Flash Symbols

Basic concepts of flash symbols - graphics, buttons

and movieclips

What is a Flash Symbol?

A symbol is a reusable object used/created in Flash. A Symbol can be reused throughout your movie or
imported and used in other movies. There are three types of symbols: Graphics, Buttons, and Movieclips.

A copy of a symbol used in the movie is called an Instance, which can have its own independent properties
(like color, size, function, etc.) different from the original symbol. All symbols used in a flash movie are stored
in the Library from where you can drag-and-drop new instances of the symbols into your movie. When a
symbol is edited all of its instances get updated, but changing the properties, effects or dimensions of an
instance of a symbol does not affect the original symbol or other instances.

Importance of using Flash Symbols

Using flash symbols is very crucial to the file size of your Flash movie. The Flash file size depends largely on
the size of all the graphics and texts used in the movie (both symbols and non-symbols) - here the major
advantage of using symbols is that a symbol's size is taken into consideration only once even if it is
used a hundred times - this is the true power of Flash. Unused symbols in your library are not counted in the
size of your movie.

Important Tip: Get used to using symbols in flash right from the beginning and name them neatly for easy
maintenance. It is a very tough job optimizing your file size if you don't use symbols from scratch!

The Three Types of Symbols

Graphic symbols are reusable static images that are used mainly to create animations. Any drawn
vector/plain text/imported bitmap (photo), or combinations of these, can be converted into a single
controllable object: as a graphic symbol. They have only one frame in their timeline. Learn how to create a
graphic symbol.

Button symbols are used for timeline navigation - They add interactivity to the movie and respond to mouse
clicks, key press or rollovers/rollout, and other actions. You define the graphics associated with various
button states (Up/Over/Down/Hit), and then assign actions to the instance of a button. They have 4 frames in
their timeline - one each for the up, over and down states, and one to define the hit area of the button. Learn
how to create a button symbol.

Movieclip symbols are reusable pieces of flash animation - consisting of one or more graphic/button symbols
- thus they are flash movies within your flash movie. They have their own non-restricted Timeline (any
number of layers and frames - just like the main timeline) that plays independent of the main movie's
Timeline. The best thing about using movieclips is that you can control them from actionscript - you can
change their dimensions, position, color, alpha, and other properties and can even duplicate and delete
them. Learn how to create a movieclip symbol.
How to create simple flash animations using Motion,
Shape, Guided Tweening and Frame-by-frame
Animation
In Flash animation can be done in four basic ways:

• Motion Tween

• Shape Tween

• Frame-by-Frame Animation

• Guided Motion Tween

It is very simple and neatly explained below.

A. Creating Motion Tween in Flash

1. Draw a vector using any of the drawing tools in Flash, say a small circle and convert it into a symbol

(F8) by selecting the Graphic option and name the symbol say 'ball'.

2. Click the 20th frame in the Timeline and insert a frame (F5).

3. Now right-click the 20th frame in the Timeline and select Create Motion Tween (or Motion option

from the Tween panel of the Properties inspector) and insert a Key Frame (F6).

4. Select the 10th frame and insert a Key frame (F6) and move the ball to a different position say,

above the current position to create a motion sequence (automatically tweened by Flash).

5. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). That's it you have created simple animation using

Motion Tween.

Fig: Timeline of Motion Tween

Note: Use the Color Panel of the Properties inspector to reduce the Alpha value from 100 to 32 for the 1st
and last frames to produce Simple Alpha Tweening as shown in the Example.

B. Creating Shape Tween in Flash

 1. You can create Shape Tweened animations using Shape option from the Tween panel of the

Properties inspector. Draw a vector using any of the drawing tools in Flash, say a small circle and

remove its border.

2. Click the 10th frame in the Timeline and insert a Key Frame (F6). Now draw another shape say a

diamond using the rectangle tool without a border.

3. Now right-click on any frame in between these two Key Frames and select Shape option from the

Tween panel of the Properties inspector.

4. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). That's it you have learnt how to create Shape

Tween in Flash.

Fig: Timeline of Shape Tween

Note: Only vectors can be Shape Tweened (Not for Symbols). Note both the Tweens have different colors
along the Timeline as shown above. Make sure that the line is smooth without being broken to ensure correct
Tweening.

