Text image Bitmap

Text Graphic Images & Bitmapped Fills

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

Objectives:

to introduce graphic elements found in a font set
to modify a graphic element
to shape tween from one graphic element to another graphic element
to outline text and morph from one outlined font to another outlined font
to introduce the use of the Eyedropper and Ink Bottle Tool
to use a bitmap image as a fill
to shape tween from a bitmapped filled graphic to another bitmapped filled object

Basics:

fonts such as Webdings, Wingdings and Zapf Dingbats contain graphic elements
when a text image is broken apart the graphic can be colored, filled or changed in any way that a graphic can be altered
shape tweens result in the change from one form (object or text) into a different form
a shape tween requires a starting keyframe and a finishing keyframe
shape tweens must involve shapes and not groups or symbols
shape tweens require a change in the basic attributes - stroke and fill
if unsure if an object can be shape tweened use the Break Apart command found in the Modify menu
when text is broken apart the first time rectangular selection boxes appear around each letter and indicate that the original text field has been broken into a number of smaller fields
text must be broken apart a second time which changes the text fields into a graphic which can be morphed
when text has been broken apart it can no longer be edited as if it were a text field.
text can only be outlined if it is a graphic
the Ink Bottle Tool is used to change a line's stroke, color or line type
the Eyedropper is used to duplicate a color
when a selection is made using the Eyedropper Tool a change occurs in the Fill Color Well which mirrors the selection
when a bitmap fill is created it is stored in the Color Mixer and can be found using the drop-down menu at the top of the Color Mixer Panel

Exercise:

a) Text Graphic Images (Movie One)

this part of the tutorial will require the use of one layer and no background color
the movie will be 35 frames in length
click on the Text Tool and select the font "Webdings"
set the font size of 70,
select the font Webdings and type the letter "j" -- a small image of a plane appears
select the image using the Selection Tool
select the command Break Apart from the Modify Menu and break the character apart.
repeat the above procedure to ensure that the character is completely broken apart

select the Transform Panel from the Windows Menu
make sure the Constrain Button is selected
increase the size of the graphic by 300% (after value has been entered make sure the the return has been pressed)
set the Stoke Color Well to yellow
use the Ink Bottle Tool to outline each component of the graphic (it may be necessary to increase the magnification so that this can be done more accurately)
select the Color Mixer and use a purple gradient fill to color the body wings and tail section of the plane leaving the windows clear
select Show Frame

select the image using the Selection Tool and move graphic to the upper right hand corner of the stage
click on frame 35 and insert a keyframe
delete the image of the plane
use the font Webdings and type the letter "b" -- a small image of a bicycle appears
select the image using the Selection Tool
select the command Break Apart from the Modify Menu and break the character apart.
select the Transform Panel from the Windows Menu
with the Constrain Button selected increase the size of the graphic by 300%
set the Stoke Color Well to red
use the Ink Bottle Tool to outline each component of the graphic (remember to increase the magnification it necessary)
select a blue fill in the Fill Color Well and color the inner part of the wheels
select Show Frame
select the image using the Selection Tool and move graphic to the lower left hand corner of the stage
double click on frame 1 and insert a shape tween
test and save your movie

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Diagram 3

b) Bitmapped Fills (Movie Two)

this part of the tutorial will require the use of one layer and no background color
the movie will be 35 frames in length
click on the Text Tool and select the font "Textile" and then set the font size to 70 , the color to black and use Bold
type the word "Classic"
select the image using the Selection Tool
select the command Break Apart from the Modify Menu and break the character apart.
repeat the above procedure to ensure that the character is completely broken apart
select the Transform Panel from the Windows Menu
make sure the Constrain Button is deselected
increase the width of the graphic by 150% and the height by 300% (after value has been entered make sure the the return has been pressed)(percentages may vary with the idea that the word cover most of the stage)
set the Stoke Color Well to red

click on frame 35 and insert a keyframe
delete the image of the word "Classic"
click on the Text Tool and select the font Impact and then set the font size to 70 , the color to blue and use Bold
type the word "Schools"
select the image using the Selection Tool
select the command Break Apart from the Modify Menu and break the character apart.
select the Transform Panel from the Windows Menu
make sure the Constrain Button is deselected
increase the width of the graphic by 150% and the height by 300% (percentages may vary with the idea that the word cover most of the stage)
set the Stoke Color Well to red
use the Ink Bottle Tool to outline each component of the graphic (remember to increase the magnification it necessary)
select the Color Mixer Panel in the Windows Menu and use the drop-down menu to select bitmap
use the Paint Bucket Tool to fill each letter with the selected bitmap fill
double click on frame 1 and insert a shape tween
test and save your movie

Diagram 4

Diagram 5

Diagram 6