Adobe FlashProfessional CS5 – Illustrated Unit C: Using Symbols and the Library Panel

Objectives Understand symbols and instances Understand the Library panel Create a symbol Add instances to the Stage Edit an instance Edit a symbol Organize the Library panel Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding Symbols and Instances Copy of an object that can be reused many times while minimizing file size Convert existing objects to a symbol or create a new one Stored and managed on the Library panel A copied symbol Create by dragging a symbol from Library to Stage Stored and managed on the Stage Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Symbol Types Symbol icons Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding Symbols and Instances Viewing a symbol and its instances Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Symbol Types Using the Convert to Symbol dialog box to create a symbol Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

How Symbols Help Reduce File Size Only the symbol on the Library panel contributes to document’s file size, no matter how many instances you create Flash adds instance’s properties to the file; amount of actual data added is minor Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Using the Break Apart Command Break apart text Divide a word into its individual characters Break apart a character Convert it to an editable path Break apart a bitmap Modify individual segments of the image Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding the Library Panel Manage symbols and media elements in current document Access libraries in other open documents Create, edit, preview, and organize symbols Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Using the Library Panel Management tool for organizing symbols and other elements Access libraries from other open documents Share element or symbol from another movie Sample libraries (Common Libraries) Access preset buttons and sounds Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Using the Library Panel Viewing symbols in the Library Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Naming Symbols on the Library Panel Follow an effective naming convention Convenience and accuracy Lowercase only Acceptable: hyphens and underscores Not acceptable: spaces, tabs, brackets, slashes, punctuation, or characters above number keys Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding Hyphens and Underscores in Names Flash sees hyphens as spaces separating words; sorts by first word Flash sees underscores as being part of the word; sorts entire name string If consistent in use of underscores or hyphens List will be in alphabetical order If alternating use of underscores and hyphens List will not be in alphabetical order because Flash sorts underscores first Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding Hyphens and Underscores in Names Comparing symbol names with underscores and hyphens Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding Transformation and Registration Points Transformation point Orients object every time it is transformed or animated Registration point Default point; positions object on the Stage Crucial when using ActionScript to move instances Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding Transformation and Registration Points Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Creating a Symbol Different ways Convert an existing object (most common way) Create a new symbol Add a preset symbol (buttons and sounds, primarily) from Common Libraries Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Creating a Symbol Convert to Symbol dialog box Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Creating a Symbol Viewing a new symbol in the Library panel Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Creating a Symbol Viewing instance properties Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Adding Instances to the Stage Drag symbol’s preview thumbnail or symbol name on the Library panel to the Stage Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Adding Instances to the Stage Adding a second instance to a layer Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Adding Instances to the Stage Positioning the waveFoam_gr instance Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Adding Instances to the Stage Constructing an element using multiple instances Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding the Elements and Principles of Design Elements of Design Basic ingredients that the artist uses separately or in combination to produce artistic imagery Principles of Design Determine how the Elements of Design are used in a composition Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Editing an Instance Different ways Use Properties panel and Transform panel Select options for the Free Transform Tool Change color of an instance by applying an effect to it on the Properties panel Each instance can have individual coloring; set in Color Effect section (brightness, tint, transparency, advanced color options) Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Editing an Instance Selecting a fill Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Understanding RGB Color Default color model Additive primary colors of light Red, green, blue Combine to produce other colors Additive primary colors Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Editing a Symbol Different ways Use Edit menu (provides three ways) Double-click an instance on Stage or on Library panel to open it for editing Changes affect every instance automatically Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Editing a Symbol Edit symbol commands Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Editing a Symbol Editing a symbol in place Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Editing a Symbol Editing color in a symbol Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Organizing the Library Panel Create folders Sort elements in ascending or descending order Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Organizing the Library Panel Viewing columns in the Library panel Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Organizing the Library Panel Creating a folder in the Library panel Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Organizing the Library Panel Viewing symbols in a folder Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

Grouping and Ungrouping Objects Combine multiple shapes to form single object Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated