tutorial 6 creating special effects with graphics and gradients

Tutorial 6

Creating Special Effects with Graphics

and Gradients

XPXPObjectives• Import bitmap graphics into a document• Change a bitmap graphic’s properties• Convert a bitmap graphic to a vector graphic• Create a fade effect animation using bitmaps• Learn about gradients

New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS4 2

XPXPObjectives• Create and save a new gradient• Use and transform a gradient• Explore the Flash publish settings• Publish a Flash movie• Create a publish profile• Export a Flash graphic• Insert a Flash movie into an existing Web page


XPXPWorking with Bitmaps• Bitmaps appear more natural than vector

graphics• A photograph is an example of a bitmap graphic• Bitmaps are stored as a matrix of pixels• Bitmaps must be imported into a Flash document• A bitmap may be converted into a vector graphic


XPXPImporting a Bitmap• On the Application bar, click File, point to Import,

and then click Import to Stage or Import to Library

• In the Import or Import to Library dialog box, navigate to the location of the bitmap file, and then select the bitmap file in the file list

• Click the Open button


XPXPBitmaps in the Library Panel


XPXPSetting a Bitmap’s Properties• Bitmap Properties dialog box• Properties: name, smoothing, compression, and quality

settings• Compression: Lossless (PNG/GIF), Photo (JPEG)• JPEG Quality range: 0 to 100• Setting bitmap properties in the banner– Apply additional compression to reduce file size– Loss in quality is not discernible due to small bitmap

size


XPXPBitmap Properties Dialog Box


XPXPAnimating Bitmaps• Instances of bitmaps can be animated – Instance on Stage must first be converted to a symbol

• Types of motion tweens applied to bitmaps:– Moving, rotation, scaling, and fading

• Fade effects are created by changing alpha amount• Alpha amounts controls image – 0% makes the object completely transparent– 100% makes the object completely opaque


XPXPFade Animation


XPXPMotion Tweens Complete


XPXPConverting a Bitmap to a Vector Graphic• Reasons to convert a bitmap to a vector graphic:– Bitmap is geometric in nature– Visual effects will be applied to the graphic

• Converting a bitmap to a vector graphic: – Go to Modify Bitmap Trace Bitmap– Specify values and set options– Caveat: some color and quality lost in conversion


XPXPConverting a Bitmap to a Vector Graphic


XPXPBitmap Converted to a Vector


XPXPUsing Gradients• Gradient: gradual blend or transition of colors• Gradients enhance the appearance of objects• Add gradients as fills the way solid colors are added• Linear gradient – Blends colors from one point to another in a straight

line• Radial gradient – Blends colors from a point outwards in a circular

pattern


XPXPGradient Examples


XPXPCreating, Editing, and Saving a Gradient• To create a gradient, open the Color panel, click the

Type button, and then click Linear or Radial (or click a preset gradient in the color palette or the Swatches panel)

• To edit a gradient, add or delete a color pointer• To specify a color for a color pointer, select the color

pointer, and then enter the color’s RGB values, hexadecimal value, or click the color picker in the Color panel

• To add a color pointer, click a spot on the gradient definition bar


XPXPCreating, Editing, and Saving a Gradient• To remove a color pointer, drag it down, away from the

gradient definition bar• To reposition a color pointer, drag it to the left or right

on the gradient definition bar• To save a gradient with the current document, click the

Color panel options menu, and then click Add Swatch


XPXPColor Panel with the Custom Gradient


XPXPNew Gradient in Swatches Panel


XPXPApplying a Gradient Fill• Follow the same process for applying a solid fill• Two options for applying gradient to single object:– Select gradient fill color and draw object on Stage– Use Paint Bucket tool for object already on the Stage

• Lock Fill modifier – Paints one gradient across several objects on the

Stage


XPXPEffect of Lock Fill Modifier on Gradients


XPXPGradient Background Added to the Banner


XPXPFilling Text with a Gradient• You can apply a gradient fill to text• Convert the text to a fill with the Break Apart command– Use command one time for text blocks consisting of

one letter– Use command two times for text blocks consisting of

multiple letters


XPXPFilling Text with a Gradient


XPXPTransforming Gradient Fills• Gradient Transform tool: modifies a gradient fill – Selected object with linear gradient has a bounding

box – Selected object with radial gradient has a bounding

circle• Modifiable gradient properties: center, size, direction • How to transform a gradient: – Drag the handles in the bounding box or circle

surrounding the center point


XPXPGradient’s Radius Increased


XPXPComparing Publishing Options• FLA format: native file format for Flash documents• SWF file: plays in Flash Player window or browser• Default – (HTML): creates an SWF and HTML file• Static publishing formats: JPEG, GIF, and PNG• Projector file: stand-alone file with .exe extension – Has the Flash Player incorporated into it – Plays the movie in its own window

• Publish Settings dialog box– Used to specify how FLA documents are published


XPXPPublish Settings• Default options: Flash (.swf) and HTML (.html)– Each file type has an options tab

• Select check box for different formats– New options tab appears for each new type selected– Example: JPEG tab appears if JPEG Image (.jpg)

chosen• New publishing profiles may be saved for later use• New banner will be published as an SWF file– Rationale: banner will be added to an existing Web

page


XPXPPublish Settings


XPXPFlash Publish Settings


XPXPExporting a Flash Document as an Image• Two common image file formats used in Web pages:– JPEG format: best for images that include many colors– GIF format: best for images with fewer colors

• Some export formats in Flash: JPEG, GIF, PNG• Two ways to export images in Flash:– Select options in Publish Settings dialog box– Use the Export Image command

• Logo will be exported as a GIF image


XPXPExport GIF Dialog Box


XPXPAdding Flash Graphics to a Web Page• Requirement for using Flash graphics in a Web page:– Graphic file must be incorporated into the page’s

HTML• One simple way to incorporate graphics in HTML:– Publish a movie with the HTML format option

selected• Adding the SWF file to an existing Web page: – Actual Web page must edited – Some editing tools: Adobe Dreamweaver, Notepad

• Use Notepad to edit page displaying banner and logo


XPXPSample Web Page HTML


XPXPSample Web Page With Flash Graphics


tutorial 6 creating special effects with graphics and gradients

Documents

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