Fig: Timeline of Broken Tween

C. Frame-by-Frame Animation

1. Create a vector/plain text using any of the drawing tools in Flash, say a text with 'Animation' typed

as shown in the example and break it using Break Apart (Ctrl + B) to separate the alphabets as

shown below:

Fig: Showing Text after Break Apart

2. In Frame-by-Frame animation we create the object for each frame so as to produce an animation

sequence.

3. Insert Keyframe (F6) and move the alphabets so as to produce an animation sequence.
 4. Repeat the above step as far as desired to create Frame-by-Frame animation as shown in the

example.

5. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). That's it you have created an animation using

Frame-by-Frame animation.

Fig: Timeline of Frame-by-Frame Animation

D. Creating a Guided Motion Tween in Flash

1. Create a vector/plain text using any of the drawing tools in Flash, say a text with 'Flash' typed and

break it using Break Apart (Ctrl + B) as done in the previous example and put each alphabet in

different layers and name the layers as shown in the picture below.

2. Insert a guide layer by right-clicking the topmost layer and select 'Add Guide Layer' (Insert--

>Timeline-->Motion Guide), draw any path using the pencil tool in the guide layer as shown in the

example.

3. Now create Motion tween by selecting the object in the 1st frame and snapping its registration point

to one end of the path.

4. Snap the object in the last frame to the other end of the path in the guide layer.

5. Repeat the same for all the objects (alphabets) by snapping their registration points to the path in

the guide layer.

6. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). That's it you have learnt how to create motion

along a guided path.

Fig: Timeline of Guided Motion Tween

Advanced Flash Buttons

We are going to cover how to create advanced flash buttons in three different methods. These cool yet basic
methods are sure to help you visualize and create many neat Flash movies!

A. Flash MovieClip Button

Creating an Animated Button by using moviclips in
Flash Buttons:

1. You can place Movieclip instances inside the Timeline of a Button symbol to create Animated

advanced buttons.

2. Create a simple Button and enter into its symbol-editing mode. The second frame labeled Over

represents the button's appearance when the mouse pointer is over it.

3. Drag an instance of Movieclip 'movieclip_sym' from the Library (Ctrl + L) into this frame. Make sure

the text (if present) is always above the Movieclip used. This enables you to play the Movieclip every

time the mouse points over it (rollover state).

Fig: Showing Movieclip inside a Button

Flash Text Basics

How to use textboxes in Flash

Get to know how to use the 3 types of Textboxes - Static, Input & Dynamic in Flash.

Static Text
1. Drag a Textbox of Fixed-width on the stage using the Text tool and select Static Text Type from the

Properties window.
 2. The Static textbox has a rectangular handle in the upper right corner, which can be used to adjust

the size of the Textbox.

3. The various Text properties such as the Font, Font-size, Font-style, Font-color, Align etc. can be set

using the Properties inspector as shown above.

4. Expanding-width textboxes can be created by selecting the Text tool and clicking once on the stage

without draging it, and start typing the text in it. Note that the expanding textboxes have a round

handle as shown above.

Input Text
1. Drag a Textbox on the stage using the Text tool and select Input Text Type from the Properties

window.

2. The Input textbox has a rectangular handle in the lower right corner, which can be used to adjust the

size of the Textbox.

3. Apart from the normal Font properties of a Static textbox, the Input textbox has more options like,

Single Line to display the text as one line, Show Border Around Text to indicate the boundaries of the

text field with a visible border.

4. A variable name can also be given which can be used to store user input.

Dynamic Text
1. Drag a Textbox on the stage using the Text tool and select Dynamic Text Type from the Properties

window.
 2. The normal Font properties of a textbox can be set for a Dynamic textbox and it also has more

options like, variable names can be given, line options can be given say, Single Line to display the

text as one line, Selectable and Render text as HTML.

3. Variable names are used to assign dynamic values at runtime or obtain values from External

Sources.

dyn_txt = "SmartWebby Visitor!"

