Tools available for animation in Adobe Flash

Introduction

Tools such as layers and frames are the basic features used in the creation of animation and are found in all animation applications including Abode Flash. Scripting is a further method which is commonly used to add interactivity for

products such as games.

You may here the term ‘frame’ used a lot in animation. This is simply a single image within an animation. Frames are played

in sequence at a specific rate (known as frames per second(fps)) to create the illusion of animation. Key frames

are also used and are special frames where an animation either begins or ends.

Layers

In animation, a layer refers to the levels in which you can place your objects on either on top of below of the previous. A number of layers will form together to make an image but when together looks like a whole image, not made up of many objects.

On the right is a number of layers I have created in Adobe Flash. They are simply circles which have been distributed

to their own layers.

Tweening can create movement (such as motion tween ) or morphing (such as shape tween). The actual tween itself does

have certain properties that can be altered. An example of something which can be changed is the ease. This is also known as the fairing but is the speed at which a

tween is performed.

Tweening

ControlsSelection tool

Free transform tool

Pen tool

Line tool

Pencil tool

Ink bottle tool

Eyedropper tool

Hand tool

Stroke color

Black and White, swap colors and no

color

Smooth

Sub selection tool

Lasso tool

Text tool

Oval tool

Brush tool

Paint bucket tool

Eraser tool

Zoom tool

Fill color

Snap to objects

Straighten

The selection tool allows you to select object to be able to change their color size etc. but

also allows you to move them around the page by dragging them.

Selection Tool

ControlsObject is selected

Object has been moved

Sub Selection Tool

Controls

The Sub selection tool allows you to select items in detail and also edit the paths that

make up the objects.

Selected shapes using the Sub Selection Tool

Shapes edited using the Sub Selection

Tool

The free transform tool enables you to change the shape and size of objects you have drawn. Shapes can be seen larger or

smaller.

Free transform Tool

ControlsBlue shape has

changed

Red shape has changed

The lasso tool enables you to select objects on the stage by circling them

using the tool. Once selected, the object can be moved.

Lasso Tool

ControlsSelecting using the

Lasso tool

Moving the selected objects

The pen tool enables you to draw shapes and lines in any direction with

the use of your mouse.

Pen Tool

ControlsDrawing using the

Pen tool

Finished object with Pen tool

The text tool enables you to insert text onto the stage and the properties box will let you change the font, font size, font color and many other features.

Text Tool

ControlsUsing the text tool to

insert text

Using the properties to edit the text

Line Tool

Controls

The line tool simply allows you to draw straight lines in all directions by

clicking and dragging.

Lines using the line tool

Oval Tool

Controls

The oval tool allows you to draw circles, either regular or irregular by

clicking and dragging. It also contains the rectangle tool.

Ovals and circles using the oval tool

Rectangles and squares using the

rectangle tool

Pencil Tool

Controls

The pencil tool allows you to draw by click and dragging in any direction you

want until released.

Pencil drawings using the pencil tool

Brush Tool

Controls

The brush tool lets you draw in all directions by clicking and dragging. You can also choose how smooth you want

it to be.

Paint brush with high level of smoothness

Paint brush with low level of smoothness

Ink Bottle Tool

Controls

The ink bottle tool is used to add or edit lines on the outside of any

object. You can also edit the colour and thickness you want the line to be.

Before using the ink bottle tool

After using the ink bottle tool

Paint Bucket Tool

Controls

The paint bucket tool allows you to fill in the objects colour with your choice

of colors.

Before using the paint bucket tool

After using the paint bucket tool

Eye Dropper Tool

Controls

The eye dropper tool allows you to pick up colors, this allows for exact selection

of the color you want.

Selecting the shade of color I want to use

Eye dropper tool telling me what shade of color I have selected

Eraser Tool

Controls

The eraser tool allows you to erase any areas of a picture or shape you have on

the stage.

Shapes before erasing has taken place

Shapes after they have been erased

Hand Tool

Controls

The hand tool enables you to move the stage in any direction, this will help it easier for you to make things appear

from different areas.

Stage before I moved it using the hand tool

Stage after I moved it using the hand tool

Zoom Tool

Controls

The zoom tool allows you to make an object that is on the stage closer and

further away.

Stage before I zoomed in using the zoom tool

Stage after I zoomed in using the zoom tool

Stroke color

Controls

The stroke color tool is used to select a line or stroke color on the stage.

Stoke color has been selected using the stroke color tool

Fill Color

Controls

The fill color tool allows you to fill in objects with the color of your choice.

Before using the fill tool

After using the fill tool

Black and white, swap and no colour

Controls

The black and white, swap or no colour tool allows you to make your line colour and fill

color black and white, the swap colour changes the line colour and fill colour

around and no colour puts no colour on.

Black and white Swap colour No colour

Snap to object

Controls

The snap to object tool affects how objects that you drag around the stage in relation to each other. Objects that your

moving are more likely to ‘snap’ or jump, to the edge of the nearest object when

this tool is being used.

Snap to object tool

Smooth and straighten

Controls

Once the pencil has been selected you will have the option at the bottom of the tools whether you want your line to be

smooth or straight. Once you have selected just draw your line and the

program will do the rest.

Using the straighten tool

Using the smooth tool