MindzleFlash Demos
Here are some of my flash demos. For freelance work/employment offers you can email me at amateur_artist07@yahoo.com. Thanks!
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Putting it all together: My First Interactive Flash
Now that we learned a little about the basics of drawings, simple animations and Symbols in Flash, we can put it all together to see how it all fits. Below is a link to My First Interactive Flash that used different graphics, buttons, movieclips and scenes.
Sadly, the hardisk containing this and my other flash practices and libraries crashed. All my data was lost! I was fortunate enough to have this file transferred into my Photobucket account. It know that it’s a bit slow coz it was saved at a low fps. Also, some texts are written in my native language so the story maybe not that clear.
A basic knowledge of Actionscripting is needed to make the buttons jump to a specific frame, movieclip or Scene.
Sadly, the hardisk containing this and my other flash practices and libraries crashed. All my data was lost! I was fortunate enough to have this file transferred into my Photobucket account. It know that it’s a bit slow coz it was saved at a low fps. Also, some texts are written in my native language so the story maybe not that clear.
A basic knowledge of Actionscripting is needed to make the buttons jump to a specific frame, movieclip or Scene.
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Layers, Frames, Keyframes, Timelines and Scenes
By now, some might be confused with the unfamiliar terms I have been using in my entries so I will try my best to clear them up.
Layers are fairly simple to understand since this concept is also used in other drawing programs. They act as separations in your drawings to help you place and arrange objects to know which is in on top of which. You can create separate layers for your foreground, character, background, etc. Although you can put each in a single layer it would be easier to make changes only on that layer that is affected. Also, it helps in identifying the parts of your animation making corrections and adjustments simple.
Frame-by-frame animation is the old school method of animation. This was done by putting a different image, each one slightly different from the other, onto each “frame”. Running these frames at a certain speed (fps) tricks the brain into seeing one continuous image or movement.
Keyframes are frames that hold “key” frames or “changed content.” Imagine a man just standing. To indicate movement you insert a keyframe and changed the man’s position as if he is about to walk. These two frames are keyframes since they contain changed or different content. Frames containing the same content are not keyframes.
In Flash, the Timeline holds the frames. You can view each individual frame or keyframe in the Timeline. The Timeline helps you see the order of how each frame of the animation will affect the next.
If you liken your animation or movie to a book, then the Timeline is the Table of Contents and the chapters are the Scenes. In your animation there could be lots of scenes. Dividing your animation into scenes lets you work on your animation in modules.
Layers are fairly simple to understand since this concept is also used in other drawing programs. They act as separations in your drawings to help you place and arrange objects to know which is in on top of which. You can create separate layers for your foreground, character, background, etc. Although you can put each in a single layer it would be easier to make changes only on that layer that is affected. Also, it helps in identifying the parts of your animation making corrections and adjustments simple.
Frame-by-frame animation is the old school method of animation. This was done by putting a different image, each one slightly different from the other, onto each “frame”. Running these frames at a certain speed (fps) tricks the brain into seeing one continuous image or movement.
Keyframes are frames that hold “key” frames or “changed content.” Imagine a man just standing. To indicate movement you insert a keyframe and changed the man’s position as if he is about to walk. These two frames are keyframes since they contain changed or different content. Frames containing the same content are not keyframes.
In Flash, the Timeline holds the frames. You can view each individual frame or keyframe in the Timeline. The Timeline helps you see the order of how each frame of the animation will affect the next.
If you liken your animation or movie to a book, then the Timeline is the Table of Contents and the chapters are the Scenes. In your animation there could be lots of scenes. Dividing your animation into scenes lets you work on your animation in modules.
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The Movieclip Symbol
The last type of Symbol is the movieclip. A movieclip can be likened to looping film clip or reel. I like to use movieclips for animated backgrounds and buttons. Movieclips can be made either from an object that you animate frame by frame, photos you imported to your Flash stage or maybe just a series of images.
Below are the three movieclips I used for the animated button example. It was made by using the Maria grouped object and animating each state of the button as separate movieclips. The Up/Blinking state was made by first using the Maria object and inserting frames/keyframes and drawings that slowly closed her eyes and then opened them up again. Timing was made by simply inserting repeating frames until it looked okay. I cut the relevant frames then clicked Insert, New Symbol and choose movieclip. I then pasted the frames into the Layer of the Timeline of that movieclip. The other states, Over/Smiling and Down/Rolling Eyes, were essentially made the same way[ Click here to read more ]
Below are the three movieclips I used for the animated button example. It was made by using the Maria grouped object and animating each state of the button as separate movieclips. The Up/Blinking state was made by first using the Maria object and inserting frames/keyframes and drawings that slowly closed her eyes and then opened them up again. Timing was made by simply inserting repeating frames until it looked okay. I cut the relevant frames then clicked Insert, New Symbol and choose movieclip. I then pasted the frames into the Layer of the Timeline of that movieclip. The other states, Over/Smiling and Down/Rolling Eyes, were essentially made the same way
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The Graphic Symbol
Actually, Graphic is the first type of symbol other than the button and movieclip. Graphics are static images from which you can make buttons or movieclips. Being a symbol, anything you do or change to a Graphic symbol affects every instance of it in any part of your Flash animation or file. If you don’t want this to happen you can either duplicate your Graphic Symbol or don’t declare that image/object as a Symbol.
