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Click by Click: Shape Tweens

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See Full Tutorial: This is a short click by click version of a: Full Length Tutorial

Free Flash Tutorial

The aim of the tutorial is to learn how to morph shapes in Flash. This is an important animation technique in Flash called Shape Tweening. The term Tweening means to move or animate an object. When you Shape Tween you change or animate an objects outline shape. Shape Tweening is a simple form of Flash animation that changes one Shape into a new Shape. This tutorial is suitable for those of you who maybe new to Flash.

Example: Download the Flash file  Beg 001a

Shape Tween: Circle into a Square and visa versa.

Shape Tweening Text

In geometric term a Letters are just a shapes. Like any other Shape, Flash can be Shape Tween Letters and words. In the first sections of this tutorial I demonstrate how to Shape Tween Text. This is followed by several additional sections which are designed to give additional tools, skills and insights into how to get the most from Shape Tweening. You can look cover these additional sections in any order and or skip any which are not appropriate for your needs. If you know how to Shape Tween you may wish to go straight to the additional sections:

Step One: Setting up the Document

1. Go to: File > New > General Tab > Flash Document > OK
2. You are now ready to customise the document. Go to: Modify > Document (Ctrl J)
3. Type in the dimensions that you want for your Movie. The one above Flash Movie is: 200 x 130 px (pixels)
4. Select a Background Colour by clicking on: Background Color
5. Click: OK
   
6. Save your file: File > Save (Ctrl S)

Step Two: Creating a Shape from Text

1. Select the Text Tool:
2. Click and then Type on the Stage (work area): one
3. When you have finished typing go back to the Selection Tool:
   
4. If you want to change the Font colour, style or size you can do so in the Property Inspector: Window > Properties > Properties (Ctrl F3)
   
5. You may wish to change the size of your text with the free transformation tool .
6. If you are still in the Text tool choose your Selection Tool:
   
7. With the word 'one' selected go to: Modify > Break Apart (Ctrl B)
8. Do the same thing again: Modify > Break Apart (Ctrl B)

Step Three: Setting Frame1 to Shape Tween

1. If the Property Inspector is not open, open it by going: Window > Properties > Properties (Ctrl F3)
2. In Frame 1 select the: Keyframe
3. In the Property Inspector go to the Tween menu and select: Shape

Step Four: Your Second Shape

1. Right click (Mac: Ctrl click) on Frame 15 and select: Insert Keyframe
2. Still on Frame 15 delete the word: one
3. Select the Text Tool:
4. Type the word: two
5. When you have finished typing go back to the Selection Tool:
6. With the word 'two' still selected go to: Modify > Break Apart (Ctrl B)
7. Do the same thing again: Modify > Break Apart (Ctrl B)

Step Five: Test your Movie

1. Save your file: File > Save (Ctrl S)
   
2. Go to: Control > Test movie (Ctrl Enter)
3. Close the Test Window:

You have now completed your first Shape Tween! The remaining sections of this tutorial are notes on added extras and as they are mostly notes they are not covered in this click by click.

you can look at them in any order you wish. If you wish you can jump to a specific section back in the main tutorial:

Extra Sections:

Shape Tween Options

Creating Shapes with the Paint Brush Tool

Tweening Multiple Shapes

Solid and Hollow Shapes

Shape Hints

 

Other Tutorials:

 

Cross Ref: Photographic Shape Tweens

Cross Ref: Clip Art & Vector Images - Shape Tweens

Well that's it so have fun Shape Tweening!!

Full Version of this: Tutorial