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Flash Sound Button

Follow the steps given below to create a flash button with sound:

Including sound files in Flash Buttons

1. Create a simple Button and enter into its symbol-editing mode. The timeline header changes to

display four consecutive frames labeled Up, Over, Down, and Hit as shown below.

Fig: Symbol-editing Mode of Button

 2. Insert a Keyframe (F6) in the Over frame to duplicate the contents of the Up frame and change the

color of the object in the Over frame.

3. Import the sound file (Ctrl + R), add a new layer for sound and select the imported sound file from

the Sound Panel of the Properties window.

Fig: Button showing sound in a Layer

4. Now insert frame (F5) for the Down frame and the Hit frame (this frame is not visible, but only

defines the area of the button that responds to mouse events).

5. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). That's it now your button can play music

6. duringmouse-overs

Create flash buttons controlled with Flash

ActionScript
Steps to create this actionscript button effect (can be used for website links):

• Open the new flash document.

• Create a button and name this instance as Button then go to symbol-editing mode.

• Add new layer, draw the simple button and convert in to movie clip symbol (pressF8) then go to

symbol editing mode.

• Press F6 or (right click >> insert key Frame) on 10th and 20th frame and then reduce that alpha

value at 1st and 20th frame.

• Select middle of the frame between 1-10 then go to property panel, select shape tween from that

pop up. Do the same process between 10-20th frame.

• Add new layer above the tweening layer then press F6 (right click >> insert key Frame) on 10th and

20th frame.
 • Select 1st frame then go to action panel (press F9) stop this action, similarly do that process on 10th

and 20th frame.

• Go to button editing mode,add new layer, name this layer as text, and make sure that text layer

always above the movie clip layer.

• Go to scene1, and select the button then press F9, copy and paste the following code.

on (rollOver)

_root.Button.instance1.gotoAndPlay (2);

} on (rollOut)

_root.Button.instance1.gotoAndPlay (11);

• Save and test the movie Press( Ctrl+Enter).

Cool Text Effects in Flash

Effect 1: Hollow Text Effect

Steps to create this flash text effect:

• Select text tool and write whatever you want, make sure that text should be static text.

• Convert in to movie clip symbol, then go to symbol editing mode.

• Select that text and press Ctrl+B twice.

• Press F6 (right click >> insert key Frame) then Select eraser tool, to write over the middle of that

text.
 • Do the same process for every frame till your text is ended.

• Save your work and press Ctrl+Enter to view your flash movie.

Effect 2: Fade-in Fade-out Text Effect

We can do this effect in both static and dynamic text.

• Select text tool and write whatever you want

• Convert into movie clip symbol “mc”.

• Go to Insert >> new symbol then create new graphic symbol “rec”.

• Make sure u r in “rec” editing mode, then draw rectangle 10x10px.

• Go to “mc” editing mode.

• Add new layer above the text layer, and then drag “rec” from the library.

• Press F6 at 5th frame then go to property panel, reduce that alpha value to 0 , then select any frame

between 1 to 5, right click >> createmotiontween..

• Add next layer do that process 6 and 7, where that first tweening ended.

• Repeat the process till letter ended.

• Select all layers and apply the masking effect over that text.

• Save your work and press Ctrl+Enter to view your flash movie.

Effect 3: Masking Text Effect

This tutorial helps to learn how text masks over the movie clip.

• Select text tool, and write some text.

• Then go to insert create graphic symbol “gr”.

• Make sure still you are in “gr”.

• Draw rectangle, then go to scene1.

• Insert movie clip symbol “mc”, and then drag “gr” from library.
 • Press F6 (right click >> insert key Frame) at 15th frame, then select free transform tool, to enlarge

“gr” horizontally. Select any frame between 1 to 15, right click >> createmotiontween.

• Do that same process, free transformation of “gr” may what effect you want that is, it may left to

right or right to left.

• Go to scene 1, drag “mc” from library, and make sure “mc” is underneath of text layer.

• Select the text layer and then apply the masking effect.

• Save your work and press Ctrl+Enter to view your flash movie.

Effect 4: Bouncing Text with Shadow Effect

This tutorial teaches you to create shadow for text and how to make the text into an up and down animation.

• Insert new movie clip symbol “mc”.

