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Flash 5 Tutorial: Part 1
By Shawn Ryder
This is the first in a series of articles to help users learn how to use Flash 5.
Flash is a Web development program made by Macromedia, which uses vector graphics to create dynamic content for the Internet, and still maintain amazingly small file sizes. Flash 5 is the latest version and includes numerous upgrades and additions over previous versions.
The first thing that we want to have a look at is the Stage. This is where the Flash files are created using either images that are here or imported in various formats (more on that in a little while). Basically, the Stage is the canvas that you work on. To modify the view of the Stage, change the magnification level (using the drop menu in the bottom left corner) or move the Stage within the Flash work environment using the scroll bars. The view can also be adjusted using the [View] command from the menu at the top.
The timing of the animation and layering of the artwork is done on the Timeline.
Layers are like stacked sheets of transparent paper. They are used to separate the artwork in order to combine the various elements into organized visual images. The number of layers that can be created is limited only by the size of the computer's memory. They do not, however, increase the file size of the final published movie. Layers can be locked, hidden, or their contents displayed as outlines. You can also change the order of layers. This is an excellent feature that allows the user to determine which object is to appear on top of the others.
One of the more important and impressive parts of Flash is the symbol. This is a reusable element that can be used within a movie. It can be a graphic, a button, movie clips, or sounds. Once a symbol is placed on the Stage, it is called an "instance of that particular symbol." Created symbols can be stored inside the file's Library which helps to reduce the file size. No matter how many instances of the symbol is created, Flash stores the symbol only once.
Symbols are stored in the Library. This allows the user to view, organize, and use them on the Stage as they are needed. The Library displays a window listing the items in the Library along with the item's file type.
Floating panels help the user view, change, and organize elements inside a movie. The various options available on these panels control the characteristics of the selected elements. Panels allow the user to work with objects, text, color, frames, instances, scenes, and even entire movies.
Basics
The Tool Bar contains various drawing tools. For this tutorial, the very first thing we want to do is draw a line. (This may be simple for you if you have used other graphic programs.) Select the line tool and click the mouse where you want it to start, then move it around and click again where you want it to end. If you hold down the [Shift] key while doing this, it will create a perfectly straight line — wish I could do that with a pencil!
Drawing a circle is also straightforward. Simply choose the circle tool and click to select the location where the circle is to start, then drag the mouse to the desired size and release. Holding down the [Shift] key while doing this produces a perfectly round circle. The border surrounding the circle can be deleted, if desired. To make the circle transparent, delete the area inside the line — just selected it and delete it.
The square works very similar to the circle. Select the tool and click the mouse at the starting point and drag it to make the desired size box (once again holding down [Shift] to make it perfectly square). It has a border around it that can be deleted if desired by selecting one line at a time (or select the entire square, then de-select the inside of the square if you want to keep just that section).
Once you have created these, there are various ways to change the fill colors of the objects and even change the thickness and style of the lines, both the straight lines and the ones that outline the circles and squares. Of course you can also set these before creation of a circle or square, if you know exactly what it is you want to create.
Symbols are stored in the Library. This allows the user to view, organize, and use them on the Stage as they are needed. The Library displays a window listing the items in the Library along with the item's file type.
