Adobe Flash Tutorial

Take our Adobe Flash tutorial. Our Adobe Flash tutorial covers creating graphics, working with layers, and adding motion, sound, and text to your Macromedia Flash movie.

Create a New Layer

You use layers to organize the artwork in your movie. You can draw on each layer without affecting the other layers. If a portion of a layer has nothing on it, you can see through to the layer below.

Create a new Layer for the Sky

1. Choose Insert > Timeline > Layer from the menu to create a new layer above the active layer.
2. Choose Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties from the menu. The Layer Properties dialog box appears.
3. Type Sky in the Name field.
4. Click OK. Flash renames the layer Sky.

Note: You can also create a new layer by clicking the New Layer button in the bottom left corner of the Timeline.

Create the Sky

1. Make sure Sky is the active layer. When a layer is active, it is highlighted and designated by a pencil icon . You click on the layer name to make a layer active.
2. Choose the Selection tool .
3. Activate the Library panel.
4. Click the icon next to Sky and drag an instance of Sky onto the Stage.

Rotate an Object

You can use a Modify menu option to rotate an object. You need to rotate the Sky instance 90 degrees clockwise.

Rotate an Object

1. Click the Sky instance to select it.
2. Choose Modify > Transform > Rotate 90 CW from the menu. Flash rotates the Sky instance 90 degrees clockwise.

Resize an Object

You need the sky to fill the top part of the Stage. You must resize the Sky instance. You can use the Property inspector to resize an object.

Resize an Object

1. Activate the Property inspector.
2. Choose the Selection tool.
3. Click the Sky instance to select it.
4. Click the Lock Width and Height icon in the Property inspector to deselect it. When the Lock Width and Height option is selected , adjusting the width changes the height proportionally, and vice versa.

5. Set the W field to 400. That is the width of the stage.
6. Set the H field to 240.
7. Click and drag until the sky is over the buildings.

Change the Order of Layers

Objects that are on higher layers appear to be in front of objects on lower layers. You can change the order of layers. You want to place the sky behind the buildings.

Change the Order of Layers

1. Click the Sky layer on the Timeline.
2. Drag the Sky layer downward to place it below the Buildings layer. The sky appears behind the buildings.