So far, our discussion revolved around various components that are needed for creating quality animations. We are proceeding now to the actual part of the problem: How to create animations or Tweens etc. In the next few paras, I will be explaining the answer to this query; by giving lots of animation examples.

Example # 1 :- Conversion from Rectangle to Circle (Without Tweening)

 Create a new Flash document. (File > New > Flash Document).
 On the first frame, draw a rectangle. The frame will be converted to the key frame.
 Press F6. This will copy the first frame’s state into the second one. Drag the frame, on which the second Key Frame is placed, to any frame number you want: Say 20. (The greater the number of frames in between, the greater is your animation’s length).
 On the second key frame, Delete Rectangle and draw a circle.
 Don’t select any sort of “Create Motion Tween” for now.
 Execute file (Ctrl + Enter) to see the results.
 Result: A Rectangle appears which lasts for a while. Then a Circle appears for an instant and then this sequence loops back.

Example # 2:- Conversion from Rectangle to Circle (With Shape Tweening)
The steps in the first example display a quick conversion of Rectangle into circle. At the last frame, it only converts itself to circle. How to do a smooth conversion from Rectangle to Circle. After making a new file, follow these steps:

 Make a new symbol whose type is Graphic. Draw a Rectangle on this graphic.
 In the same way, make a new graphic symbol and draw a circle on it.
 Make a Symbol and set its type as Movie Clip.
 On the first frame, drag the first graphic from Library into this clip.
 Select the rectangle of the graphic and Press Ctrl + B to convert it into shape object instead of the graphic one.
 Insert a Blank key frame on any next frame (Right Click > Insert Blank Key Frame) and drag the circle Graphic on this frame.
 Select the circle on the graphic and Press Ctrl + B.
 Select all the frames in between plus the two key frames.
 Right Click and Select “Create Motion Tween”.
 But this will not solve our problem!!!
 Go to the first key frame and Press Ctrl + B after selecting the object.
 Go to the second key frame. Delete the object there and drag the circle graphic again. Press Ctrl + B on this object as well.
 Go to the Property Inspector.
 In the Tween drop down menu, select Shape.
 Drag this movie clip from Library to the stage (Scene 1)
 A light green arrow pointing to the last frame will verify your working.
 Execute the file or Publish it (File > Publish Settings/Publish) to see the results.
 Result: A Rectangle smoothly converts into the circle.

Though there are other easy ways as well, this practice was intended to make you familiar in working with Graphics or Movie Clips.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 28th, 2005 at 9:12 pm and is filed under FLASH. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.