Digital Media Production
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Lecture 11 - Overview
Flash
– Recap
– Key Concepts, Components & Tools
– Symbol & Instances
– Buttons
– Simple Text Button | Animated Button (optional)
– ActionScript: stop | getURL
– Create Multi-Part Animation
– Animate Images
– Fade-in and Fade-out Text
– Add Interactivity to Instance of MovieClip
– Insert SWF in Web Page Demo
Lectures – Week 11 Content http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~aspoerri/Teaching/DMPOnline/Lectures.html#week11
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Recap – Timeline
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Recap – Layers
Layers = Stack of “transparent sheets of acetate”
– Insert > Timeline > Layer or Click “Insert Layer” icon in Timeline
– Drag & Drop Layer to change its position in stack
– Name (double-click text), Hide, Lock Folder
Layer Folder = Organize Layers
– Insert > Timeline > Layer Folder or Click “Insert Layer Folder” icon in Timeline
Modify Layer
– Select layer to make it active (only one layer can be active)
– Pencil icon = Layer is active
Guide Layers
Make drawing and editing easier and guide motion
Mask Layers
Help to create sophisticated effects
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Recap – Tools
Arrow (Selection) tool and Modifiers : snap to, smooth, straight
– Reshaping lines and shapes  Reshaping pointer
Free Transform tool and its modifiers : scale, rotate, skew etc.
– Transform dialog panel: Modify > Transform
Lasso tool and its modifiers = polygon etc.
Text tool
Circle and Square tools and Modifiers: Object Drawing on / off
– Stroke and Fill properties of graphic in Property Inspector
Pencil tool and Modifiers = straight, smooth etc.
Paint Bucket tool and Modifiers = fill large gaps etc.
– Apply Gradient and use Fill Transform tool
Eraser tool
Zoom tool and Modifiers: zoom in, zoom out (or use Alt-click)
Line Color
Fill Color
Tool Options LOOK here as well as Properties
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Recap – Graphic Objects
Graphic Objects = Items on Stage
– Move, copy, delete, transform, stack, align, and group graphic objects.
– Link graphic object to a URL.
– Keep in mind: modifying lines and shapes can alter other lines and shapes on the same layer if Object Drawing is not selected
Must first Select Object to Modify it
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Recap – Keyframes
Keyframe = New Instance of Object Appears
Property Keyframe = Define Object’s Property Change
Use Keyframes to Create Change in Animation
• Flash can tween, or fill in, frames between keyframes
Create Keyframe
1. Select a frame in Timeline
2. Insert > Timeline > Keyframe
Frame Management
– Delete a frame, keyframe, or frame sequence,
– Select and Edit > Timeline > Remove Frame or Right-Click (Windows)
– Extend duration of Keyframe
– Select, hold and then drag keyframe to new final frame
– Change length of a tweened sequence, drag the beginning or ending keyframe left or right.
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Recap – Tweened Animation
Select Keyframe, Right Click and Select Tween option
– Change Position
,
Size
,
Rotation, Alpha of Object
– Specify object property in one frame and another value for that same property in another frame.
– Like motion tweens, but more complex to create
– Change Shape
If you want Flash to tween the movement of more than one object, each must be on a separate layer.
– Select elements
– Use Modify > Timeline > Distribute to Layers
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Recap – Animations: Representations in Timeline
Motion Tween
– Black dot at beginning keyframe; intermediate tweened frames have black arrow with a light-blue background.
Classic Tween
– Black dot at beginning keyframe; intermediate frames have a black arrow with a blue background.
Shape Tween
– Black dot at beginning keyframe; intermediate frames have a black arrow with a light-green background.
Dashed line =
– Tween is broken or incomplete
Cause?
