Chapter – 7 Flash CS6

Flash – Flash is a software package that allows users to create animated works. One can combine images, audio,
video, and other effects to create animation.

Flash is now commonly used to create webpages, cartoons, games, photo galleries, and much more.

How to Start –

Click on Start > All Apps > Adobe Master Collection CS6 > Adobe Flash Professional CS6.

Adobe Master Collection CS6 Adobe Flash Professional CS6

The Adobe Flash Professional CS6 welcome screen appears.

The screen displays three panes:

1. Template
2. Create New
3. Learn

Under Create New section, select Action Script 3.0. A new document file will open.

The Flash Workspace

Menu Bar: The Menu Bar contains the controls for commonly used commands and functions, such as opening,
editing, saving a file, etc.

The Stage: The stage is the rectangular workspace where we can place our contents and create our drawings or
movies.

By default, the stage in Flash is 550 x 400 pixels.

The Tools Panel: It contains a set of tools to draw, paint, select, and modify objects in the workspace.

The Properties Panel: The Properties Panel displays various properties of the selected object (image, symbol, text, or
shape). It is also called Property Inspector.

If the Property panel is not visible then click on Windows > Properties option.

Timeline: The Timeline is an area where one can control the sequencing and timings of graphics and other elements
of a movie.

Using the Tools Panel

The Tools Panel contains a set of tools that are used to do various activities like drawing, selecting, painting, and
modifying objects on the stage.

The Tools pane is divided into four sections –

1. Tools section - 16
2. View section - 2
3. Colors section - 4
4. Option section - 3

The Tools Section

The tools section has the greatest number of tools among

all of the sections. It has 16 tools which are further divided
into 3 categories –

 The Drawing Tools

 The Selection Tools
 The Coloring Tools

The Drawing tools

The Rectangle Tool
 The rectangle tool is used to create square and rectangle shapes. This tool also has the option to draw a
rounded rectangle.

To draw a normal rectangle –

 Select the Rectangle tool

 Select the Stroke color, Size, Fill Color, Style, and Scale from the Property Inspector.
 Hold and drag the mouse pointer on the stage. As the shape is created, release the left mouse button.

To draw a rounded rectangle –

 Select the Rectangle Tool.

 In the property inspector > Rectangle options specify the corner radius. You can either specify the
numerical value or use the Corner Radius control slider to change the value.
 Now click and draw a rectangle on the stage

Tip
YOU CAN ALSO CREATE DIFFERENT
SHAPES, LIKE, OVAL, POLYSTAR, ETC.,
ON STAGE BY CLICKING THE SMALL
TRIANGLE AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT
CORNER OF RECTANGLE TOOL AND
CHOOSING THE DESIRED TOOL.

Polystar Tool

The Polystar tool is used to draw polygons or stars.

To draw a star –

 Click on the small triangle at the bottom of the rectangle tool. Choose the Polystar tool option.
 In the Property Inspector, click on Options.
 The Tools Setting dialog box appears. Click on the drop-down list of the style and select the star style.
 Enter the value that ranges from 3 to 32 in the number of sides text box.
 For star point size, enter the number that ranges between 0 and 1 to specify the depth of the star points.
 Click Ok.
 Click and drag the mouse pointer on the stage to draw a star.

To draw a polygon –

 Click on the small triangle at the bottom of the rectangle tool. Choose the Polystar tool option.
 In the Property Inspector, click on Options.
 The Tools Setting dialog box appears. Click on the drop-down list of the style and select the polygon style.
 Enter the value that ranges from 3 to 32 in the number of sides text box.
 Click and drag the mouse pointer to draw a polygon.

Line tool

The line tool is used to draw straight lines.

 Click on the Line tool.

 In the Property Inspector, select the line stroke, line color, or line thickness as needed.
  Move the pointer to the stage and click and drag it in the direction where you want to draw the line.
 Release the mouse button and the line will be drawn.

Curving a line

 After drawing a line, click on the Selection tool (Make sure that the line is not selected).
 Move the pointer on the line.
 When the pointer changes to an arrow with a curve symbol click and drag the line to draw a curve.
 Release the button when the curve is drawn.

Pen tool

The Pen tool is used to draw precise paths in the form of straight lines or smooth-flowing curves.

Select the Pen Tool.

 Click on the stage to define anchor point A.

 Click to create the second anchor point B at a distance.
A) To complete an open path – Double-click on the last anchor point
B) To close a path – Keep the pen tool over the first anchor point. A small circle over the pen tip appears when
it is placed correctly. Click to close the path.

