|
|
| |
Dear
Friend,
Hello, & welcome back to FIREWIRE,
your friendly guide to the exciting world of web-design
& web-solutions! In the previous newsletter of Flash
5 Tutorial Series we had discussed about Frame Panel,
Motion Tween, Shape Hints and Edit Centre. Let’s
continue with Symbol Properties, Effect Panel, Instance
Panel, Sound Panel, Library, Common Library, Clip Parameters
and Smart Clips. |
|
|
|
A symbol is a graphic, button or movie clip, which can
be reused once created. A symbol created is always available
within the library of the movie. Symbols reduce the
movie size and also speed up the movie. Symbols help
us to share image and other elements. In symbol, there
are three behavior.
| Graphic
|
 |
| Graphic
symbols are static images and to create reusable
piece of animation and they depend on time line
of main movie. Interaction is not possible with
graphic symbol. They cannot involve controls and
sounds.
To
create a graphic, select graphic behavior from
symbol property and name them. In the graphic
stage draw any shape in frame 1 and make same
animation move to scene. To place the graphic
on the scene, select graphic from library and
place it on the scene. Now, the graphic won't
work. Since graphic depends on the timeline of
main movie, do the same animation in main movie
and have a preview.
To
conclude, graphic is mainly used for creating
static images and not used for interaction.
Note
: Default graphic symbol are available within
common library and they undergo modifications.
|
| Button |
 |
| Button
symbols are used to create interactive buttons in
the movie. They respond to mouse clicks or roll
over or other actions. Create graphics for button
and provide action to them.
Button
timeline is entirely different timeline from original
timeline. Button has four states.
|
|
UP
- when button is in normal state, it is said
to be in UP state. |
|
|
OVER
- This state appears when the mouse rolls
over the button or passes through it. |
|
|
DOWN
- This state appears when the user clicks
the button with the mouse. |
|
|
HIT
- Defines an area in which the mouse pointer
is active and it is invisible to the user. |
Sound
can also be added to each state of the button
by simply importing the sound file to flash and
drag them & drop them in each state. (Sound
files after importing will be available in the
library of the movie). Select the button from
library & drop on the stage and in the preview,
the three states are visible.
To conclude, button gives greater way of interactivity
for the users to navigate. Buttons can be designed
for each individual state.
Note
: Default buttons are available on the common
library and they are editable.
|
| Movie
Clip |
 |
|
Movie
Clip is used to create reusable piece of animation.
They have their own multiframe. They play independent
of main movie's timeline. Movie can contain interactive
control, sound and even other movie clips. Movie
clips can also be placed within buttons. Select
movie behavior from symbol properties and do any
kind of animation with movie in the movie stage.
To
make them play on the scene, select them from
the library of the movie and place it on the stage
and preview the movie clip.
Note:
Default movie clips, smart clips are available
with common library and they are editable.
|
|
 |
|
Effects
is used to make the objects or shapes to be more
attractive. They are different types of effects.
They are:
|
|
Brightness
- Using the adjustment bar, the
brightness of the object can be increased
or decreased. |
|
|
Tint
- It will merge the object to the
background color. |
|
|
Alpha
- The visibility of the object
or shape is maintained with the alpha value.
If the value is 100, the visibility is true
and if the value is 0, then visibility is
false. |
|
|
Advanced
- The RGB value and alpha values
can be increased or adjusted for the entire
object or shape. 100% of RGB value added
to zero will provide the original color
to the object or shape.
|
|
|
 |
|
Instance
properties are available for symbols (i.e. movie
clips, buttons, and graphics). They are available
only for the movie in the moment. It consists
of behavior and options. The behavior varies for
moiveclip, button and graphic.
| A.
|
Movieclip
:
The name for the movieclip can be specified.
Instance name is used for scripting and other
actions, which will identify the movie clip. |
| B.
|
Button
:
The button has two options such as: |
| |
1.
Track as Button: Helps us to track the
object as a button. |
| |
2.
Track as menu item: Helps to track the
object in a menu format |
| C.
|
Graphic:
For graphic behavior, there are three properties
and they are: |
| |
1.
Loop: The number of loop for the graphic
to take place. How many times, the loop should
occur can be specified in the text box. |
| |
2.
Play once: This will play the graphic
file only once. |
| |
3.
Single Frame: This will make the animation
to work only for single frame. |
| In
the instance palette, there are many icons.
They are: |
| 1. |
Swap symbol
- Helps to create a duplicate copy of the
symbol.
|
| 2. |
Edit symbol
- Helps us to edit the symbol (Graphic, Movieclip,
Button) |
| 3. |
Duplicate Symbol
- Create a duplicate of the symbol. |
| 4. |
Edit Actions
- Used to edit the action script. For buttons,
graphics and movie clip, if there is any alteration
with the action script, this icon can be used. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
