Flash Guides and Masks

Guides and Masks give you more flexibility with Flash animation. Here are the simple steps to use these tools.

Guides:

  1. Draw a simple curved line using the line tool.
  2. Double click on the icon to the right of the layer's name. This should bring up the Layer Property box. Click the radio button Guide.
  3. Create a new layer using the plus key at the bottom of the layers box.
  4. In this layer draw a simple shape. Turn this shape into a symbol- a Movie Clip is best.
  5. Double click on the icon to the right of the layer's name. This should bring up the Layer Property box. Click the radio button Guided.
  6. Now both layers should have different symbols next to their names. This signifies that they are guide and guided layers. The guide layer is the layer that directs the motion and the guided layer follows this motion. By creating a curved line, you will have you object follow this curved path.
  7. Create a final key frame for each layer using the F6 button on frame 30.
  8. Click on frame 1 of your Guided layer. In frame 1 for your Guided Layer click on your object and place it at the beginning of the Guide layer's line. Think of this as the object's start point for movement. You want to line the object using a little circle that appears in the center of it. Once you do this it will make more sense.
  9. Click on frame 30. In frame 30 for your Guided layer place your object at the end of the Guide Layer line.
  10. Now click back on frame 1. Double click this frame and the Frame Properties box will open up. Select Motion Tween.

Masks

Masks cover up part of your animation. They can be animated or remain still.

  1. To create a mask, draw a shape or several on one layer. This will serve as your mask but it actually masks the space you do not draw on. Think of it as cuts in a piece of paper that you have put over top of Layer 2.
  2. Double click the layer property icon and select the radio button Mask.
  3. Create Layer 2
  4. Draw an object on it.
  5. Test your movie.

Tip: Try animating your mask.

Your mask can be grouped or just a shape. It can be moved using motion or shape tween, but the Alpha level cannot be adjusted.