03.+The+Basics

=The Basics= • Identify the basic parts of the Flash interface • use the timeline and keyframes • use layers to create more complex frame-by-frame animations. • create and use drawing tools • use the Free Transform tool.
 * Objectives:**


 * 1.1 The Stage.** Open Flash. At the start-up screen, create a new Flash File (ActionScript 3.0) Document. Your screen should look something like the one below. The large white rectangle in is called the "Stage." You normally do all your drawing on the stage though you can also use the gray area around the stage as well.


 * 1.2 The Properties Panel**. On the right of the screen is the properties panel. When the stage is selected (as it should be now since there's nothing else to be selected), you can use the properties panel to change the size of the stage and its background color. You can other things here but some of that comes later.

As we walk through some examples in class, here is the basic information that you need to understand. • Shapes are composed of strokes and fills. • The stroke generally refers to the outline of a shape. • The fill is the generally the interior of a shape. • Some shapes can be merged together if they are on the same layer. • The Rectangle Primitive and Oval Primitive tools are used to draw rectangles and ovals that are considered single objects and will NOT merge with other objects on the same layer. • The Rectangle, Oval, and PolyStar tools create shapes that can be merged together. • There are three ways to select something on the stage: o the selection tool (our usual way to select an entire shape), o the sub selection tool (if we need to edit the points that define the strokeo the lasso tool (if we want to select all or part of a shape). • The Free Transform tool is very useful for resizing, rotating, and distorting objects. • The Line, Pencil, Pen, and Brush tools can all be used to draw the outline of a shape. In general, if you need straight lines use the Line or Pen tools. Otherwise, use the Pencil or Brush tools. To view the house as it would appear in a web page, go to the Control menu and select “Test Movie” or hit the Ctrl + Enter keys. Exercise B. Trees Draw trees on a new layer. Get crazy and add a sidewalk and a mailbox.
 * 1.3 Drawing Tools.**
 * Exercise A.** Draw a house.

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