Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX - Understanding Drawing Tools

1. LESSON 1 Point to a tool to display its name Description of the tool Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

2. LESSON 1 The Drawing Tools • ARROW-used to select an object or parts of an object such as the stroke or fill, and to reshape objects • SUBSELECTION-Used to select, drag, and reshape an object • Anchor Points • LINE-Used to draw straight lines • LASSO- Used to select objects or parts of objects Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

3. LESSON 1 The Drawing Tools • PEN- Used to draw lines and curves by creating a series of dots • TEXT-To create and edit text • OVAL-To draw oval and circular shapes • RECTANGLE- To draw rectangular and square shapes • PENCIL-Used to draw freehand lines • BRUSH- Used to paint with brushlike strokes Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

4. LESSON 1 The Drawing Tools • FREE TRANSFORM-Used to transform objects by rotating, scaling, skewing, etc • FILL TRANSFORM-Used to transform a gradient fill • INK BOTTLE-Used to apply line colors and thickness to a stroke • PAINT BUCKET-Used to fill enclose areas of a drawing with color Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

5. LESSON 1 The Drawing Tools • EYEDROPPER-Used to copy stroke, fill and text attribute from one object to another • ERASER-Used to erase lines and fills • MANY OF THE TOOLS HAVE OPTIONS THAT YOU SHOULD BECOME FAMILIAR WITH Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

6. LESSON 1 Tool options Pencil Tool Options Changing the Brush Size Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

7. LESSON 2 Selecting Objects • Before you can edit a drawing, you first must select the object • Strokes and Fills can be selected independently • Strokes can have several segments Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

8. LESSON 2 Using the Selection Tools • Arrow Tool -Used to select part or all of an object • to select multiple objects hold down “Shift” • Lasso Tool -Provides more flexibility when selecting an area of the stage • Freehand • Polygon Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

9. LESSON 2 Using the Selection Tools Stroke selected Fill selected Stroke and Fill selected Group selected Unselected Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

10. LESSON 2 Working with Gradients • A gradient is a color fill that makes a gradual transition from one color to another • Apply a gradient with the Paint Bucket Tool • The position of the Paint Bucket Tool determines the direction of the gradient fill Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

11. LESSON 2 Working with Gradients The position of the Paint Bucket Tool determines the direction of the gradient fill Fill Transform Handles Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

12. LESSON 3 Working with objects • Objects can be copied and pasted • Objects can be transformed with the Free Transform Tool • Select the object, then the tool to display the eight rectangular handles and center circular transformation point. • Rotate and Skew, Scale, Distort, Envelope Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

13. LESSON 3 Free Transform Tool Rotate an Object around its Transform-ation point Scale with Corner handles Drag middle handle to skew an object Drag corner handle to Rotate an object Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

14. LESSON 3 Reshaping a segment of an Object • The arrow tool can be used to reshape the edge of an object • The pointer is context-sensitive • The Arc pointer drags out curved shapes • The L shaped pointer drags out corners of the object Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

15. LESSON 3 Distorting with the Arrow and sub-selection tools Using the Arrow Tool’s Arc Pointer to reshape an object Using the Subselection Tool to drag a handle and reshape an object Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

16. LESSON 3 Other transformations • You can use other options to flip an object horizontally or vertically • The Remove Transform Command allows you to restore an object to its original state Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

17. LESSON 4 Treating text • Flash provides a lot of flexibility when formatting text • Font • Size • Style • Color • Transformation Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

18. LESSON 4 Entering Text and altering the Text Block • Text is entered into “Text Blocks” • Text Blocks expand as more text is entered and may extend beyond the edge of the stage • You can adjust the size to a fixed width by dragging the handle in the upper right corner Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

19. LESSON 4 Changing Text Attributes • The Properties panel allows you to change the font, size and style of a single character or an entire text block The Properties Panel when a text object is selected Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

20. LESSON 4 Working with Paragraphs • Flash acts similar to a word processor • You can align paragraphs • left, right, center, justified • Use the Properties panel to set • Margins, indents, line spacing Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

21. LESSON 4 Transforming Text • Text is an object, and can therefore be transformed like other objects in Flash • The entire block gets transformed • Use “Break Apart” command to transform individual letters Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

22. LESSON 4 Transforming Text Skewing a text block Reshaping a letter after the text block has been “broken apart” Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

23. LESSON 5 Introduction to Layers • Layers are used on the timeline to organize objects • Placing objects on their own layer makes them easier to work with • Six layer types Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

24. LESSON 5 The Six Layer Types • Normal-default layer type • All objects on these layers appear in the movie • Guide(Standard and Motion) • Standard guide layers serve as a reference point for positioning objects on the stage • Motion guide layers are used to create a path for animated objects to follow Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

25. LESSON 5 The Six Layer Types • Guided • A layer that contains an animated object, linked to a Motion Guide layer • Mask • A layer that contains and reveals portions of another layer • Masked • A layer that contains the objects that are hidden and revealed by a Mask layer Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

26. LESSON 5 The Six Layer Types • Folder • A layer that can contain other layers Show/Hide All Layers Show All Layers as Outlines Lock/Unlock all Layers Lock/Unlock this Layers Show/Hide this Layers Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

27. LESSON 5 Working with Layers • Using the Layer Properties Dialog box, and the Layer section, you can • Name a layer • Lock a layer • View layers as outlines Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

28. LESSON 5 Using a Guide Layer • Used to align objects • Use the Layer Properties Dialog box to set the layer as a guide • Turn on “Snap to Guides” • Drag the desired object to the guide line • Guide is not visible in exported swf Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

29. LESSON 5 Distributing Text to Layers • Used when text blocks are made up of more than one character • Distributes text to its own respective layer Distributing text to layers Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX

30. LESSON 5 Using Folder Layers • Allows you to organize layers by creating folders and grouping other layers in them A folder layer Getting Started with Macromedia Flash MX