1. PAL #1: Interface and basic drawing

2. • Just as with all the Adobe
suite, we can customise the
layout using the
‘Workspaces’ panel.
• We use the ‘Essentials’
version as the default.
• The key elements on the
screen are the Timeline,
Tools panel, Library, Stage
and Property inspector.

3.  Perhaps the biggest key to Flash is the timeline. As the
package was conceived as an animation tool, much of the
functionality centres around the area.
 By right-clicking on the Timeline you can insert keyframes.
These are special frames that contain key actions.
 If you insert a keyframe you duplicate the currently
displayed content on screen. If you use a blank keyframe,
all content is removed.

4.  The properties inspector
alters to reflect the
currently selected
element on the stage.
 As with Dreamweaver,
you can adjust the
settings simply by
choosing the appropriate
option(s).

5.  As you would expect, you can use a
range of drawing tools within Flash.
 As with Photoshop, additional tools
are sometimes hidden under the
current selection; look for the small
‘notch’ in the bottom right corner of
the icon.
 Draw a simple shape on your screen
using the brush tool

6.  You move an item, you need to highlight it
using your mouse cursor. You can then drag
and drop the item on the stage.
 If you start to drag when not highlighted, it
will alter the points plotted on the screen
where you’ve drawn your item/object.

7.  You can duplicate shapes and objects by
highlighting the item, then whilst holding the
ALT key, click and drag.

8.  You can also transform objects using the
‘Transform’ panel. Go to the ‘Window’ menu
and select ‘Transform’.

9.  You can transform objects by highlighting
them with a single click, then going to the
‘Modify’ menu and the ‘Transform’ sub menu.

10.  You can combine together shapes and
objects using the ‘Modify > Combine Object >
Union’ menu option.
 You can split them apart using the ‘Modify >
Break Apart’ option.

11.  To reformat your shapes
and objects, ensure
nothing is highlighted on
the stage then select the
ink bottle tool – this is
stored beneath the ‘fill’
tool.
 Alter your settings to the
desired effect, then click
on the shape or object to
reformat.

12.  Drawing one object on top of another will
‘overwrite’ what’s underneath it.

13.  To ensure you are creating
separate, distinct shapes,
you must use the ‘object
drawing tool’ (keyboard
shortcut ‘J’)
 It is located underneath the
stroke and fill colour icons
on the toolbar.

14.  There are two methods of adding text in Adobe
Flash CS5 or above: ‘Classic Text’ or ‘TLF Text’.
 TLF is the superior tool, refined for usage in the
Adobe suite. It includes options such as character
rotation and vertical orientation.
 Select it using the upper drop-down box on the
text tool

15.  TLF also allows us to create
multiple flowing columns of
text.
 Should the text ‘spill’ beyond
the edge of the box, you can
click the small red ‘plus’
symbol.
 This will bring up the ‘reflow’
tool; you can either drag out a
new region, or simply click
again to create a new column
the same size as the original

16.  Effects can also be added to
the text. Click the bottom
left icon on the ‘filters’ tab
of the text tool to add
them.

17.  You can create custom
colours and gradients
using the ‘colour’ palette.
Go to ‘Window > Color’
to open it, or click on the
icon.
 To create a new gradient,
select the style from the
drop down box.

18.  To add the colour or
gradient to your list of
colours, click the
toggle button and
select ‘Add Swatch’.
 Don’t forget you can
add external swatches
from utilities such as
Adobe Kuler!

19.  Create a basic scene inside of Flash.
 Take a screenshot of your effort and upload it
to Moodle.
 Please keep your image under 1Mb in size
and in JPEG format.