Pencil Tool

The pencil tool is a freehand drawing tool that is used to draw freeform lines and shapes.

The Pencil tool has three modifiers-

< Straighten – The default modifier is Straighten. It automatically straightens the line drawn by Line Tool.

< Smooth – It is used to draw smooth, curved lines.

< Ink – It is used to draw freeform lines with no modifications.

 Select the Pencil tool and choose the desired modifier.

 Select the desired properties for Property Inspector and draw the line.

Text Tool

The text tool is used to insert text on the stage.

 Select the Text Tool.

 Select the various text attributes like Font family, size, and color.
 Start typing the text on the stage.

The Selection Tools

Selection Tool

The Selection Tool is used to select single or multiple objects on stage in a

regular size.

 To select the fill, stroke, text block, or group, select the

object.
 To select the filled object and its stroked outline, double-
click the fill.

The Lasso Tool

The Lasso Tool is a freehand selection tool. It is used to select the irregularly shaped areas of the drawing or a part of
an object.
This tool has three options -

 Magic Wand
 Magic Wand Settings
 Polygon Mode

 Click on the Lasso tool.

 Move the pointer on stage. It changes to a Lasso shape.
 Click and drag the Lasso tool around the object to specify the boundary of the selection.
 End the selection approximately from where you started.
 Release the mouse button. The part will be selected.

Subselection tool

This tool is used to select and move the points of an object or edit the path between the adjacent points.

Select the Subselection tool and click on the line or shape outline.

This reveals the points and paths that form the shape.

When an anchor point is selected, it changes from a hollow dot to a black dot.

Drag the selected anchor point (s) to create a desired path.

The coloring tools

Brush Tool

The brush tool is used to paint any shape with the desired color.

There are 5 brush modifiers –

A) Paint Normal - Allows you to paint over lines and fills.

B) Paint Fills – Allows you to fill an empty area leaving lines unaffected.
C) Paint Selection – This allows you to paint the selected filled areas.
D) Paint Behind – Allows you to fill the blank space on stage leaving lines and fills unaffected.
E) Paint Inside – This allows you to only paint the fill areas and never allows you to paint outside the lines.

Paint Bucket Tool

The paint Bucket Tool is used to fill an enclosed area of the shape with colors, in a single click.

 Select the Paint Bucket tool.

 Click on the Fill Color option. The color palette appears. Select the desired color of your choice.
 Click on the drop-down arrow of the Gap Size modifier and choose the desired option to fill the gaps in the
shape.
 Click inside the object to fill it with color.

Ink Bottle Tool

 Ink Bottle tool is used to change the stroke color, width, and style of lines or shape outlines.
 Click on the drop-down menu arrow of the Paint Bucket tool and choose the Ink Bottle tool from the list of
displayed tool variants.
 Select the stroke color, width, and style of lines and shape outline in the Property Inspector.
 Click on the line of the drawn object to apply a different property to the stroke.
Eraser Tool

Eraser Tool helps you to erase the unwanted lines and fill an object from the Stage.

It has three modifiers – Eraser mode, Faucet, and Eraser Shape

There are 5 modifiers of ERASER MODE modifiers -

Erase Normal – Erases all lines and fills of an object wherever the tool is dragged over.

Erase Fills – Erases only the fill area without affecting the outlines.

Erase Lines – Erases the strokes whereas the fills remain unaffected.

Erase Selected Fills – Erases the fills of the selected area without disturbing the strokes.

Erase Inside – Erases only the part of the fill area without touching the strokes or outlines.

Frame By Frame technique to Animate

Animation in Flash is created with the help of frames. Frames are little rectangular cells, which appear on the
timeline. They control and organize the content of the movie.

Keyframes are special types of frames that define a change in an object for an animation.

Draw a star by Rectangle Tool > Polystar tool and then follow the steps accordingly of drawing a star.
Now, Click on the Keyframe dot in Layer 1. This is the point from where the animation will begin.
Now insert a keyframe on the second frame in the timeline by Insert > Timeline > Keyframe.
Now, slightly change the position of the star by the selection tool and also change its color.
Click the third frame and press F6 to convert it into a keyframe.
Again, change the position and the color of the star.
Continue to insert keyframes by repeating the above process till you reach the 10 th Frame.
Preview the animation by clicking on Control > Test > In Flash Professional.