• Select text tool then write any text what you want.

• Copy that text, and insert new layer name as “shadow” then paste it, go to modify >> transform >>

flip vertical, then drag that text under the original text, change the color in to gray.

• Select the text and press Ctrl+B, similarly do the same process in shadow text also.

• Select frame between 1-10 then press F6 or (right click >> insert key Frame) on both layers.

• Then change the position of each text at each frame.

• Go to scene 1 drag “mc” from library.

• Save your work and press (Ctrl+Enter).

Shape Hint Flash Effect

Steps to create the above shape hint effect:

• Insert the movie clip 'mc'.

 • Create a layer in the layers panel and name the layer as 'Text'. In the 1st frame of the 'Text' layer

select a Text Tool(T), write a letter say 'A', and press (Ctrl+B) to break the text.

• Go to the 10th frame in the 'Text' layer, press F7 or (right click >> Insert Blank Key frame). Now we

are in the 10th frame of the 'Text' layer and write another letter (as you like) we have written 'T', again

press (Ctrl+B) to break the text.

• Select any frame in between frame 1 - frame 10 of the 'Text' layer, then go to Properties Panel,

select shape from Tweening.

• Now go to frame 1 of the 'Text' layer, then go to (Modify>>Shape>>Add Shape Hint).

• Place the hint (red color circle) where you want regarding how you change the shape over another

text.

• Go to scene 1, drag 'mc' from library.

• Save and test the movie press (Ctrl+Enter).

Flash Custom Cursor

In Flash you can hide the standard cursor (Mouse pointer icon) and create custom cursors. The Mouse object
in Flash has a hide method which can be used to hide the normal mouse pointer and then we can define a
Movieclip as our custom

Follow the steps below:

Creating a Custom Cursor

1. Create a Movieclip for the custom cursor, say a small circle and name the instance say, 'cust_cursor'.

The instance name of a symbol is used to control it using Actionscript commands (Refer to Flash

Photo Masking for this example).

 2. Select the Movieclip instance 'cust_cursor' on the stage and reduce the Alpha value to 40 and write

the following Actionscript code for it as given below:

onClipEvent(load)
{
Mouse.hide();
this.startDrag();
}

The 'hide' method of the predefined object 'Mouse' is used to hide the standard cursor. The keyword
'this' is used to reference the Movieclip instance 'cust_cursor'.

3. We use the 'startDrag' action of the Movieclip to use the movieclip as a custom cursor.

4. The Custom Cursor Movieclip can also be Animated and used as a Mask as shown in the example

below.

5. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). That's it you have learnt how to create a movieclip

as a custom cursor in Flash.

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HTML in Flash Text

How to display a flash textbox with HTML formatting

Follow the steps given below:

Creating HTML Rendering Textboxes in Flash

1. The Dynamic and Input textboxes can be made HTML Rendering.

2. Create a Dynamic Textbox and select 'Render text as HTML" from the Properties inspector, don't

forget to enter a variable name say, 'dyn_txt'.

3. To format the text in Bold/Italics, open Actions window (F9) and type the following code:
dyn_txt = "<b>This text is in Bold</b><br>";
dyn_txt = "<i>This text is in Italics</i>";
 4. Values can also be concatenated using '+' sign. Other HTML tags for Fonts can also be used with

these Textboxes as shown below:

dyn_txt = "<font color='#"+990000+"'><b>First line Text in Bold Red color</b><font>";
dyn_txt += "<br><font size='20'>2nd line Text with font-size 20.<font>";

5. Hyperlinks and Paragraphs can also be done as shown below:

dyn_txt="<br><p align='center'>Center aligned Paragraph Text in Italics</p>
<a href='http://www.smartwebby.com'><b>Smartwebby.com<b></a> to visit the site";

Flash Sound On/Off Button

Introduction
While working in Flash with sound/music files you will find it really necessary to use a sound on/off button as
an option. We have endeavored to make the actionscripting used in this tutorial as basic & minimal as
possible. Happy Learning!

Please take a look at the demo above. This demo is a simple play/stop button for you to control the sound
files in your Flash project. Usually you will need to have the music playing and have a stop button displayed
first. Since it is easier to understand how a play and then stop button works we have used this example first.
Once this is done we will also teach you how to start with the sound playing and the stop button displayed.

