XP Tutorial 2 Drawing, Adding Text, and Creating Symbols

XP 2New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Objectives Draw lines, curves, ovals, and rectangles Apply stroke and fill colors Modify strokes and fills Transform graphic objects using the Free Transform tool Create text blocks

XP 3New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Objectives (continued) Export a graphic for use in a Web site Learn how to use the History panel Create symbols and instances of symbols Organize symbols in the Library panel

XP 4New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Drawing Lines and Shapes Tools for drawing lines and curves –Line, Pen, and Pencil tools Tools for drawing basic shapes –Oval, Rectangle, and PolyStar tools Tasks for the first session –Create fish and plant graphics with drawing tools –Create a frame using the Rectangle tool –Modify shapes using the Selection tool

XP 5New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Sketch of the Banner for the Flounders Pet Shop Web Site

XP 6New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Oval, Rectangle, and PolyStar Tools Common technique for using the three tools –Select the tool on the toolbar –Select colors for the stroke and fill –Click and drag the pointer on the Stage PolyStar tool: used to draw polygons or star shapes The Oval tool can be used to draw a perfect circle Set Corner Radius: rounds corners of rectangles –Modifier is located in Options area of Tools panel

XP 7New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Star Shapes with Different Point Sizes

XP 8New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Pencil Tool Used to draw straight and free-form lines Features common to Pencil and Line tools –Color, height, and style options for lines Pencil Mode modifier –Feature unique to Pencil tool –Located in the Options area of the Tools panel –Three options: Straighten, Smooth, Ink

XP 9New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Fins on the Fish

XP 10New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Changing Strokes and Fills Actions performed with the Paint Bucket tool –Modify an existing fill’s color –Apply a fill to an enclosed area that does not have a fill Actions performed with the Ink Bottle tool –Change the attributes or properties of a stroke –Apply a stroke to an object that has no stroke Action performed with the Eyedropper tool –Copy stroke attributes of an object to stroke of another object

XP 11New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Paint Bucket Tool Change color of fill or create fill for enclosed area Using the Paint bucket tool –Select tool from the Tools panel –Select a fill color –Click an object’s enclosed area using tool’s pointer Gap Size modifier –Determines how tool will paint partially enclosed areas Lock Fill modifier affects gradient and bitmap fills

XP 12New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Applying a Fill Color

XP 13New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Eyedropper Tool Copy fill or stroke properties of an object Using the Eyedropper Tool –Click the Eyedropper tool on the toolbar –Move the eyedropper over a stroke or fill –Click the stroke or fill whose attributes are to be copied –Move the pointer to the target object’s stroke or fill –Click the stroke or fill to apply the copied attributes Group parts of fish and bubbles into one object

XP 14New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Grouped Fish Graphic

XP 15New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Pen Tool Draws shapes consisting of straight and curved lines –Line segments are connected by anchor points Current fill color is applied to areas enclosed by lines Using the Pen tool –Click the Stage to create points that are connected by lines –Create curved lines by clicking and dragging the pointer Show pen preview command –Makes it easier to see what you are drawing

XP 16New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Anchor Points Drawn with Pen Tool

XP 17New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Free Transform Tool Actions: move, rotate, scale, skew, or distort objects Transform entire object or particular stroke or fill Using the Free Transform tool –Click the Free Transform tool on the toolbar –Select the object you want to transform –Click one of the modifiers in the options area of the toolbar –Drag the bounding box handles to modify the object Modifiers: Rotate and Skew, Scale, Distort, Envelope

XP 18New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Rotating the Fish

XP 19New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Adding Text Static text block –Text object that does not alter after document is published Dynamic text block –Text object that can be altered after document is published Input text field –Allows user to enter text in form or surveys Create a text block using the Text tool Modify a text block from the Property inspector

XP 20New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Text Tool Creates text blocks for your documents Fixed-width text block –Text wraps around to create new lines as needed –Signified by square handle in upper-right corner Single-line text block –Block extends as you type –Signified by round handle in upper-right corner Modify text block using the Property inspector

XP 21New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Text Block for Banner

XP 22New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Checking the Spelling of Text Use Check Spelling command on Text menu Configure Check Spelling command before use Features of the Spelling Setup dialog box –Document options –Built-in dictionaries –Personal dictionary –Checking options

XP 23New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Check Spelling Dialog Box

XP 24New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Exporting a Graphic for Use on the Web Flash documents are created in the FLA file format Published documents (Flash movies) are SWF files Exporting involves converting a file format –Example: export image in FLA file to JPG format Exporting combines distinct elements into one graphic Image elements are modified in source FLA document

XP 25New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Export Image Command How to export a document –Point to Export on the File menu –Select Export Image to open Export Image Dialog Box –Specify the location where file will be saved –Specify the name of the exported file –Specify exported file type in Save As Type list box –Click Save button to open file format specific dialog box –Enter options and exit dialog box to complete operation

XP 26New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Export Image Dialog Box

XP 27New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Using the History Panel Undoing steps –Use slider on History panel, Undo command, or Ctrl+Z –Two undo modes: document-level and object-level Replaying steps –Apply step(s) in the History panel to an object on the Stage Saving steps –Select steps in the history panel –Click Save Selected Steps as a Command button –Assign a name to the command

XP 28New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 History Panel

XP 29New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Creating and Editing Symbols Symbols: reusable graphics or buttons Create a new symbol using the New Symbol command Convert an object to a symbol with Convert to Symbol Symbol behavior types –Movie clips contain their own independent Timeline –Graphic symbols can be static images or animated images –Button symbols have their own four-frame Timeline –Symbols are stored in the document’s library

XP 30New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 The Library Stores symbols you create for a document View, organize, and edit symbols from Library panel Click Library on Window menu to view Library Panel Symbol’s icon indicates type and behavior Create folders to group and hold related symbols

XP 31New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Library Panel

XP 32New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Library Panel Options

XP 33New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Creating Symbols for the Flounders Pet Shop Banner Two objectives –Convert the fish graphic you created into a symbol –Create a copy of the fish symbol and change its color Creating a duplicate symbol –Click Duplicate on the Library panel’s option menu –Alternative: click Duplicate in symbol’s context menu

XP 34New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Instances of Symbols New symbols are automatically stored in the library Use symbols in your document by creating instances Create an instance by dragging symbol onto Stage Instances may be modified without altering the original symbol

XP 35New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Editing a Symbol Symbols may be modified after they are created Options available through the instance –Edit: places symbol in symbol-editing mode –Edit in Place: dims all other objects on Stage –Edit in New Window places symbol in a separate window Editing the symbol directly –Select the symbol in the Library panel –Double-click icon to enter symbol-editing mode

XP 36New Perspectives on Macromedia Flash 8 Symbol-Editing Mode