Multiple Layers, Rotating, and Skewed Motions

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

Objectives:

Basics:

Exercise:

Figure One - Background and the 4 Leaf Layers

Layers:

Background Layer (see Figure One)

  • The background will be a gradient fill that attempts to capture an autumn day with a lighter gradient at the horizon and the darker color in the sky
  • Make sure that the entire stage is visible
  • Open the Swatches Panel (Windows Menu) and click on the two tone gray gradient (lower left hand of Swatches Panel). You will note that the Color Mixer opens at the same time.
  • Click on the House shaped icon in the middle left hand side (Gradient Selectors) of the Color Mixer panel. Move the color slider on the right hand palette (Fine Color Adjustment) until it is in the white part (if not already there)
  • Click on the House shaped icon in the middle right hand side (Gradient Selectors) of the Color Mixer panel. Click on a blue that you would like for the sky from the Color Palette in the Color Mixer. Use the slider on the right hand palette (Fine Color Adjustment) to adjust the color of blue selected.
  • The gradient created can be viewed in the Gradient View Panel.
  • Use the rectangle tool to draw a rectangle that covers the entire stage.
  • At this point the gradient created is horizontal and the gradient must be rotated so that the lighter portion is at the bottom and the darker portion is at the top.
  • Click on the Black arrow and open the Transform Panel found the Modify Menu

    Figure Three - Transform Panel

and click on Free Transform. You will see block handles appear in the center and along the top and bottom of the stage. When the mouse is moved closer to a corner a circle handle will appear and you can drag the rectangle in the appropriate direction.

  • A second method is to open the Transform Panel and select Rotate 90 CW or 90 CCW.
  • Once the gradient is in the correct position use the block handles to resize the rectangle so that it covers the entire stage. The center handles the used to increase the width of the rectangle and the top and bottom corner handles are sued to reduce the height.

 

Figure Two - The Color Mixer and Swatches

Drawing and Positioning the Leaf

  • The drawing of a leaf will involve the use of three colors: a dark brown for the outline, a gold color for the fill and black to indicate the views found in the leaf.
  • The Line Tool will be used for the drawing and the initial drawing will be done in the Leaf 1 layer.
  • To assist in the drawing of the leaf it is suggested that you increase the magnification to 200 or maybe even 400
  • With the drawing complete use the Info Panel and set the dimensions of the leaf at H = 90 and W = 60
  • Select the Insert Menu and then select the Convert to Symbol (shortcut is pressing the F8 key). When the Symbol Properties Dialog Box opens click on the button beside Graphic in the behaviors column. Use the name Leaf for the symbol name and click OK. An instance of the symbol Leaf has been created.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaf Transformations

a) Leaf 1 Layer

b) Leaf 2 Layer

c) Leaf 3 Layer

d) Leaf 4 Layer

Playing the Movie and Onion Skins

Movie of Rotating Leafs