Shape Tweening and Morphing

(adapted from Flash 5 by Bill Sanders and used with his permission)

Objectives:

• to use a shape tween (morphing) to create the shape change from a bud to a flower
• to use the brush tool and the pencil tool
• to introduce the Align Panel found in the Modify Menu

Basics:

• the Info and Transform Panels are used to change the size and orientation of an object
• the Free Transform Tool can be used to change the orientation of the object. Remember that when the cursor is moved near the corner block a circle will appear allowing the object to be rotated.
• a keyframe is required at the end of a layer involving a shape tween
• to use the Paint Bucket item to fill a figure, the drawn figure must be complete with all lines joined
• the Brush and Pencil Tools have an Options menu
• the objects will be created on one layer and to do a shape tween the object will not be converted to a symbol
• keyframes must be included when a new shape is introduced
• certain objects lend themselves to the the process of morphing. A basic rule is that simpler objects morph better than more complex ones.
• to determine which objects work best is a matter of trial and error with a goal of metamorphosis rather than warping

Exercise:

a) Layers

• three layers will be used - a background layer, a stem layer and a flower layer
• the movie will be thirty frames in length

b) The Background

• select the rectangle tool and set the stoke value to 10 using the slider in the Properties panel
• in the Stoke Color Well select a light brown color and in the Fill Color Well select a brown
• draw a rectangle covering the entire stage

insert a dummy layer. This layer will be used to draw, align and copy the circle. select the circle and keep the 10 stroke value in the Stoke Color Well select a purple color and in the Fill Color Well select a light blue draw a circle with W = 320 and H = 320 open the Modify menu and select the Align panel and center the circle on the stage using the Center Vertical and center Horizontal commands

• select the Black arrow from the Toolbox and select the entire circle.
• use the Copy command from the Edit Menu or use Command C.
• select the background layer and use the Paste command from the Edit menu or use Command V.
• once you have pasted the circle select the dummy layer and delete it by dragging it to the trash.
• lock the background layer

c) The Stem

• select the stem layer
• draw a green stem and leaf using the brush tool. Use the Option panel to select the smallest size of brush

d) The Flower

• select the flower layer and frame 1
• use the Pencil Tool with Smooth from the Option panel
• set the Stroke Color Well to black and the Fill Color Well to red
• draw a bud at the top of the stem
• select frame 30 and insert a keyframe and remove the bud
• use the Pencil Tool with Smooth from the Option panel to draw a petal
• use the Black arrow key to select th petal and then use the copy (Command C) and paste (Command V) to make seven copies of the petal. As each copy is made drag it to the perimeter of the circle.

select the Circle Tool and set the Fill Color Well to yellow. draw a circle which will represent the center of the flower and position it above the stem (see diagram two) for each petal select a petal and use the Free Transform Tool from the Toolbox to rotate the petal to its correct orientation. use the arrow keys and move the petal into its desired position

e) The Shape Tween

• double click on the first frame and select Shape Tween from the Properties panel

Flower Movie