– Final keyframe missing
– Classic Tween: does NOT contain symbol, groups or type
– Shape Tween: contains symbol, groups or type
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Recap – Motion Tween
Layer needs to contain Instance of Symbol or Type and uses Property Keyframes and can have only one object instance
1. Select keyframe
2. Insert > Motion Tween or
Right click frame, select “Motion Tween”
3. Select frame and then select object
4. Move to new location (notice the motion trail) and/or
In Properties panel, change object property
Repeat steps 3 and 4
To Motion Tween a Bitmap or Color of Type
• Bitmap / Type needs to be converted into Symbol
• Modify > Convert to
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Recap – Classic Tween
Layer needs to contain Symbols or Groups or Type and uses Keyframes
a) Create first keyframe
– Insert > Classic Tween or
Right click frame, select “Classic Tween”
Automatically turns content into Graphic Symbol
– In last frame, create keyframe and move object to new location b) Create starting and ending keyframes
– Select two keyframes and frames in between
– Insert > Classic Tween or
Right click frame, select “Classic Tween”
Automatically turns start and end keyframes into symbols
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Recap – Shape Tween
Similar to Morphing
– One shape appears to change into another shape over time
Use Ungrouped Graphics to Tween Shapes
1. Create or select first keyframe
2. Create or place artwork in first keyframe
3. Create second keyframe and select it
1. Select artwork in second keyframe
2. Modify shape, color, or position of artwork
(e.g. use “Free Transform” tool)
4. Select first keyframe in Timeline
1. Insert > Shape Tween or
Right click frame, select “Shape Tween”
2. Properties panel: select option from “Blend” menu: a) Distributive: intermediate shapes smoother and more irregular.
b) Angular: preserves apparent corners and straight lines.
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Recap – Text = Type
Text tool in Toolbox
Properties Inspector to change text properties
Static Text type
– Appearance determined when you author movie.
Dynamic Text type
– Updated text, such as sports scores or stock quotes.
Input Text fields type
– Users enter text for forms, surveys, or other purposes.
Transform Text
– Rotating, scaling, skewing, and flipping it - and still edit characters
Horizontal Text Linked to URLs
– Select text and enter URL in Properties Inspector : Options
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Recap – Reshaping Text
– Select text with Arrow tool
– Modify > Break Apart
– Select all letters
– Modify > Timeline > Distribute to Layers
– Insert > Timeline > Layer Folder
– Select layers containing letters
– Drag & drop in Layer Folder Static Text
– Select Text and apply “Modify > Break Apart” TWICE
– Apply Shape Tween !
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Recap – Symbols and Instances
– Symbols = graphics, buttons, video clips, sound files, or fonts
– Symbol stored in file's library
– Use symbols for every element that appears more than once.
– Place symbol on Stage, you create instance of that symbol.
– Modify properties of instance without affecting master symbol
– Edit master symbol to change all instances.
– Flash stores symbol in the file only once  greatly reduces file size
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Recap – Symbol : Behavior Types
for static images
to create interactive buttons
to create reusable pieces of animation
Insert > New Symbol
Convert Element to Symbol
– Insert > Convert to Symbol
– Drag the selection to the Library panel
– Convert to Symbol from the context menu
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Library
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Window > Library
Library stores
– Symbols created in Flash,
– Imported video clips, sound clips, bitmaps, and vector artwork
Can open library of any Flash file
Window > Common Libraries
Flash includes sample libraries
– Buttons, classes, sounds
© Anselm Spoerri

Create Symbol and Edit Instance
Create Symbol from Object on Stage
1. Select Object on Stage
2. Drag & Drop into Library Window
3. Convert to Symbol dialog box appears
– Select Type = Movie Clip, Button or Graphic
– Object on Stage now an instance of the symbol
Create New Empty Symbol
Make sure nothing is selected on Stage
1. Choose Insert > New Symbol
– Name symbol
– Choose Type : Graphic, Button, or Movie Clip.
Flash adds symbol to Library and switches to symbol-editing mode.
2. Create Symbol Content
– Use Timeline, draw with drawing tools etc.
Edit Instance of Symbol
– Select instance on Stage
– In Properties change Size, Color, Transparency …
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Editing Symbol versus Editing Instance
 Rest of Document disappears and only symbol appears
– Edit > Edit Symbols
When finished creating symbol content, return to movie-editing mode:
– Click Back button at the left side of information bar above Stage.
– Choose Edit > Edit Document.
– Click the scene name in the information bar above the Stage.
– Edit > Edit Document
– Document’s Main Timeline
– Edit > Edit Document takes you to Main Timeline
– Library that contains Symbols that have their own timeline
– Edit > Edit Symbols takes you to the timeline of a symbol
– Double clicking on instance of symbol takes you to the timeline of symbol
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Creating Button
interactive movie clips
– Select button behavior for symbol
– Flash creates Timeline with four frames.
– First three frames display the button's three possible states:
UP, OVER, DOWN
– Fourth frame defines the active area of button
– Timeline doesn't actually play, it simply reacts to pointer movement and actions by jumping to the appropriate frame.
– Place instance of button symbol on Stage
– Assign actions to the instance on Stage.
Actions must be assigned to instance in Main Timeline, not to frames in button's Timeline.
