Drawing in Flash

Knowing the interface is probably the first thing you will want to learn, but what good will it do if you only know the name of those windows and not what they do? You will be wanting to use the tools, view, colors, options, and the stage. Let's start by minimizing any unnessary windows for now.

Tools|View|Colors|Options|Task

The Tools

These are the tools that are used to draw with. Below are shortcuts to the descriptions of each tool.

Tool		Bar
Arrow		Subselect
Line		Lasso
Pen		Text
Oval		Rectangle
Pencil		Brush
Scale		Transform Fill
Ink Bottle		Paint Bucket
Dropper		Eraser

Arrow Tool
Selects objects by clicking on them, or dragging a box over them. Double-click fill to select surrounding lines (such as a circle, with lines and fill). Double-click line to select a whole line, rather than a segment. Double-click can also be used to edit grouped or library objects, which will be discussed later.

Subselect Tool
Edits lines of shapes and drawings.

Line Tool
Draw straight lines.

Lasso Tool
Select objects by drawing around them.

Pen Tool
Draws lines, using a more mathmatical approach. This tool is used for precision. It may be more difficult to master than other tools for drawing.

Text Tool
Click where you want text, then type.

Oval Tool
Draws ovals. To draw a circle, hold the shift key on the keyboard while using this tool.

Rectangle Tool
Draws rectangles. To draw a square, hold the shift key on the keyboard while using this tool.

Pencil Tool
Draw freehand.

Scale Tool
Change the size to smaller or larger. To keep dimensions, hold the shift key on the keyboard while scaling objects.

Transform Fill Tool
Edits fill. When using radial(circular) gradient fill, use this to change the center of the fill, the scale of the fill (more center or outer color), change from circular to oval, and change direction.

Ink Bottle Tool
Changes stroke(line) color.

Paint Bucket Tool
Adds fill inside of lines or changes fill color.

Dropper Tool
Copy the color of anything on the stage. Useful, when you want to use the same colors, without having to look for it on the pallet.

Eraser Tool
Erases mistakes.

View

There are only two tools under view, hand and zoom. The hand tool changes the view of the stage by moving it. The zoom tool zooms in or out of the stage.

Colors

There are two colors to use at one time. The stroke color and the fill color. To change a color, click on the box with the color you with to change. There are three buttons to help change colors, which are default, no color, and swap colors.

Options

Many of the tools have different options when you select them. When you click on a tool, check the options to see how you can use the tool. If you aren't sure what an icon represents, put your mouse pointer over it and read the tip that shows up.

Task

Use any of the tools you want to draw a dolphin.

"Flash For Beginners" was created by Rachel Bliss for the purpose of course design and shall not be redistributed/edited without consent.
Flash is a product of Macromedia.

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