Animation Source Forums

Hey Guys, i just recently found out that Adobe Flash came with my CS4. I'm extremely excited to use it, but i'm afraid i don't know how I don't know how to animate in it, but i heard its extremely easy, but i'm not sure because i have no idea how to use it!
There are these options on the page when i open it, and this is what they say:
Create New
Flash File (Actionscript 3.0)
Flash File (Actionscript 2.0)
Flash File (Adobe AIR)
ActionScript File
ActionScript Communication File
Flash JavaScript File
Flash Project

So i don't know which to pick! Does it matter?
If anyone has any advice on using Flash CS4 or any older versions, let me know, or any tuts, it would help so much! Thanks!

I usually just pick either Action Script 2 or 3

I've got Flash CS3, I think it's basicly the same as CS4. It's kinda hard to explain, but I'll try. I do frame by frame animation, so that is what this is for. (for some reason I can't get my flash to open so this will be from memory)


Open Action Script 2 or 3 (those are what I use)

If you zoom out enough there should be a white box in the center of your workspace. Everything you draw in that box, called the stage, will show up in your animation and anything you draw on the parts around it won't. Above your workplace there should be a timeline, this shows each frame along with the length of your animation (timewise), and your layers are also listed here.

If you're going to have a background then make a background layer and either draw a background in (it would have to be very simple in flash) or you can get a more complex background that you made by importing it from Photoshop (I haven't done this much, and since I can't open my flash I can't give you the process for it).

Once you have a background, lock it by selecting the part next to it's layer name that has a lock above it.

Make sure the layer you plan to draw on (NOT the same as the background layer) is above your background layer in the layer list.

Use the brush or pencil tool to draw your first frame.

Once you make your first frame go up to your timeline. Each of the little rectangle things on the line is a frame in that layer. Right click on the next frame are and choose "create key frame". That will make the next frame.

Now, with the new frame selected, alter your drawing slightly (depending on how you want it to move) then make the next key frame and cotinue like that.
Note: Don't worry if the background disappears from the workspace in the new frames. At the end choose the background layer and make a keyframe at the end of your animaion. The background should be there throughtout the animation after that.


I hope that helps, I wish I could get my flash to open, so I could make sure I told you the right things.

Thank you guys! This helps alot i'll try these out later