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Creating Buttons
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Make sure nothing selected:
1.
Insert > New Symbol
2.
New Symbol dialog box
1. Enter name button symbol,
2. Type = Button
Flash switches to symbol-editing mode
3.
UP State: use drawing tool etc.
4.
OVER State
1. Insert > Keyframe
2. Change button image for Over state
5.
Repeat Step 4 for DOWN State
6.
Hit Frame = Define Click Area
1. Insert > Keyframe
2. Solid area large enough to encompass
UP, DOWN, and OVER frames.
No Hit Frame, UP state used
7.
Edit > Edit Document to finish
8. Drag Button Symbol out of Library panel to create instance on stage
© Anselm Spoerri

Button – Add Hyperlink to Interactive Button
Select Button instance on Stage
(make sure you have the button selected and not the frame that contains button instance).
Open “Actions” Window via “Window > Actions”
Paste this code into Actions Window : on (release)
{ getURL (URL_as_string, _self);
}
This attaches action to button using ActionScript.
 Important: Flash File (ActionScript 2.0) !
Test Movie
Export Button
– File > Export Movie
– Saves it as SWF file, which you can import in Dreamweaver
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Enabling, Editing, and Testing Buttons
By default, Flash keeps buttons disabled as you create them,
– Easier to select and work with them
– When button is disabled, clicking button selects it.
Button = Enabled  it responds to mouse events
Best to Disable buttons as you work
– Enable buttons to quickly test their behavior.
Control > Enable Simple Buttons
Select Enabled Button
– Use the Arrow tool to drag a selection rectangle around the button.
Move Enabled Button
– Select the button, as described above
– Use the arrow keys to move the button
Test Button
– Control > Enable Simple Buttons.
– Move the pointer over the enabled button to test it
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 0 – Download files for Button Demos
http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~aspoerri/Teaching/DMPOnline/Lectures/Lec11/Steps
Launch Flash
Create Flash Document and Set its Properties
– File > New : General: Flash File (
ActionScript 2.0
)
– Modify > Document or use Property Inspector
– Frame Rate = 12
Dimensions = 100 x 30
Background color = White
– Use scrollbars and Magnification tool to see Stage at sufficient size
Using Grid, Rulers and Guides
– Rulers 
– Guides 
View > Rulers
View > Guides > Show Guides
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Step 1 – Create Button Symbol – UP state
Make sure that “Library” is visible (Window > Library)
1. Insert > New Symbol
– “Create New Symbol” dialog: select “Button”
– Name it “Home Button”
– Notice that button appears in list of Library symbols
– Flash switches to “Edit Symbol” mode and four-frame “button view” appears
– Name Layer 1 = “Shape” in Symbol View
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Step 1
(cont.)
– Create Button Symbol – UP state
2. Select UP frame in Timeline
– Select Rectangle tool
– Use Tool “Options” to specify corner radius
– Select Stroke Color = Black and Fill Color = Blue in Property
Inspector
– Draw Rectangle
– Create Vertical and Horizontal Guides and center rectangle
– Select Pointer Tool to select fill of rectangle
– Properties Panel: select Fill color and specify Blue Sphere effect
– Select Gradient Transform tool to change orientation, spread and shape of gradient
– Insert New Layer using “Insert > Timeline > Layer” – name it “Text”
– Select Text tool and add white “Home” text and center it on button
– Create Guide for baseline of text
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 1
(cont.)
– Create Button Symbol – OVER & DOWN states
Make sure that “Library” is visible  Window > Library
3. Create Keyframes in OVER, DOWN and HIT frames
– Select Over frame in both layers and create Keyframe
(use Insert > Timeline > Keyframe or Right-Click Frame)
– Select Down frame and both layers and create Keyframe
– Select HIT frame and both layers and create Keyframe
4. Modify OVER frame
– Select “Text” layer
– Select Text tool, select text and bold it (make sure to center text)
5. Modify DOWN frame
– Select “Shape” layer and change Fill Gradient Color = Green
– Select “Text” layer
– Select Text tool, select text and change its color
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 1
(cont.)
– Test & Export Interactive Button
1. Switch to “Edit Document” Mode
2. Drag & Drag “Home Button” onto Stage
3. Resize Button to Fit Stage
– Select Free Transform tool, select button and resize to fill Stage
4. Control > Enable Simple Buttons
– Place cursor over and click button
5. Export Button
– File > Export Movie
– Saves it as SWF file
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 1
(cont.)
