Introduction: Macromedia Flash Basics
This is a tutorial on just a few of the things you can do with Flash. More specifically, Flash Professional 8. This covers importing sound, basic motion and shape tweening, and filters. Just a few things first; this can be used in other versions. The only thing is it is very hard to do a filter in older versions of Flash. I'm not going to be cliche and say, "This is my first Instructable to please be nice." With that over let's begin shall we?
Step 1: Materials
There are really only two things needed for this one people.
1. A Computer
2. Macromedia Flash (preferably Professional 8)
3. Not really a material, but you need to be able to follow directions.
1. A Computer
2. Macromedia Flash (preferably Professional 8)
3. Not really a material, but you need to be able to follow directions.
Step 2: Adding Sound to Your Movie
Sound in a movie can make the difference in what people say about your movie. First off, I'm not going to say all about how to start sounds or choose the right sound. If you haven't already done so, open up a new file or one that you want to add sound to.
Next you need to create a new layer for your sound file.
To add a sound file you need first click: File, Import, and then either Import to Stage or Import to Library. I recommend choosing Import to Library. That's because of the fact that it's easier to use if you need to use it again.
Now find yourself your sound clip (Not sure but I think it can be AVI, WAV, and MP3. Not sure about the others.) and click open.
If you clicked Import to library, then a box should show with the file name in it.
Choose your new made layer and drag the sound onto the stage.
At first nothing will seem to have happened, but if you look at the first frame there will be a blue line on it.
To see the rest of the sound; right click on a later frame and click insert keyframe.
You should now see some if not all of your sound file. Doing this does not stop the sound at that keyframe however. I don't know how to actionscript so I can't help you.
Now if you press enter you should hear your sound if done correctly. Just a word of warning, the sound will not stop if started until finished. So don't hit enter if you don't want to hear it yet.
Next you need to create a new layer for your sound file.
To add a sound file you need first click: File, Import, and then either Import to Stage or Import to Library. I recommend choosing Import to Library. That's because of the fact that it's easier to use if you need to use it again.
Now find yourself your sound clip (Not sure but I think it can be AVI, WAV, and MP3. Not sure about the others.) and click open.
If you clicked Import to library, then a box should show with the file name in it.
Choose your new made layer and drag the sound onto the stage.
At first nothing will seem to have happened, but if you look at the first frame there will be a blue line on it.
To see the rest of the sound; right click on a later frame and click insert keyframe.
You should now see some if not all of your sound file. Doing this does not stop the sound at that keyframe however. I don't know how to actionscript so I can't help you.
Now if you press enter you should hear your sound if done correctly. Just a word of warning, the sound will not stop if started until finished. So don't hit enter if you don't want to hear it yet.
Step 3: Motion Tweeing
There are times in making a movie where frame-by-frame is just annoying. Well there is something called motion tweening. Motion tweening just moves an object from one point to another. I must say it is easier sometimes to use tweening. However, it has some downsides. For instance, you can only move said object in a straight line. I will be using the same file as the sound. Well here we go....
First create a new layer.
Then draw an object. For simplicity I just made a circle.
After that, you need to highlight you object.
Press F8. If for some reason you don't have that key, you can right click and hit "Convert to Symbol."
A box will pop up. Make sure that it is a movie clip and name it anything you want. Then click OK.
After naming, move your object to any spot on the stage. For display purposes I'll just put it at the edge of the stage.
Right click on a farther frame and insert a keyframe.
Highlight the frame and right click again. Click "Create Motion Tween."
A blue line should be were the highlighted frames were now.
Now click on the last frame of the tween. Move the object to another point on the stage (or off the stage).
Now click back on the first fram and hit enter to preview.
First create a new layer.
Then draw an object. For simplicity I just made a circle.
After that, you need to highlight you object.
Press F8. If for some reason you don't have that key, you can right click and hit "Convert to Symbol."
A box will pop up. Make sure that it is a movie clip and name it anything you want. Then click OK.
After naming, move your object to any spot on the stage. For display purposes I'll just put it at the edge of the stage.
Right click on a farther frame and insert a keyframe.
Highlight the frame and right click again. Click "Create Motion Tween."
A blue line should be were the highlighted frames were now.
Now click on the last frame of the tween. Move the object to another point on the stage (or off the stage).
Now click back on the first fram and hit enter to preview.
Step 4: Shape Tweening
Shape tweening is something I use very rarely. It changes the shape of an object into another. It does a good job from simple shapes like squares and circles, but it is more complicated when it comes to more complicated objects. It can be put to get use if used correctly, but I don't ever use it. Alright then...
In this one we will be using a new circle than from before. We will change it into a square.
Create a new layer.
Draw a circle anywhere on the stage.
Right Click on a later frame and hit "Insert Blank Keyframe."
Now you can draw a rectangle.
Click on any of the frames between the first and last.
At the bottom should be the tween option. It will say none. Change it to say "Shape."
The frames at the top (all except the last one) should now be green.
When you press enter, you should be able to see the circle(or whatever shape) into the square( or whatever shape).
In this one we will be using a new circle than from before. We will change it into a square.
Create a new layer.
Draw a circle anywhere on the stage.
Right Click on a later frame and hit "Insert Blank Keyframe."
Now you can draw a rectangle.
Click on any of the frames between the first and last.
At the bottom should be the tween option. It will say none. Change it to say "Shape."
The frames at the top (all except the last one) should now be green.
When you press enter, you should be able to see the circle(or whatever shape) into the square( or whatever shape).
Step 5: Filters (Smoke Effect)
Filters are a new feature for Flash Professional 8. In this section we will be learning how to make a smoke cloud effect. It can look good if done correctly, but it is not without its flaws. For instance, it is not like a wavy kind of smoke; it is more like a fog effect. Alrighty than.....
For this effect, we will be making a new file for the effect.
Start off by using the paintbrush tool. I recommend using a good solid shade of grey.
Make a blog on the screen as large as you like. It looks better if you don't make a regular shape.
To make it look like a thinner smoke, you can use the eraser and erase some spots. (Don't do to many.)
Now highlight your smoke. and Convert it to a symbol.( Press F8 or right click and hit "Convert to Symbol.")
There should now be a blue box around your object.
As you can see there is a "Filters" tab at the bottom.
Click on it and you should see a blue plus sign. If you click on it there will be several options. The one we will be using is "Blur." After clicking your picture should look slightly blurred around the edges.
To increase the intensity of the blur, we have to change some things.
There are three options at the bottom: Blur X, Blur Y, and Quality.
By increasing the Blur X and Y, the smoke is blurred more.
And lastly, by raising the quality make it a finer smoke.
Well there you go my first Instructable. I hoped you liked it, and I hoped it helped.
For this effect, we will be making a new file for the effect.
Start off by using the paintbrush tool. I recommend using a good solid shade of grey.
Make a blog on the screen as large as you like. It looks better if you don't make a regular shape.
To make it look like a thinner smoke, you can use the eraser and erase some spots. (Don't do to many.)
Now highlight your smoke. and Convert it to a symbol.( Press F8 or right click and hit "Convert to Symbol.")
There should now be a blue box around your object.
As you can see there is a "Filters" tab at the bottom.
Click on it and you should see a blue plus sign. If you click on it there will be several options. The one we will be using is "Blur." After clicking your picture should look slightly blurred around the edges.
To increase the intensity of the blur, we have to change some things.
There are three options at the bottom: Blur X, Blur Y, and Quality.
By increasing the Blur X and Y, the smoke is blurred more.
And lastly, by raising the quality make it a finer smoke.
Well there you go my first Instructable. I hoped you liked it, and I hoped it helped.