Flash Inserting Key Frames

Flash 5 | Inserting Key Frames

Inserting Key Frames

Now we are going to cause the yellow circle to move from one point to another on the stage. To do that we need designate some frames in the timeline over which the animation will take place. Notice that on the timeline in Layer 1 (there should be only one layer unless you've inadvertently added another layer). You will see that there is a dot or period inside the frame . That dot means that frame is a key frame. Key frames are the frames that mark where actions begins and ends on the timeline.
In our example we already have key frame in Frame 1. To add a key frame where the action stops. Go to Frame 50 and click with your mouse. Note how the frame is highlighted in black, and then go to the Main Menu and pulldown the "Insert" and "Key Frame". Note how the Frame 50 is now marked as a key frame also.

However we are not done yet. We also have to tell our symbol (the yellow circle) that we want it to travel across the stage. To do this, we must use the Select tool (the arrow) and drag the yellow circle and position it to where we want it to be at Frame 50.
Note how the frames between Frame 1 and Frame 50 have been replaced with a solid gray bar. The great thing about Flash is that you can automatically make it so the yellow circle travels from Frame 1 to Frame 50 by issuing the "motion tween" command.
This is simple. Move the mouse to anyplace on the gray bar and right-click with your mouse and highlight "Create Motion Tween."

The bar between Frame 1 and Frame 50 now has a directional arrow.

This indicates that tweening has been applied between the two frames.

Testing the Tween

Now, we can test our tween. Under "Control" in the main menu, select "Test Movie." If you have done everything correctly, the yellow circle should move across the stage. That is pretty impressive, isn't it! If it doesn't work, go back over the previous steps and be certain that you followed them exactly. Once you get the hang of it, animation with Flash is not hard, but you must do each step correctly for the tween to work. Save your work before proceeding to the next step.


			Flash 5 \| Inserting Key Frames
		Inserting Key Frames Now we are going to cause the yellow circle to move from one point to another on the stage. To do that we need designate some frames in the timeline over which the animation will take place. Notice that on the timeline in Layer 1 (there should be only one layer unless you've inadvertently added another layer). You will see that there is a dot or period inside the frame . That dot means that frame is a key frame. Key frames are the frames that mark where actions begins and ends on the timeline. In our example we already have key frame in Frame 1. To add a key frame where the action stops. Go to Frame 50 and click with your mouse. Note how the frame is highlighted in black, and then go to the Main Menu and pulldown the "Insert" and "Key Frame". Note how the Frame 50 is now marked as a key frame also. However we are not done yet. We also have to tell our symbol (the yellow circle) that we want it to travel across the stage. To do this, we must use the Select tool (the arrow) and drag the yellow circle and position it to where we want it to be at Frame 50. Note how the frames between Frame 1 and Frame 50 have been replaced with a solid gray bar. The great thing about Flash is that you can automatically make it so the yellow circle travels from Frame 1 to Frame 50 by issuing the "motion tween" command. This is simple. Move the mouse to anyplace on the gray bar and right-click with your mouse and highlight "Create Motion Tween." The bar between Frame 1 and Frame 50 now has a directional arrow. This indicates that tweening has been applied between the two frames. Testing the Tween Now, we can test our tween. Under "Control" in the main menu, select "Test Movie." If you have done everything correctly, the yellow circle should move across the stage. That is pretty impressive, isn't it! If it doesn't work, go back over the previous steps and be certain that you followed them exactly. Once you get the hang of it, animation with Flash is not hard, but you must do each step correctly for the tween to work. Save your work before proceeding to the next step.