Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Flash Project #11 -- Step-By-Step

We have some requests for step-by-step instructions for Flash Project #11.  I'll do my best, although a video tutorial would probably work better.


1. Open Adobe Flash
2. Create a new document: FILE > NEW > Flash File (ActionScript 2.0)
3. Create 3 Layers:  Pointer, Buttons, and Background
4. On the background layer, draw a background
5. On the pointer layer, draw a pointer
6. Select the pointer background layer (it will select the pointer)
7. Click Modify > Convert to Symbol > Movie Clip (name it Pointer)
8. Right-click the pointer symbol and select "Actions"
9. Enter the following ActionScript:

     onClipEvent (load) {
     Mouse.hide();
     startDrag(this, true);
     }
     onClipEvent(mouseMove){
     updateAfterEvent();
     }

10. Press CTRL+ENTER to test your movie
11. Draw a button
12. Convert the button to a symbol (a button, obviously)
13. Go out to Frame 10 and add a keyframe for each layer.
14. Draw a new "scene" on Frame 10
15. Right-click the first keyframe on any layer (black dot) and choose Actions
16. Enter the following ActionScript:  stop();
17. Right-click any layers last keyframe and choose Actions
18. Enter the following ActionScript:  stop();
19. Right-click the button and enter the following ActionScript:
     on (release) {
        gotoAndPlay(10);
     }
20. Test your movie (CTRL+ENTER)

Once your movie is working (i.e. It opens and stays until you click the button -- and then it goes to the next section and stays) you can begin adding some flair.  Add sound effects, improve your mouse pointer, insert some music, insert pictures, etc.