StepByStep Index - page 4
Deconstructing the Paint Application II: The Brush Tool & the Flash Drawing API
The second tool that we're going to look at, the Brush Tool, will introduce you to the Flash Drawing API and a function called createEmptyMovieClip.
Deconstructing the Paint Application VII: The Text Tool
The last drawing tool on the paint application is the text tool, which turns the entire application canvas into an input text field.
Deconstructing the Paint Application VI: The Gradient Rectangle Tool
The gradient rectangle tool uses begingradientfill, matrices, and arrays to create a two-color gradient with user-specified colors and angle.
Deconstructing the Paint Application V: The RectangleTool
Use connecting lineTos to create closed rectangular shapes with solid fills defined by beginFill() and endFill().
Flash Fortune-Teller/Random Sentence Generator with User Input
Similar to the Magic 8-ball but building on the techniques used, you can create a random sentence generator that can take user-input words and string them together into funny sentences.
Deconstructing the Paint Application IV: The Oval Tool
Using curveTo, beginFill, and endFill, add the functionality to draw solid-fill circles to the Flash paint application.
Deconstructing the Paint Application III: The Line Tool
This lesson uses the previously explained functions of the Flash Drawing API along with another command called clear() to create a tool to draw straight lines with a custom crosshair cursor and line tracker.
Five Basic ActionScripting Mistakes and How to Fix Them
All it takes is a little missing punctuation or a typo to send your Actionscript down the FUBAR creek--and even with the syntax checker, it can take hours to ferret the exact problem out of hundreds of lines of code. Here are the five mistakes that I make the most often, and that I try to remain vigilant for while coding so I can spend less time troubleshooting them later.
Applying Transformations to Dynamic Text with Embedded Fonts
If you're transforming dynamic text, you'll run up against the problem of the magically disappearing text. While there's nothing magical about the irritation that goes with it, there is, at least, an easy fix.
Deconstructing the Paint Application I: Setup, Skins, Canvas Color, Help File
For the first installment in the series of lessons on deconstruction the oekaki/paint application, we're going to look at the basic setup, how to switch the skins out, how to change the canvas color, and how to create the help file.
Combining Flash Falling Snow with wMode for a Wintery Website
Take what you've learned in the lessons on wMode transparency and random functions for falling snow, and combine them to add a layer of Flash snow on top of the HTML content of your website without diminishing your content's accessibility.
Custom Christmas Tree Ornaments that Move with Drag & Drop or Arrow Keypresses
With Flash, you can enhance user interactivity by creating objects - such as the ornaments on this "Decorate Your Own Tree" game - that can be moved not only by dragging them with the mouse, but by directing them with keypresses to move them up, down, left, or right.
Creating Random Motion with Flash ActionScripts and Math.random
Use Math.random to actionscript random animation with an erratic motion path that still operates within set parameters.
Animated Flash Dropdown Menu II: Making Content Clickable
If you're having problem making your basic dropdown menu clickable, then a few minor adjustments and a couple of controller movie clips should do the trick.
Creating Tabbed Content in Flash with swapDepths
Using swapDepths in Flash to change the depth of your tabbed content windows, you can create an intuitive and stylish content display with easy navigation.
Flash Halloween Trivia Quiz
Use if statements and variables to create a trivia quiz that calculates the score as you go based on right or wrong answers, and determines "pass" or "fail" based on meeting a minimum value.
Easiest Flash PreLoader Ever
Well, it may not be the very easiest preloader on the face of the earth, but it's certainly easy enough that just about anyone could do it - requiring no hidden tricks, no special variables, no tricky little intricacies. Just three frames, two if statements, and one button, and you're on your way to a preloader that you can finish in ten minutes or less.
Flash Halloween Costume Dress-Up Doll II: Controls & Scripting
Take the next step to making the Halloween costume doll work by setting up the menu and learning how to hide and unhide the various parts when their menu elements are clicked.
Flash “Coloring Book” with setRGB
Use setRGB to create a coloring-book application that allows users to select colors from a preset palette and fill pre-defined areas with the hue of their choice, with just a single click.
Changing Alpha by Degrees with setProperty
Using setProperty to change the value of a shape's properties can be done using variables to control those properties in progressive degrees, rather than by setting them as arbitrary values. This example uses the _alpha property to demonstrate.
Using Masks for an Iris Effect
Simulate the effect of a camera's iris diaphragm using Flash's mask layers and a shape tween.
Shape Tweening a Mask
Apply shape tweens to your masks to make them change shape and reveal different areas of your Flash movie.
Motion Tweening a Mask
You can use motion tweens on the objects on a mask layer just as you would on any other Flash symbol.
ActionScripting Basics: Mouse.hide ( ) and Mouse.show ( )
You can conceal and reveal the default mouse cursor on the Flash stage, with an easy single-line Actionscript.
Coloring Detailed Flash Artwork
You don't have to restrict your Flash artwork to solid colors and blocked shadows just because you're working in an animation program; digital animation has removed many of the limitations involved in hand-painted animation, and you'd be surprised at how easy it is to first color in detailed artwork...and then animate it afterwards.