Preparing buttons, importing your sound file

and setting the timeline

• Create two buttons that are sort of similar and represent sound on and off. For example you can

use play/stop or speaker with sound waves/speaker with a cross buttons.

• Import your sound file into your movie: Press (Ctrl+R) to get the Import screen, now browse to

locate your sound file.

• Open your Library panel (Ctrl+L), locate and right click on your sound file. From the list select

Linkage... the linkage properties form will pop-up. In the identifier text box enter mix1 and tick the

"Export for Actionscript" and "Export in first frame" options under Linkage.
 What this Does: You are giving the sound file in the library an identifier without it actually being used

in the movie timeline. This enables it to be called and used by ActionScript code.

• In your movie timeline, create 3 consecutive key frames. Place your Play button in the second frame

and label it as play and your Stop button in the third frame and label it as stop (The frame label is

specified in the properties window). They should both be in the same position for them to look like a

switch (see demo).

Making your sound on/off buttons functional

using ActionScript
Basic Logic: We are utilizing the inbuilt Sound Class in Flash to dynamically load the sound file and the on/off
buttons to play and stop it.

• Click the first key frame and copy-paste the following actionscript into the actions panel.

my_sound = new Sound();

my_sound.attachSound("mix1");

play();

What this Does: You are creating an instance of the Sound Class whose source is mix1 (the identifier in

the library for your sound file).

• Click the 2nd and 3rd frames and give the stop() action.

• Select the play button in the 2nd frame and copy-paste the following actionscript code into the

actions panel.

on (release) {

_root.my_sound.start(0,1000);

_root.gotoAndStop("stop");

}
 What this Does: On clicking your play button, you are telling your sound instance to start playing and

the timeline to go and display the stop button in the "stop" frame. The optional parameters (0,1000) for

the start function are given for looping of the sound or music file. This specifies that the sound file

starts playing at 0 milliseconds and is looped 1000 times (any number value depending on the duration

of the sound file and how long you want it to loop).

• Select the stop button in the 3rd frame and copy-paste the following actionscript code into the

actions panel.

on (release) {

_root.my_sound.stop();

_root.gotoAndStop("play");

What this Does: On clicking your stop button, You are telling your sound instance to stop playing and the

timeline to go and display the start button in the "play" frame.

That's it your sound on/off button is ready! Its that simple.

Cool Tip: You can use these buttons even within a movie clip as the sound instance is initiated in the main
timeline.

Want to start with the sound playing?

To do this just do the following:

• Click the first frame and in the actions panel place the following actionscript code:

my_sound.start(0,1000);

gotoAndStop("stop");

in place of the last line: play;

Your ActionScript for the first frame will look as follows.

 my_sound = new Sound();

my_sound.attachSound("mix1");

my_sound.start(0,1000);

gotoAndStop("stop");

Flash Preloader

Create the Simple Flash Preloader

Once you understand the basics behind the Flash preloader you will be able to create more advanced
preloaders with moviclips and additional actionscripting. Follow the steps given below:

1. Preloader Frames: First you will have to create your preloader frames.

• Make two layers called preloader and actions. Go to the first frame in the preloader layer and place a

text displaying "Loading" on it (as shown below).

This preloader uses ifFrameLoaded actionscript

• Double click the same frame and in the frame actions tab give the following action script:

FLASH 5, MX and MX 2004, Flash 8, Flash CS3, Flash CS4

ifFrameLoaded ("end") {

gotoAndPlay ("start");

FLASH 4
 If Frame Is Loaded ("end")

Go to and Play ("start")

End Frame Loaded

Logic: This actionscript checks if the last frame of your movie (labeled "end") is loaded and then only

starts playing your flash file at the starting frame labeled "start". Thus this action script decides

whether to continue the preloader loop or to break free and start playing the movie.

