Datasheet

Part I: A Blast of Flash

See Chapter 7 to find out more about what symbols are and how to use them.

Symbols are important building blocks in Flash movies.

Putting your graphics on layers

You need to place different pieces on different layers when you’re animat-

ing. You use layers to organize your movie and keep shapes separate so that

they don’t interfere with each other. (See Chapter 6 for the complete story on

layers.)

To split your three symbols onto three separate layers, you can use a conve-

nient feature of Flash CS5: Distribute to Layers. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Selection tool on the Tools panel if it’s not already selected.

2. Drag diagonally across the entire logo, including the two words, to

select it.

You should see two rectangles inside one bigger rectangle. All three

objects in the logo are selected.

3. Choose Modify➪Timeline➪

Distribute to Layers.

You now have three new layers,

named Rainbow, Resources,

and Lines. The three objects of

the logo have been distributed

to the three new layers and

removed from Layer 1. Your

layer list should look like Figure

1-10.

4. Click the Zoom Control drop-

down list (at the upper-right

corner of the Stage area) and

choose 100%.

5. Click outside the Stage to dese-

lect any objects.

6. To save the file, choose

File➪Save and choose the same location you used for the rainbow.

gif image file.

We don’t recommend saving the file in the Flash CS5 program folder

because it might get lost among your Flash program files.

7. Give your movie a name, such as movie of the year, and click Save.

Flash creates a file named movie of the year.fla. Flash adds .fla

for you because that’s the filename extension for Flash movies.

You’re now ready for the animation process.

Figure 1-10: In addition to the original Layer 1,

you now have three new layers.

05_613559-ch01.indd 2805_613559-ch01.indd 28 3/22/10 7:42 PM3/22/10 7:42 PM