QuickTips Index

Flash Tip: Using Markers
Markers? If you're thinking sharpies, you're a bit off.

Flash Tip: Accessing Document Properties from the Timeline
FLash is chock full of nifty little shortcuts - including ones that aren't so obvious. Did you know that you could access the document properties window from the timeline?

Flash Tip: Changing Default Font Mapping
What does it mean to change the default font mapping in Flash?

Flash Tip: Tabbed Timeline Browsing
A fun feature of Flash is tabbed timeline browsing.

Flash Tip: Duplicate Window
In Flash you can create one or more duplicates of the current window / open project, and keep the various duplicates focused on different work areas.

Flash Tip: Floating / Detaching the Timeline
The Flash timeline can be moved to various locations - docked to either side, or floated as a separate window over the general working area.

Flash Tip: Switching Color Modes Between RGB and HSB
Most don't even know the difference between RGB and HSB, let alone that you have an option to switch between the color palettes in Flash.

Flash Tip: Shape Tweening Expanded: Controlling Hue
Create a fading gradient effect using shape tweens.

Flash Tip: Shape Tweening Expanded: Controlling Alpha
Use shape tweens to create a fading opacity effect.

Flash Tip: Flash vs. Flash Player - What's the Difference?
When referring to "Flash", sometimes it can be a little unclear what we're referring to--the Flash software, or the Flash player.

Flash Tip: SWF vs. Video Publishing for Large Content
Can publishing Flash movies in video format save space and lower filesize?

Flash Tip: Embedding Your SWF in a Web Page
If you're publishing for the web, you'll need to be able to insert your SWF file into your website, right? Here's a quick guide that will help you figure out how.

Flash Tip: Animated GIF vs. SWF Publishing for Small Content
While Flash SWFs are considered one of the more advanced methods for publishing animated and streaming content to the web, there are times when using an animated GIF for smaller, shorter animations would be more to your advantage.

Flash Tip: Publishing In Different Versions of Flash Player
Did you know that you don't have to, by default, publish your SWF files in the latest version of Flash player supported by your software? In fact, in Flash MX, you can publish in any version from Flash 1 to the most recent version supported by your version of Flash MX.

Flash Tip: Motion Tweening Expanded: Easing
Another way to control your Flash motion tweens is through an option called Easing.

Flash Tip: Motion Tweening Expanded: Rotation
In the we covered motion tweening as a basic "Point A to Point B" process but you can also use motion tweens to rotate your symbols.

Flash Tip: Tools of the Trade: Drawing in Flash With a Graphics Tablet
If you've been working in Flash for any period of time, by now you've probably realized that mouse-drawing anything beyond a basic pre-defined shape can be pretty time-consuming, and pretty difficult, if not downright impossible (and maddening). I'd recommend getting a graphics tablet.

Flash Tip: Onion-Skinning Animation
Frame-by-frame animation can be difficult when you're working on one frame at a time with no reference for the previous or next frames. Flash has a solution for this dilemma--known as onion-skinning, an option that you can turn on that shows a range of frames both before and after your current frame.

Flash Tip: Alternate Website for Non-Flash Users
While designing a website in Flash, it's easy to assume that your viewers will not have some version of the Macromedia Flash player. However, you may find that a large percentage of your users either have an older version of the Flash player or none at all. For these users, it's helpful to have a non-Flash version of your website available.