Using Timeline Effects - MACROMEDIA FLASH MX 2004-USING FLASH Use Manual

Tweening shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Using shape hints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Creating frame-by-frame animations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Editing animation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Using mask layers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Using Timeline effects

Flash includes prebuilt Timeline effects that allow you to create complex animations with a
minimal number of steps. You can apply Timeline effects to the following objects:
•
Text
•
Graphics, including shapes, groups, and graphic symbols
•
Bitmap images
•
Button symbols
Note: When you apply a Timeline effect to a movie clip, Flash nests the effect within the movie clip.
Adding a Timeline effect
When you add a Timeline effect to an object, Flash creates a layer and transfers the object to the
new layer. The object is placed inside the effect graphic, and all tweens and transformations
required for the effect reside in the graphic on the newly created layer.
The new layer automatically receives the same name as the effect, appended with a number that
represents the order in which the effect is applied, out of all effects in your document.
When you add a Timeline effect, a folder with the effect's name is added to the library, containing
elements used in creating the effect.
To add an effect to an object:
Do one of the following to add a Timeline effect:
1.
Select the object to which you're adding the Timeline effect. Select Insert > Timeline Effects.
Then select Assistants, Effects, or Transition/Transform from the submenu, and select an
effect from the list.
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the object to which you're adding the
Timeline effect. From the context menu, select Timeline Effects. Then select Assistants,
Effects, or Transition/Transform from the submenu, and select an effect from the list.
Effects available for the type of object you've selected appear as active menu choices.
In the dialog box that appears for the effect, view the effect preview based on default settings.
2.
Modify the default settings as desired, and then click Update Preview to view the effect with the
new settings. For more information, see the next section.
When the Timeline effect appears as desired in the preview window, click OK.
3.
158 Chapter 9: Creating Motion