Snapping - MACROMEDIA FLASH MX 2004-USING FLASH Use Manual

Snapping

To automatically align elements with one another, you can use snapping. Flash provides three
ways for you to align objects on the Stage:
•
Object snapping lets you snap objects directly to other objects along their edges.
•
Pixel snapping lets you snap objects directly to individual pixels or lines of pixels on the Stage.
•
Snap alignment lets you snap objects to a specified snap tolerance, a preset boundary between
objects and other objects or between objects and the edge of the Stage.
Note: You can also snap to the grid or to guides. For more information, see "About the main toolbar
and edit bar" in Getting Started with Flash.
Object snapping
Object snapping can be turned on using the Snap modifier for the Selection tool, or the Snap to
Objects command in the View menu.
If the Snap modifier for the Selection tool is on, a small black ring appears under the pointer
when you drag an element. The small ring changes to a larger ring when the object is within
snapping distance of another object.
To turn object snapping on or off:
•
Select View > Snapping > Snap to Objects. A check mark is displayed next to the command
when it is on.
When you move or reshape an object, the position of the Selection tool on the object provides
the reference point for the snap ring. For example, if you move a filled shape by dragging near
its center, the center point snaps to other objects. This is particularly useful for snapping
shapes to motion paths for animating.
Note: For better control of object placement when snapping, begin dragging from a corner or
center point.
To adjust object snapping tolerances:
Select Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Flash > Preferences (Macintosh) and click the
1.
Editing tab.
Under Drawing Settings, adjust the Connect Lines setting. See
2.
on page 103.
Pixel snapping
You can turn on pixel snapping using the Snap to Pixels command in the View menu. If Snap to
Pixels is on, a pixel grid appears when the view magnification is set to 400% or higher. The pixel
grid represents the individual pixels that will appear in your Flash application. When you create
or move an object, it is constrained to the pixel grid.
If you create a shape whose edges fall between pixel boundaries—for example, if you use a stroke
with a fractional width, such as 3.5 pixels—keep in mind that Snap to Pixels snaps to pixel
boundaries, and not to the edge of the shape.
"Specifying drawing settings"

Snapping

101