Macromedia/Adobe Flash

Section 2 - Flash MX Animation

This section's step by step project lessons teaches how to incorporate all the basic features of Flash into an animation of themselves in the own room. In this cartoon they will animate several aspect of their own room, including themselves. They will then dream about two jobs they would like to do when they grow up and animated those in separate scenes.

Project Lesson 1 - Basic Drawing in a Layer

This lesson will cover setting the Document Properties for your project and using basic drawing tools to make the walls, floor and door of the room.

Project Lesson 2 - Drawing Objects as Symbols

This lesson will cover using the Insert Symbol feature to make various objects for your room. The objects made will then automatically be placed in the library.

Project Lesson 3 - Importing a Photo Image

Any photo or image can be placed into the library as a Graphic Symbol. The photos can then be manipulated or animated in several ways. Images can add quite a lot to a Flash project although they drastically increase the movie's file size.

Project Lesson 4 - Adding Sound

One of best features of Flash is its ability to incorporate sound into animations. This lesson introduces the insertion of sound into a movie.

Project Lesson 5 - Frame by Frame Animation

For some animations, the Frame by Frame method is the best method. You will use this method to animate your arm being raised and lowered, using the remote control to turn the television on and off again.

Project Lesson 6 - Importing Video

New for FlashMX is the integration of video. In this lesson you will place your video file inside your television set.

Project Lesson 7 - Creating a Motion Tween Along a Path

Flash uses an automated and time-saving method of animating objects called Tweening. In this lesson you will use a Motion Tween. This lesson uses a Motion Tween to make a newspaper fly through the window while it is spinning along a curved path that you create.

Project Lesson 8 - A Closed Path Motion Tween Movie Clip

A Movie Clip can simply be defined as a movie inside a movie. It is often a constantly running animation. In this lesson you will make a movie clip of a fish swimming in a fish bowl.

Project Lesson 9- Using a Mask Layer

Mask layers are special layers that allow only selected parts of underlying layers to be visible. In this lesson you will use a Mask Layer to allow clouds moving across the sky to only be seen in the window.

Project Lesson 10 - The Shape Tween

A Movie Clip is often a constantly running animation inside of your main document. Flash offers an interesting feature called the Shape Tween, it can gradually "morph" one object into another. In this lesson you will make a movie clip of a Lava Lamp that contains a Shape Tween.

Project Lesson 11 - Organizing the Library

As you may have noticed, the your Library is beginning to be cluttered with quite a few items. In this segment you will simply make folders for the various symbol types, then group them in folders.

Project Lesson 12 - Using Instances of a Tween

Motion Tweens not only create motion but also allow for the beginning of the tween to be different from the end of the tween. As the tween is played, the change gradually takes place. In this lesson you will make the "thought bubbles" fade in above your head as you lay on the bed.

Project Lesson 13 - Placing Actions in Scenes

Flash movies can be subdivided into separate scenes, each with their own timeline, making the entire movie more manageable. Without instructions embedded in the scenes to tell them when to stop, pause, or where to go, Flash automatically plays through all scenes in sequential order, over and over again. In this lesson you will make 2 additional scenes, then you will place actions in your scenes that will keep them from automatically playing over and over again.

Project Lesson 14- Developing Additional Scenes

This segment features guidelines for making the 2 additional scenes that animated your chosen occupations. It also showcases student examples occupational scenes.

Project Lesson 15 - Using Buttons to Connect Scenes

Buttons have many functions. Paramount of which is to allow movement between scenes at the viewer's discretion. In this lesson, you will construct buttons with roll-over effects and sound, place them in your room scene, and attach actions to them.

Project Lesson 16- Publishing Your Movie

Publishing your finished product to the correct format for your target audience is essential. This lesson introduces the publishing process.