labs & lessons
LAB 1:
actionscript basics:
- where to put actionscript
- create a timeline layer for actions
- context = keyframe, window = actions
- symbols
- button
- movie clip
- graphic
- event listeners
- move to a new frame
- ex.: gotoAndStop(2);
- ex.: gotoAndPlay(2);
- detect (listen for) mouse movement
- using location of mouse as input
- dynamically accessing and changing symbol properties
- x, y coordinates
- width, height
- alpha
- rotation
- z coordinates
- examples. (if symbol instance is named "thisClip")
- set position
- thisClip.x = 200;
- thisClip.y = 200;
- Scaling (as percentage of current size)
- thisClip.scaleY = .10; //Note: Value expects a decimal number
- thisClip.scaleY = .10; //Note: Value expects a decimal number
- Scaling (setting exact width and height)
- thisCLip.height = 50;
- thisClip.width = 50;
- Rotation
- thisClip.rotation = 90;
- Visibility
- thisClip.visibility = false;
- thisClip.visibility = true;
- Transparency: Adjusting the alpha or transparency of a symbol
- thisClip.alpha = .75; //Note: Value expects a decimal number
- set position
- review and stray items from last time
- graphic (symbol type)
- movie clip symbol: independent of the timeline that contains it
- graphic symbol: synchronized to the timeline that contains it
- graphic (symbol type)
- tweening
- "classic motion tween"
- shape
- CS4 tween
- special layers
- insert classic tween into layer
- add classic motion guide
- draw path w/ pencil tool
- one guide can have multiple layers of symbols following its path
- insert shape tween
- insert - timeline - shape tween
- morph from one shape to another
- anchor points (sub selection tool)
- shape hints (modify->shape->add shape hints)
- altering gradients
- guide
- mask
- tween (CS4 tween)
- TWEEN (CS4)
- applies to symbols
- movie clip
- graphic
- button
- place symbol in layer, highlight the layer, choose: Insert -> Motion Tween
- one symbol per tween layer
- dragging symbol creates new keyframe and path
- path can be manipulated
- use selection tool to pull endpoints, or frame points (dots)
- highlight path to drag entire path
- use sub-selection tool on endpoints - handles
- properties panel for PATH
- ease
- rotation
- x, y
- height, width
- more...
- vary the properties of movie clip on keyframes
- clip shrinks and grows
- brightness
- rotation
- 3D
- color, tint, etc
- vary the properties of movie clip on keyframes
- applies to symbols
- onion skin / onion skin outlines
- swapping symbols in a tween
- nested symbols (exercise)
- character a (looping timeline)
- character b (looping timeline)
- character c (looping timeline)
- new movie clip w/ several instances of each character
- stacked (depth)
- instances have different size and tint properties
- entire movie clip scales or moves in main timeline (tween)