GDT 260 Animation for the Web: Winter 2002
2.12.2002
Shape Tweening
- Keyframe - in between frames - keyframe
- One shape tween per layer
- Only one type of tween per layer in one set of frames
- Work on shapes only, not groups or symbols
- Modify > Break Apart if necessary
Text Tweens
- Text must be broken down into shapes; use Modify > Break Apart; works just like any other shape
- Generally, text needs to be legible before it changes shape (or after it becomes text); structure is: keyframe - static frames - keyframe - tween - keyframe
Color in Shape Tweens
Simply change the color between the keyframes, Flash will gradually change from one color to the next
Tween Modifiers
- Easing
- Easing in: accelerating
- Easign out: decelerating
- Blend
- Distributive: intermediate shapes are smooth, curvey
- Angular: intermediate shapes have corners and straight lines preserved
Shape Hints
Normally, Flash calculates shape tweens in the most efficient way possible, which yields strange results sometimes.
Shape hints indicate that a specific part of the original shape should become a specific part of the transformed shape.
Since shape hints force Flash to use a less efficient tween, the processor can get bogged down pretty quickly.
Adding Shape Hints
Shape hints must be added at either the intial or the last keyframe. They must be individually positioned at each keyframe. There can be up to 26 hints per tween (each is labelled with a letter). Use as few shape hints as possible to achieve the desired effect.
- Select your first keyframe
- Modify > Ttransform > Add Shape Hint
- Position on the first keyframe
- Go to the final keyframe and position the hint. You'll see that it becomes green, and that the hint on the first keyframe is now yellow. The color change indicates that both hints are successfully added.
Removing Shape Hints
To remove one, drag off stage. To remove all, Modify > Transform > Remove All Hints
