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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Symbol Types
Symbol icons
Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. Understanding Transformation and Registration Points
Adobe Flash Professional CS5 – Illustrated

17. 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

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

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

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

21. 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

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

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

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

25. 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

26. 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

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

28. 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

29. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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