2. Preloader Loop: Now we need to make a loop that executes till the last frame is loaded. To make use of a

very basic animation we will display three dots after the loading text to show that loading is taking place. To

do this insert three key frames after the first frame in the actions layer. Now place one dot, two dots and

three dots in the three frames respectively (as shown below).

frame 2 (actions layer)

frame 3 (actions layer)

frame 4 (actions layer)

• Now we need a frame to return to the first frame as the condition is being checked there. For this

double click the fifth frame in the actions layer and give the following action script.

gotoAndPlay (1);

Logic: We just return the control to the first frame to complete a loop.

• Now click on the sixth frame in the Preloader layer and give it the label start. That's it your simple

preloader is ready. Just make sure that all the stuff that you want to be displayed in your movie
 starts from the 6th frame and that you label the last frame of your completed movie as "end".

Alternatively for Flash 5 and above you can use the following code instead of the code given in the

first frame:

ifFrameLoaded (_totalframes) {

gotoAndPlay ("start");

Here, we have just replace the "end" frame with the inbuilt variable _totalframes which contains the

total number of frames in the main movie timeline.

• We recommend you create an attractive movie clip and place it in frame 1 to make your preloader

look more interesting then the plain loading text used here :-)

Finished Flash Preloader Interface

Check if your preloader timeline matches our figure above.

Test your movie for a 64KB modem by pressing Ctrl+Enter twice. You will be able to see how the preloader
progresses and then starts playing at frame "start".

That's it, your simple Flash preloader is ready! Now continue with the rest of your animation.

Text Scroller in Flash

How to create simple & advanced Flash text

scrollbars using actionscript
Simple Scroller for Flash Textboxes
1. In Flash, textboxes are of 3 types namely - Static, Dynamic & Input. The size of Dynamic/Input text

varies depending on the source file/user input and hence may require the use of scrollers.
 2. Create a Dynamic textbox with Multiline property selected using the Properties panel, name the

variable and the instance as 'addr' and 'scrtxt' respectively.

3. Create 2 buttons for Upward and Downward scrolling and write the following Actionscript code:
Upward Button
on(press)
{
scrtxt.scroll=scrtxt.scroll-1;
}

Downward Button
on(press)
{
scrtxt.scroll=scrtxt.scroll+1;
}

4. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). That's it you have learnt how to create simple

scrollers for textboxes in Flash using Actionscript.

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Outline Effect in Flash

Create an attractive outline effect using pen tool and

masking

Steps to create this attractive outline effect over the bitmap:

• Create two layers name the layers as 'image' and 'outline' respectively in your timeline.

• Import your image to the 'image' layer.

• Now click on the 'outline' layer and move the 'outline' layer above the 'image' layer and using Pen

icon, draw the outline over the image as you see in the above flash movie. Make sure you have drawn

outline in the 'outline' layer.

 • Now select the outline and Press F8 or (right click>>Convert to symbol...), convert the outline into

movie clip, named it as ('line_mc').

• Double click on the 'line_mc' movie clip. Now the 'line_mc' movie clip will open in new symbol editing

mode. Select the outline from the 'outline' layer, then goto (Modify>>Shape>>Convert Lines to Fills).

• Insert a new layer in the 'line_mc' movie clip, change the name of the layer2 into 'Mask'. Make sure

that mask layer is below the 'outline' layer.

• In the mask layer draw a linear rectangle using rectangle tool.

• Press F6 or (right click>>Insert Keyframe) in the 20th frame in the mask layer.

• In the 'mask' layer, click on the 20th frame and select the linear rectangle. Now move the rectangle

from downwards to upwards (shift+up arrow). Click on any frame in-between 1-20 then go to the

Properties Panel and select Tweening combo box and select Shape.

• Select the 'outline' layer, right-click on it and select 'Mask' from the context menu to convert it into a

mask layer.

• Save and test the movie press (Ctrl+Enter). Now you have made a flash movie where lines running

through the veins of the leaf.

Sinewave Background Effect

Steps to create this sinewave background effect :

• Open the new flash document and set the dimensions for your background.

• Create three layers in the layers panel name it as 'bg' layer, 'sine wave' layer and 'text' layer.

• Select the 1st frame in 'bg' layer, draw the background using rectangle tool, either is a gradient fill

or solid fill.
 • Select 1st frame in the 'sine wave' layer, draw the sine wave using the pen tool.