– Add Hyperlink to Button
1. Select “Home Button” on Stage
(make sure you have the button selected and not the frame that contains button instance).
2. Open “Actions” Window via “Window > Actions”
3. Paste this code into Actions Window : on (release)
{ getURL (URL_as_string, _self);
}
This attaches action to button using ActionScript.
 Important: Flash File (ActionScript 2.0) !
4. Test Movie
5. Export Button
– File > Export Movie
– Saves it as SWF file, which you can insert in Web Page
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Recap – Create Simple Text Button
1. Insert > New Symbol
2. Select Type = “Button”
3. Create “UP” State
4. Insert Keyframe “OVER” and Modify
5. Insert Keyframe “DOWN” and Modify
6. Insert Keyframe “HIT”
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 2 – Create Animated Button (optional)
1. Import Images
2. Convert Images to Graphic Symbols
 Insert > Convert to Symbol
3. Create Movie Clip using “Insert > New Symbol”
4. Insert Graphic Symbol and Animate
5. Create Button
6. Insert Movie Clip in “Over” State
7. Specify “Hit” area for Button by creating rectangle that defines “hotspot”
8. Make sure Animation only plays once
 Select end keyframe in Animation MovieClip
 Open Actions Window: Window > Actions
 Type ActionScript “stop ();” in Actions Window
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 3 – Add Hyperlink to Interactive Button (optional)
1. Select “Home Button” on Stage
(make sure you have the button selected and not the frame that contains button instance).
2. Open “Actions” Window via “Window > Actions”
3. Paste this code into Actions Window : on (release)
{ getURL (URL_as_string, _self);
}
This attaches action to button using ActionScript.
 Important: Flash File (ActionScript 2.0) !
4. Test Movie
5. Export Button
– File > Export Movie
– Saves it as SWF file, which you can insert in Web Page
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 0 – Download files for Multi-Part Animation
http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~aspoerri/Teaching/DMPOnline/Lectures/Lec11/Steps
Launch Flash
– Start > Macromedia > Flash
Create Flash Document and Set its Properties
– File > New
– Modify > Document or use Property Inspector
– Frame Rate = 12 Dimensions =
300 x 300
Background color = White
Using Grid, Rulers and Guides
– Rulers
View > Rulers
– Guides
– View > Guides > Show Guides
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 1 – Import Images, Create Text and Create Layers
Import Images to Use in Animation
1) Convert them to Graphic or MovieClip Symbol
2) Create Layer for each image in Main Timeline
Place Text in Symbols to Use in Animation
1) Create Graphic Symbol for each text fragment so that we can fade-in and fade-out symbol instance that contains text
2) Place text in Graphic Symbol
3) Create Layer for each text fragment in Main Timeline
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 2 – Create Tweened Animations
Animate Instance of Symbols with Images
1) Create Keyframes for Tweened Animations and “Pauses”
2) Use Classic Tween since it can provide more flexibility
3) Specify Position and/or Size and/or Transparency (Alpha) in Keyframes
Animate Instance of Symbols with Text
1) Create Keyframes for Tweened Animations and “Pauses”
2) Make sure that related text fragments line up spatially before creating subsequent keyframes
3) Use Classic Tween since it can provide more flexibility
4) Specify Position and/or Size and/or Transparency (Alpha) in Keyframes
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 3 – Orchestrating Tweened Animations
Placement of Keyframes
1) If the next tween needs to begin right after current tween is completed, then the “end” keyframe of the current tween and the “start” keyframe need to be in the same frame.
2) If the next tween needs to partially overlap with the current tween is completed, then the “start” keyframe of the next tween needs to be placed in a frame during the current tween occurs.
3) If the current and next tweens need to fully overlap
(to create a cross-fade), then they need to have “start” and
“end” keyframes in the same frames on the timeline.
Lengthening or Shortening Tween
1) At Specific Frame in Timeline, Select ALL the frames in the
different layers that need to remain in sync
2) Right-click on selected frames and select Insert Frame or
Remove Frames
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri

Step 4 – Adding ActionScript 2.0
Controlling and Stopping Playhead
1) Select Frame you want to attach ActionScript to
2) Open Actions Panel and Enter “stop ();”
Adding Interactivity to Instance of MovieClip Symbol
1) Select Instance of MovieClip on Timeline
2) Open Actions Panel and Enter
3) “on (eventType) { getURL (“URL”, “_self”)
}”
Digital Media Production © Anselm Spoerri