Today’s Topic…Flash! w00t. This lab is due next Friday (04/07) @ midnight
Before we get started, here are some terms you should know:
Tween: In animation, it is used to describe intermediate frames often added by an assistant animator or by computer. See tweening.
Motion Tween: In animation, refers to movement of an object along a path.
Shape Tween: In animation, refers to changing the shape of an object.
Export Movie: With Flash, when you save your movie, you are actually saving a file that allows you to open the movie again and edit it later on. If you want the flash movie to be viewable on the web, you must export the movie (which essentially saves it as a .swf file). To export a movie, simply click File > Export > Export Movie, select the folder you want to save the movie in, then click the Save button.
Lets get to it!
Lab (part 1): Working with Macromedia Flash (Do sections 1 and 2)
What to turn in for this tutorial:
You can place each of the following shapes/images on separate frames of the same movie…or create a separate movie file for each. It’s up to you ;)
- Your custom shape…found here
- Your layered shapes…found here
- Your masked image…found here
- Your symbolized image…found here
In this section, you will learn:
* Creating graphics in Flash
* Importing graphics
* Using color effectively
* Creating a color swatch
* Layering Flash elements
* Masking content
* Organizing content in Flash
* Reusing graphics as symbolsNOTE: This tutorial starts on page 1 of a whole series of tutorials and continues on to page to 26.
Lab (part 2): Moving Objects along a Path
What to turn in for this tutorial:
- You will have created a simple animation by the end of this tutorial…save and export it, then submit it to WebCT
- Note: Have a little fun with this if you want…customize it to your hearts content…remember, you are preparing yourself for more Flash next week, so everything you learn will help
In this tutorial you will learn how Flash allows us to to gain further control of the movement of an object by the use of guide layers. This method enables to you to draw a complex path or guide which the object will follow.
Note: if you get stumped with steps 11 & 12..This is the guide layer:
…the steps should be combined into one.
Lab (part 3): Creating Animations with Shape Tween
What to turn in for this tutorial:
- You will have created a simple animation by the end of this tutorial…save and export it, then submit it to WebCT
- Note: Same as above…have a little fun with this if you want…
In this tutorial you will learn how Flash can also ‘tween’ the shape of an object. This allows the shape to change between keyframes.
What to turn in
Upload your 3 flash movies (don’t forget to export them first) to WebCT.
Why just Tutorials this week?
Well, the goal of these tutorials is simply to familiarize yourself with the application and terminology in preparation for the more in-depth lab (due on the 14th). Tonight I will be posting your assigned reading and Flash Lab 2
(Next week’s lab will be posted on Thursday of next week)