Flash tutorial on how to Copy Motion as ActionScript 3.0.	Home • Food • Mates • Members • Tutorials • Forum • Buy Templates • Contact Us

Click by Click: Copy Motion as ActionScript 3.0

Full Version: This is a shortened click by click version of a: Full Length Tutorial

Free Flash Tutorial

This is one of the most useful new features of Flash CS3. It enables you to convert a Motion Tween animation into ActionScript 3.0. This means that you can create a reusable script that can be applied to any object in Flash. It also means that you can open up existing Flash files and copy the animation into a new file and apply it to new objects in a few clicks.

Example: Download the Flash file Int 102a

Copying a Motion Tween and creating an animation with ActionScript 3.0.

Step One: Setting up the Flash Document

1. Open a New Flash Document: File > New (Ctrl N)
2. If the General Tab is not selected, select it:
3. Select Flash Document: Flash File (ActionScript 3.0)
4. Click: OK
   
5. Go to: Modify > Document (Ctrl J)
6. Set the size to: 150 x 150 px
7. Select a: Background colour
8. Click: OK

Step Two: Create a Symbol to Animate

I am going to use some text as a the content for my symbol. In truth you could use anything such as a drawing, photo, clip art or any combination.

1. Type a word: webwasp (or anything you want)
2. If the Property Inspector is closed, open it: Window > Properties > Properties (Ctrl F3)
3. Center your text:
4. Select any other Font Styles that you might want.
   
5. Convert your text to a Symbol: Modify > Convert to Symbol (F8)
6. For Name type: myMC
7. For type select: Movie Clip
8. For registration select: Centre
9. Click: OK

Step Three: Create a Motion Tween

You can create any Motion Tween that you like as long as it is in a single Layer. The Motion Tween can contain multiple Keyframes and span multiple tweens. It may also contain empty frames. The Motion Tween may also contain any of the following elements: Blend Mode, Cache As Bitmap Setting, Color, Custom Easing, Filters, Frame Labels, Motion Guides, Orientation To Path, Position, Rotation, Scale, Scale, Skew, Transformation Point.

I am going to make the text spin and blur. You can of course create any Motion Tween that you like.

1. Select your: Symbol
2. Open the Align Panel: Window > Align (Ctrl K)
3. If the Align to Stage button is not selected, select it:
4. Click the Align to Horizontal Center:
5. Click the Align to Vertical Center:
6. In the Timeline select: Frame 1
7. In the Property Inspector select: Tween > Motion
8. In the Property Inspector select: Ease > -100
9. In the Property Inspector select: Rotate > CW
10. In the Property Inspector select: Rotate Times > 3
11. Select: Frame 25
12. Insert a Keyframe: Insert > Timeline > Keyframe (F6)
13. In the Property Inspector select: Ease > 100
14. In the Property Inspector select: Rotate > CCW
15. Select: Frame 50
16. Insert a Keyframe: Insert > Timeline > Keyframe (F6)
17. In the Property Inspector select: Tween > None
    
    
18. Select: Frame 60
19. Insert a Keyframe: Insert > Timeline > Keyframe (F6)
20. Go back to: Frame 25
21. Select your: Symbol
22. If the Filter Properties are closed, open them: Window > Properties > Filters
23. In the Filter Panel select: > Blur
24. In the Filter Panel select Blur X: 25
25. In the Filter Panel select Blur Y: 25
26. Test your Movie: Control > Test Movie (Ctrl Enter)
27. Close your Test Movie Window:

Step Four: Create the ActionScript 3.0

1. In the Timeline select: Layer 1
2. Go to: Edit > Timeline > Copy as ActionScript 3.0
3. For Instance Name type: mySpin
4. Click: OK
5. Create a new Layer: Insert > Timeline > Layer
6. In the new Layer select: Frame 1
7. If the Actions Panel is closed, open it: Window > Actions (F9)
8. If Script Assist is on, Switch it off:
9. Place your cursor in the first line of the Actions Panel: Line 1
10. Paste the ActionScript. On your Keyboard press: Ctrl V
11. If your Library is closed, open it: Window > Library (Ctrl L or F11)
12. Drag a copy of your symbol onto the Stage: myMC
13. In the Property Inspector give your Symbol the Instance Name: mySpin
    
14. Test your Movie: Control > Test Movie (Ctrl Enter)
15. Close your Test Movie Window:

Your Movie is now complete. If you wish you could now delete your original Motion Tween.

Have fun.

I hope you have found this useful. If so perhaps you could recommend this site to others and link to webwasp!

This is a quick reference version of a full length tutorial: Full Length Tutorial