properties dialog box
appears.
3. Type Trees in the Name field.
4. Click OK. Flash names the layer Trees.
Items stored in the Library can be used at anytime. Simply click the icon next to the Library object and
drag the object into the Stage.
You can use the Free Transform tool along with the Scale modifier to change the size of an object.
The Free Transform tool places a rectangle around the selected object. To change the width of the
object, click and drag the side handles of the rectangle. To change the height of the object, click and
drag the top or bottom handles of the rectangle. To change the size proportionately, click and drag
the corner handles.
1. Choose the Free Transform tool . Handles appear around the tree.
2. Choose the Scale Modifier .
3. Drag a corner handle until the tree is the appropriate size.
4. Use the Selection tool to place the tree in front of a building.
5. Drag another tree onto the Stage and repeat the process.
Work with Frames
Each layer of a Flash movie is divided into frames. Frame numbers appear along the top of the
Timeline. You can create motion by changing the placement of an object in successive frames.
Each layer in your movie is one frame long.Inserting a frame at Frame 60 will cause each layer to
remain on the screen until Frame 60.
In Flash, you create motion by changing the position of an object in successive frames. You can use
a motion tween to create motion. With a motion tween, you tell Flash the starting position and the
ending position of an object. Flash interpolates all the positions in between. In this exercise, you are
going to use a tween to move the car across the Stage.
You are ready to add the car to the Stage. Create a new layer. Name the layer Car.
1. Make the Trees layer the active layer by clicking on the Trees layer name.
2. Choose Insert > Timeline > Layer from the menu to create a new layer above the Trees layer.
3. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu to open the Layer Properties
dialog box.
4. Type Car in the Name field.
5. Click OK. Flash names the new layer Car.
Create a Tween
6. Choose Control > Play from the menu or press Enter to play the movie. The car moves across
the Stage.
Add Sound
To have a horn honk as the car rolls through town, you need to add the horn sound. You should have
downloaded a Zip file that contains the horn sound earlier in this tutorial. If you didn't, click here to
download it now. Open the Zip file and place the contents in a folder.
1. Click the Car layer name to make the Car layer the active layer.
2. Choose Insert > Timeline> Layer from the menu to create a new layer. The new layer appears
above the Car layer.
3. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu and type Horn in the Name field.
4. Click OK. Flash names the layer Horn.
Add Sound
Add ActionScript
If you published your movie now, the car would start moving as soon as the viewer opened the Web
page or started Flash player. You want the viewer to click on a button to make the car move across
the Stage.
ActionScript is a programming language you can use to send instructions to a Flash movie. Each
instruction is known as a statement. Statements can include commands. A statement must follow a
particular syntax or set of rules. You use the stop() command to stop a movie.
Explanation of stop();
You can use the Actions panel to add ActionScript to a movie. You open the Actions panel by
choosing Window > Actions from the menu or by pressing F9. You can use the Actions panel by
using either the Script pane or Script Assist. In the exercise that follows, use the Script pane. You
toggle between Script Assist and and the Script pane by clicking the Script Assist button. When you
are using Script Assist, the Actions panel looks like this:
When you are using the Script pane, the Actions panel looks like this:
When using ActionScript 3.0, it is a good practice to put all of your ActionScript on the top layer, by
itself, in frame1, to make it easy to find. Flash places a small a in the frame.
Add ActionScript
Thus far, you have been selecting Control > Play from the menu to view your movie. This option
starts in Frame 1 and moves sequentially through each frame. However, it does not read your
ActionScript. To test your movie including the ActionScript, you must use the Test Movie option on
the Control menu.
1. Choose Control > Test Movie from the menu to test the movie. Your car should notmove.
2. Click the Close button to return to Flash.
Add a Button
You need to add a button to your movie. When the viewer presses the button, the movie starts.
Buttons have four states: up, over, down, and hit and have their own Timelines. The Timelines have
four frames: Up, Over, Down, and Hit. You can set each frame's properties.
You want to add a button that reads "Start Movie" and is blue in the up state, green in the over state,
gold in the down state and responds when you click it.
1. Click the Horn layer to make the Horn layer the active layer.
2. Choose Insert > Timeline > Layer from the menu to create a new layer.
3. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu.
4. Type Button in the Name field to name the layer Button.
5. Click OK.
1. Choose Edit > Edit Symbols from the menu or press Ctrl+E to change to the symbol-editing
mode. You can now see the button's Timeline.
2. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu. The Layer Properties dialog box
appears.
3. Type State in the Name field.
4. Click OK. Flash changes the name of the layer to State.
1. Choose Insert > Timeline > Layer from the menu to create a new layer.
2. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu. The Layer Properties dialog box
appears.
3. Type Text in the Name Field.
4. Click OK. Flash changes the name of the layer to Text.
Add a Filter
You can use filters to apply visuals effects to buttons, movie clips, and text. To make your button look
more like a button, add a Gradient Bevel effect.
By default, Flash disables buttons. This give you the ability to move them around the Stage and
manipulate them in other ways. If you want to see the changes in your button's states, you must
enable it.
1. Use the Selection tool to place the button where you want it.
2. Choose Control > Enable Simple Buttons from the menu or press Ctrl+Alt+B.
3. Place your pointer over the button and then click it. The button is blue. When you place your
pointer over the button, it turns green. When you click it, it turns gold.
4. Choose Control > Enable Simple Buttons from the menu again to disable the button.
Add ActionScript
You want your movie to start when the viewer clicks the button. You must add the following
ActionScript:
function playMovie(event:MouseEvent):void
{
play();
}
startButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, playMovie);
Whenever you drag an object from the Library onto the Stage, you create an instance of the object.
You can use the Property inspector to name an instance. This allows you to discern one instance
from another instance. A function is a block of code that performs a specific task. This function and
line of code instruct Flash to play the movie when the viewer clicks the button with the instance
name startButton.
When you want Flash to respond to an action such as a mouse click, you must use a function and
the addEventListener() command. In this example, the function, which is named playMovie, executes
when the viewer clicks the startButton instance.
Code Explanation
Tells ActionScript to create a function. Functions are enclosed in
function
curly braces.
playMovie The name of the function. You name the function.
The event object and data type. In this case, an event that
event:MouseEvent
involves the mouse.
:void Indicates that the function cannot return a value.
play(); The command you want to execute.
The name of the instance for which you want to detect an event.
startButton
You use the Property inspector to name the instance.
Command that tells ActionScript to detect (listen for) a specific
addEventListener
event.
MouseEvent.CLIC The event you want to detect. In this example, a mouse click on
K the startButton.
The function you want to execute when the viewer clicks
playMovie the startButton. In this example, the function you created and
named playMovie.
Add ActionScript
1. Choose Control > Test Movie from the menu. The Test Movie window appears.
2. Click the Start Button. The car rolls across the screen.
3. Close the window.
Finish Up
Add a Layer
1. Make the Button layer the active layer by clicking on the Button layer name.
2. Choose Insert > Timeline > Layer from the menu to create a new layer above the Button layer.
3. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu to open the Layer Properties
dialog box.
4. Type Title in the Name field.
5. Click OK. Flash names the new layer Title.
Add a Title
Add a Filter
1. Choose Control > Test Movie from the menu. The Test Movie window appears.
2. Click the Start Movie button. The movie plays.