Chapter – 8 Working with Flash CS6
Symbols - A symbol is a reusable object for static images or animation. It is stored in the library.
Instance – A copy of the original symbol is called symbol.
When we modify the symbol, the instances created are automatically changed, whereas when a
instance is altered, it leaves no change in the symbol.
Advantage of symbols – They reduce the file size and simplify the editing process of a movie.
There are three types of symbols –
Movie clip
Button
Graphic
To create a symbol ->
Draw the object that you want to convert into a symbol.
Choose the Selection tool to enclose the object in a rectangular selection marquee.
Choose Modify > Covert to Symbol.
The Convert to symbol dialog box appears. Select the Graphic option from the Type dropdown list.
Specify the name of the object in the Name text box. Click Ok.
The new symbol will be added in the Library Panel.
Identification of a symbol – A symbol is always enclosed in a blue rectangular box with a small
hollow circle in the middle.
You can create multiple instances of a symbol by dragging it from the Library Panel to the stage.
To make any changes in an instance – Select the instance > Open Property Inspector
You can also make the changes directly to the symbol within the Library Panel. Right click on the
symbol’s name and click on the Edit option from the Context menu. The symbol editing window will
open. After making the desired changes, exit from the symbol’s Edit mode by clicking on Scene 1 or
back button.
Animation
When a series of images are displayed in a rapid sequence in a fixed interval of time, an illusion is
created. This illusion of movement by quick transition of images is termed as Animation.
Animations in flash can be created with the use of tweening, which means ‘in between’. Flash
provides two types of tweening:
1. Motion tween – It works on symbols
2. Shape tween – It works on objects that are not symbols and are ungrouped.
Motion Tween
To create a motion tween, drag a symbol from the library to the Stage. Now, right click the Frame 1
in Layer 1 and on the Create Motion Tween from the Context menu.
A blue coloured span of 24 Frames appears on the timeline and the layer gets converted into a
tween layer.
Bring the mouse pointer to the right end of the blue-coloured bar. The pointer gets changed to a
double – headed arrow. Drag the arrow to move the play head to any frame say Frame [Link] the
symbol to a new position. A new keyframe will be created automatically on Frame 40.
A green coloured motion path is created on which the train will move.
Press Or Select Control > Test Movie > In Flash Professional to preview the
Motion tween.
Motion Tween
Shape Tween
Draw a Circle on the timeline.
Now, select any frame, say Frame 20, and select the Insert > Timeline > Keyframe option.
While keeping the play head on Frame 20, delete the circle object and draw a star shape.
Now, click on Frame 1 and choose Insert > Shape tween. A green-colored shaded area with a solid
arrow appears between Frame 1 and Frame 20.
Press Or Select Control > Test Movie > In Flash Professional to preview the Shape
tween.
Motion Guide
Insert any object on the stage and convert it to a symbol by Modify > Convert to symbol
option. Specify any desired name to the symbol and select the Graphic option from the Type
dropdown menu.
Select Insert > Timeline > Layer to insert a new layer on Timeline. Rename this layer to
‘Motion layer’. Select the Pencil tool from the tools panel and select the stroke size. Draw a
path where the symbol will move while in motion.
Now, select the path by double-clicking it via the Selection tool. Now select Edit > Cut to
remove the path from the stage temporarily.
Click on layer 1. Right-click on Frame 1 and choose Create Motion Tween option. A blue-
colored span of frames appears.
Choose Edit > Paste in Place to paste the path in this layer. The path automatically changes
to a motion path and the symbol itself snaps to the path.
Drag the play head to the desired frame.
Press Or Select Control > Test Movie > In Flash Professional to preview
the Shape tween.
Classic Motion Guide
Select the Rectangle tool and draw a rounded rectangular track. Rename this layer to – Track
Click Insert > Timeline > Layer to insert a new layer. Rename this layer to – Car
Draw a car by using the various tools from the tools panel and convert it to a symbol by
Modify > Convert to Symbol option or by pressing the shortcut key – F8.
Specify a desired name and select the Graphic option from the type drop–down menu. Place
this symbol on the track by using the Selection tool.
Again, insert a new layer by Insert > Timeline > Layer and name this layer Path.
Now, select all the layers to any frame, say Frame 70, together and insert a frame by Right
clicking on the layers and selecting Insert Frame option from the Context menu.
Select the Car and the Track layers and insert a keyframe at Frame 70 by Right clicking and
selecting Insert Keyframe option from the Context menu.
Now, select the Path layer. Choose the Pencil tool and draw a path on which the car will
move, while in motion.
Select the Frame 1 of Car layer and position the car at the beginning of the circular path by
the Selection tool. Select the Frame 70 of the same layer and bring the car to the ending of
the path.
Right click on the frame between the Frame 1 and Frame 70 and choose the Create classic
tween option from the context menu.
Right click on the path layer and select the Guide option.
Now, drag the Path layer onto the car layer and vice versa. The Path layer automatically
converts to a guide layer indicated by a symbol.
Select a frame on the car layer and go to Properties Panel > Orient to path option to rotate
the car on the track.
Press Or Select Control > Test Movie > In Flash Professional to preview
the Classic Motion Tween.
Painting symbols on the Stage
Spray Brush Tool
The Spray Brush Tool acts like a particle sprayer that allows you to brush a
pattern of shapes on to the stage at one time.
In the Property Inspector either select a Fill colour for the default spray of dots or click on
the Edit button under the SYMBOL section.
The Select symbol dialog box appears, displaying the list of symbols stored in your library.
Choose the ‘Flower’ symbol and click ok to close the dialog box.
To choose the desired width and height of the symbol instance, click on the value next to the
Scale width and Scale height options respectively.
For changing the width, height or angle of the brush, specify the desired value under the
Brush section.
Move and drag the mouse pointer to paint the symbols on the stage.
The Deco Tool
The Deco tool has a symmetry brush, which allows you to draw cool symmetrical
interesting patterns, textures and drawings on the stage.
In a Flash document, add at least two graphic symbols in the library.
Select the Deco tool from the Tools panel.
The Properties panel changes to reflect the current drawing effect set to Vine Fill.
The Vine fill creates a vine style pattern using two shapes, a leaf and a flower.
In the Leaf section, click on the Edit button. The Select symbol dialog box appears. Choose
the symbol to represent the Leaf from the library.
Likewise, choose a symbol to replace the default flower shape with the symbol created by
you.
In the Advanced Options section, choose the colour that will connect both the symbols when
the pattern is drawn on the stage.