• Select 1st frame in the 'text' layer, import the image or write a text using text tool.

• Go to the 'sine wave' layer select a sine wave, and convert the sine wave in to a movie clip

symbol

• Double click that movie clip symbol, press F6 in the 10th frame, Then go to

(Modify>>Transform>>Flip Vertical), then select any frame between 1-10th frame, go to the Properties

panel (F3) select shape from the tween.

• Go to scene1 copy the movie clip three times and arrange the move clip one after another, select

the entire movie clip and convert all movie clip symbol in to single movie clip 'mc'. Now double click

that 'mc' move clip and select all 'smc' movie clip then distribute all movie clips into different layers.

• Go to first layer, press F6 (right click >>Insert Keyframe) in the 10 th frame, to move the 'smc', then

go to frame between 1 -10, (right click>> Create Motion... ) from popup menu. Do the same process in

other 'smc' also.

• Save and test the movie press (Ctrl+Enter).

Flash Graphics Tips

How to create Attractive Graphic Effects

Using Bitmap images as Fills
1. The Color Mixer panel shows 5 fill options namely, None, Solid, Linear, Radial and Bitmap. In this

section you will learn how to use bitmap images as fills.

2. Create a vector using any of the tools in Flash, say a rectangle tool to draw a bar as shown below:
 3. Open Color Mixer Panel and select Bitmap option which opens up the Browse pop-up window, now

select your bitmap image from its location.

4. Use the Bucket tool to fill the object with the selected bitmap.

5. Likewise any number of bitmaps can be imported to the Library and used as bitmap fills, just by

selecting them from the Bitmap list and filling them.

6. That's it you have learnt how to use Bitmap images to create graphics with attractive fills in Flash.

Creating a Ring in Flash

Firstly draw a circle using the circle tool and select Radial Option from the Color Mixer Panel.

1. You will see 2 colors at the 2 extreme points, now to convert your circle into a similar Ring, make

changes to your Color Mixer Panel accordingly as shown below:

2. In a similar manner you can add any number of colors at different points to create different effects,

just by trial and error method.

3. Save your work and try out various other effects in a similar manner to produce really cool and

attractive graphic objects with varied fills in Flash.

Note: These types of fill adjustments are possible for Linear fill Option also.
Start Stop Movieclips in Flash

1. Create a Movieclip (Refer the Flash Photo Masking tutorial for this example) with some animation

and name the instance say, 'mask_mc'.

2. Create a Button for Start and Stop action of the movieclip and name them as 'start_btn' and

'stop_btn' respectively.

3. Write the following Actionscript code for the 2 Buttons as given below:
Start Button
on(press)
{
mask_mc.play();
}

Stop Button
on(press)
{
mask_mc.stop();
}

4. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). Thats it you have learnt how to control movieclips

in Flash using Actionscript.

Flash Digital Clock

How to display digital time with Flash

Follow the steps below:
Digital Time using Actionscript in Flash
1. The Date class in Actionscript along with its various methods helps us to retrieve date and time

values (Local / GMT).

2. Create three Dynamic Textboxes for displaying the hours, minutes, seconds and name their variables

as ch, cm, cs respectively.

3. Write the following Actionscript code in the Actions window (F9) as given below:
var dt, timeint;

dt = new Date();
ch = dt.getHours();
cm = dt.getMinutes();
cs = dt.getSeconds();
timeint=setInterval(timer,1000);

function timer() {
dt = new Date();
ch = dt.getHours();
cm = dt.getMinutes();
cs = dt.getSeconds();
}

4. Variables dt, timeint Flash are first declared using the keyword 'var' and any function can be defined

by using the keyword 'function' followed by a function-name and the function code which can be

written within the {...} as shown above.

5. The constructor new Date() is used create an instance of the Date object and assigned to the

variable 'dt'.

6. The methods getHours, getMinutes, getSeconds of the Date object are used to retrieve the hours,

minutes, seconds and assigned to the 3 Dynamic Textbox variables.

7. Save your work and test the Movie (Ctrl + Enter). That's it you have learnt how to create scrolling

textboxes in Flash using Actionscript.

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