Flash CS3: The Missing Manual

Creating Original Artwork

Before you can create an animation, you have to have some drawings to animate. You start with one drawing and then create a bunch more (often by altering the first drawing slightly). For example, if you want to create an animation showing a raccoon marching in place, you need to draw a picture of a raccoon standing still; another picture of the same raccoon lifting its left foot; and still more pictures showing the raccoon putting its left foot down, lifting its right foot, and so on. Put them all together using Flash's Timeline (Chapter 3) and you've got yourself an animation.

Note

You're not limited to using your own drawings. Flash lets you import, or pull in, existing drawings and photos—and even sound clips and video clips. Incorporating Graphics shows you how to import files.

This section shows you how to use basic Flash tools to create a simple stick person drawing. You'll see the Line, Pencil, Pen, Brush, and shape tools (Oval, Rectangle, and PolyStar) in action, and learn the differences among them (some are better for creating certain effects than others). You'll also find out how to add color to a Flash drawing and erase your mistakes.

Drawing and Painting with Tools

One of the true beauties of creating digital artwork—besides not having to clean up a mess of paint spatters and pencil shavings—is that you don't have to track down your art supplies: the one pen that feels good in your hand, the right kind of paper, the sable brush that still smells ...