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Symbols, Instances, and The Library

Symbols, Instances, and the Library Ms. Jennifer Ventus Introduction Flash offers a full suite of tools for creating and editing graphics. When you draw in Flash, you create vector art. Vectors are mathematical descriptions of lines and points that, when connected, form shapes and objects. Vector graphics are also fully editable. Vector-defined art is not limited by resolution like bitmaps are so they can be scaled to any size without a loss in quality or increase in file size. Introdu

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85 views20 pages

Symbols, Instances, and The Library

Symbols, Instances, and the Library Ms. Jennifer Ventus Introduction Flash offers a full suite of tools for creating and editing graphics. When you draw in Flash, you create vector art. Vectors are mathematical descriptions of lines and points that, when connected, form shapes and objects. Vector graphics are also fully editable. Vector-defined art is not limited by resolution like bitmaps are so they can be scaled to any size without a loss in quality or increase in file size. Introdu

Uploaded by

irish x
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Symbols, Instances,

and the Library


Ms. Jennifer Ventus
Introduction
Flash offers a full suite of tools for creating and
editing graphics. When you draw in Flash, you create
vector art.
Vectors
 are mathematical descriptions of lines and points
that, when connected, form shapes and objects.
 Vector graphics are also fully editable.
 Vector-defined art is not limited by resolution
like bitmaps are so they can be scaled to any size
without a loss in quality or increase in file size.
Introduction: Vectors
 are mathematical descriptions
of lines and points that, when
connected, form shapes and Bitmap
objects.
 Vector graphics are also fully
editable.
 Vector-defined art is not
limited by resolution like
bitmaps are so they can be Vector
scaled to any size without a
loss in quality or increase in
file size.
Drawing Models in Flash
Merge Drawing
- the default model, automatically merges
shapes that you draw when you overlap them.
- If you select a shape that has been merged
with another, and move it, the shape below it
is moved too.
Drawing Models in Flash
Object Drawing
- A model that allows you
to draw shapes as
separate objects that do
not automatically merge
together when you
overlap them.
Symbols
 A symbol is an object that you create in Flash.

 A symbol is a vector graphic, button, font, component, or


movie clip that you create once and can reuse multiple
times as instances.
 Any symbol that you create is automatically added to the
document's library (Window > Library), so you can use it
many times within a single FLA file.
Symbols
There are 3 types of symbols - Movie clip, Button and Graphic.
All symbols will appear in the Library.

 A graphic symbol is a static image. You can use a graphic


when creating an animation.
 A button symbol responds when you click the mouse, roll
over it, or perform some other action.
 A movie clip symbol is a static image or a piece of
animation.
Symbols and Instances
A copy of a symbol used in the movie is called an Instance,
which can have its own independent properties (like color,
size, function, etc.) different from the original symbol.

When a symbol is edited all of its instances get updated, but


changing the properties, effects or dimensions of an instance
of a symbol does not affect the original symbol or other
instances.
Importance of a Symbol
 Symbol's size is taken into consideration only once
even if it is used a hundred times

 helps you reduce the SWF file size and makes it easier to
create an animation in Flash.
Three Types of Symbols
 Graphic symbols are reusable static images that are used
mainly to create animations. Any drawn vector/plain
text/imported bitmap (photo), or combinations of these,
can be converted into a single controllable object: as a
graphic symbol. They have only one frame in their timeline.
 Button symbols are used for timeline navigation - They
add interactivity to the movie and respond to mouse clicks,
key press or rollovers/rollout, and other actions.
Three Types of Symbols
Movieclip symbols are reusable pieces of flash animation -
consisting of one or more graphic/button symbols - thus they
are flash movies within your flash movie.
The best thing about using movieclips is that you can control
them from actionscript - you can change their dimensions,
position, color, alpha, and other properties and can even
duplicate and delete them.
Create a Graphic Symbol
1. Choose the Selection tool.
2. Click and drag to create a rectangle around the drawing to
select it.
3. Choose Modify > Convert to Symbol from the menu. The
Convert to Symbol dialog box appears.
4. Type Sky in the Name field.
5. Choose Graphic as the Type.
6. Click OK.
7. Activate the Library to view the graphic in the Library.
8. Press the Delete key to remove the graphic from the Stage.
The Library
The library stores both the assets that
you import into the document and
symbols that you create within Flash.
Layers
Layers" in Flash CS3 is another important concept to
understand. Using seperate layers for seperate symbols
placed on the stage will allow you to manipulate each one
differently.
You can also decide which ones come in front visually by
placing them on a higher layer. You can lock layers and
hide layers by clicking on the little dots below the eye and
lock icons next to the concerned layer.
Layers
Understand Layers
Think of a layer as a transparent sheet on which you paint.
You can see through each layer to the layers under it until
you add color. You can add layers, delete layers, and change
the position of layers. Each layer is independent of all other
layers. The layer you are currently working on is called the
active layer. You can view layer information on the Timeline.

Rename a Layer
When working in Flash you should give your layers relevant
names. You can use the Layer Properties dialog box to
rename a layer.
Creating a Gradient Color
1. Choose Window >
Color from the
menu or press
Shift+F9. The Color
panel appears.
2. Choose Linear in the
Type field.
Creating a Gradient Color
3. Near the bottom of the panel, double-click on the
first Edit Gradient Range icon. Color boxes appear.
4. Click the color blue to select blue.
Creating a Gradient Color
5. Double-click the second
Edit Gradient Range
icon and then click the
color white to select
white.
6. Click and drag the
second Fill Gradient
Range icon to the three-
quarter point on the
Gradient Range slider to
increase the amount of
white in your gradient.
Creating a Gradient Color
7. Click the Menu
Options button to
open the menu.
8. Click Add Swatch.
9. Close the Color
panel. Flash adds
the gradient you
created to the
color box.
END

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