Syllabus --------------------- Calendar/Schedule --------------------- Lecture Notes --------------------- Projects --------------------- Resources --------------------- Student Work				Art 444 Lecture Notes Flash MX 2004 Lecture Notes Modifying Simple Graphics (Chapter 3) Selecting objects: a Flash object is made up of segment of separate elements using lines & curves. Select each segment to select an entire object. Use shift-select (Mac) to add to your selection when using the arrow tool. Arrow tool: use to select line segments & fills Selection rectangle: allows you to select an entire object or partial elements in a single operation. Lasso tool: allows you to draw a selection area Repositioning elements: use the arrow tool, for more precise repositioning use the four arrow keys. Repositioning elements numerically: change the x y coordinates of an object in the properties window. Cut, copy & paste: use cut, copy and paste commands from the Edit menu as well as Paste in Place. Duplicating a selection: command + D key or Edit> Duplicate Editing existing elements with assistance: select a line with the curves you want to edit and apply Modify> Smooth or Straighten. Moving end points: use arrow tool or subselection tool Reshaping line & curves: use the arrow tool to select a point and move it. Use the subselection tool to manipulate anchor points & Bezier curves. Adding/deleting anchor points: select anchor points on a Bezier curve with the subselection tool and apply delete. Reshaping fills: fills have outlines that can be manipulated with the pen, selection, and subselection tools. Resizing, rotating, or distorting objects: use the free-transform tool with options for changing scale, rotation, skewing, or distorting an object. Transform panel: Window>Design Panels>Transform. Use this panel for numeric-based transformations. Reorienting graphic elements: Modify>Transform> Rotate or Flip (horizontal or vertical) Modifying strokes: use ink bottle to change color of an existing stroke or use properties panel to change color or stroke style. Eraser tool: options include different brush sizes, shapes and mode (erase fills, erase lines, erase selected fills, erase inside). Modifying fill colors: use paint bucket to change the color of an exisitng fill. Creating solid colors: Window>design Panels> Color Mixer or Color Swatches panel Creating new gradients: create in the color mixer panel. Gradients can be linear or radial. Define the color for each pointer in the gradient panel by clicking on it and selecting a color form the pull-down menu or from the Mixer panel. Determine how wide each band of color will be with the slider. Add additional colors by clicking just below the gradient bar to add a new color pointer. Tip: gradients may also have transparency. Select the pointer color you wish to make transparent and with with Mixer panel change the alpha of the color to 0%. Applying gradients: use the paint bucket or paint a gradient fill with the brush tool (make sure Lock Fill modifier is unchecked in options). Modify the fill color's center point by clicking on a new point in the shape with the paintbucket. Fill-transform tool: modify the gradient fill's center point, size and placement (rotate the fill). Applying attributes of one graphic element to another: use Eyedropper tool and click it on the fill you want to copy. The tool will change to the Paint Bucket icon and can used to fill another shape. Converting lines to fills: Modify> Shape> Convert Lines to Fills Expand fill: Modify> Shape> Expand Fill Soften fill edges: creates a nice vector-based blurred effect to objects. Modify> Shape> Soften Edges Complex Graphics On A Single Layer (Chapter 4) Intersecting lines: drawing lines over existing lines will segment the line underneath. Intersecting lines & fills: drawing lines over existing fills will segment the shape underneath. Interacting shapes: a new fill of using same color will create a new shape. If the fills are different colors, the second one replaces the first in new areas that overlap. Grouping objects: group objects are no longer individually editable and stop interacting with other objects on the same layer. Modify >Group or command key + G. Note: to edit individual strokes or fills included in a group, you must double click the grouped object to access the group's timeline. Repositioning grouped objects: you can move, transform (scale, rotate & skew) a group of objects as a whole with the Free-Transform tool or panel. Editing grouped objects: to edit individual strokes or fills included in a grouped object, you must double click the grouped object to access the its timeline. Note: once grouped, the Paint Bucket or Pencil tools will not be effective unless you access its timeline. Note: return to Document Editing mode by clicking on scene name at the top left of the document menu or Edit>Edit all. Stacking order: changes the stacking order a grouped object. Modify> Arrange menu (bring to front, bring forward, send backward, send to back). Aligning elements: Window>Design Panels> Align Panel Complex Paint Brush modes: options include paint normal, paint fills, paint behind, paint selection, paint inside. Applying gradients to multipart shapes: use the paint bucket w/ Lock Fill Modifier deselected to apply a gradient to each shape separately; select Lock Fill Modifier to apply one gradient across multiple shapes. Complex Eraser Modes: options include erase normal, erase fills, erase lines, erase selected fills, erase inside.

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