You may ask, what is then the use of a Graphic Symbol? Well, it makes correcting your image in the entire animation simple. You do not have to change every image on every frame since a correction in an instance of that Graphic Symbol will affect the entire animation. Therefore, keep in mind to make objects a Symbol only if you want to use (or repeat) that image throughout the animation. Otherwise, just leave them as objects[ Click here to read more ]
You may ask, what is then the use of a Graphic Symbol? Well, it makes correcting your image in the entire animation simple. You do not have to change every image on every frame since a correction in an instance of that Graphic Symbol will affect the entire animation. Therefore, keep in mind to make objects a Symbol only if you want to use (or repeat) that image throughout the animation. Otherwise, just leave them as objects
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Animated Buttons
Designing your own buttons can be a lot of fun especially if the button states are animated. Animated buttons can be made simply by making movieclips. You can think of movieclips as repeating film strips. Making individual movieclips for the Up, Over and Down positions makes your buttons unique and dynamic. Imagine designing a button which is also a character!
Inserting movieclips into the different button states can be done by first converting the states into blank keyframes. This prepares the individual states to accept frames for your movieclips. I almost forgot the fourth state which is the Hit state. It is the active area wherein your mouse begins to interact with your button[ Click here to read more ]
Inserting movieclips into the different button states can be done by first converting the states into blank keyframes. This prepares the individual states to accept frames for your movieclips. I almost forgot the fourth state which is the Hit state. It is the active area wherein your mouse begins to interact with your button
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The Button Symbol
If you want some form of interactivity in your flash animations, you will definitely want to learn how to make and use buttons. Similar to those used in children’s computer learning games, buttons give your viewer an interface for choices or options. Buttons can be made to give visual indications such as changing color/form or perhaps perform pre-assigned tasks or actions when clicked such as playing a specific sound or movie clip. The button has three states Up, Over and Down. The Up position indicates the static position. Over is when your mouse goes over the button and the Down position for when the button is clicked. You can customize your button to indicate these states. Here are a few simple buttons available in Flash libraries.
Flash Buttons
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Flash Buttons
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Symbols and Objects
Note: As I have said before, I am not an expert. What I say here is my understanding of these concepts. I would appreciate any helpful insights from experienced Flash animators.
Initially, the difference between Objects and Symbols is not that apparent. But understanding these two basic concepts will help a lot when you start animating in Flash. Objects are anything you create. It can be a simple line, square or a combination of basic shapes to form a figure. Symbols are those assets such as buttons, graphic (static image) or movieclips in your Flash library. These symbols are templates from which copies or instances of these symbols can be repeated. To help identify these instances you should name them especially when you plan to use Actionscripts
[ Click here to read more ]
Initially, the difference between Objects and Symbols is not that apparent. But understanding these two basic concepts will help a lot when you start animating in Flash. Objects are anything you create. It can be a simple line, square or a combination of basic shapes to form a figure. Symbols are those assets such as buttons, graphic (static image) or movieclips in your Flash library. These symbols are templates from which copies or instances of these symbols can be repeated. To help identify these instances you should name them especially when you plan to use Actionscripts
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Simple Animations
Once you get a feel of the basic drawing techniques in Flash, the next logical step is to do simple animations. Of course, you must always consider what you want the movements to be before you draw objects. You must design objects to be flexible enough to incorporate these movements.
You can either draw simple figures at first to see the movements or draw the completely rendered object to minimize drawing time in between frames. For me, I like to keep it as simple as possible. No complex movements and colors including shadows. By using the gradient feature you can simulate a 3D effect on your animations. Just be careful in where you put your objects in the different layers[ Click here to read more ]
You can either draw simple figures at first to see the movements or draw the completely rendered object to minimize drawing time in between frames. For me, I like to keep it as simple as possible. No complex movements and colors including shadows. By using the gradient feature you can simulate a 3D effect on your animations. Just be careful in where you put your objects in the different layers
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Some Drawings in Flash
Professional Flash animators have no problem designing their characters directly on the computer. They had become experts in using Flash that drawing is just a piece of cake. On my part, I usually draw my characters first then trace them over using Flash. This ensures that I can at least get the dimensions correct. I only have a small monitor so I usually work at an image up close.
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Mazinger Z in Flash
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Getting Started: My Flash Practices
Drawing in Flash is quite different compared to other drawing programs. In Flash you manipulate an object to the desired shape you want. It is actually easier for me because I am only using a mouse. Flash is also capable of doing animations. Studying simple movements help me appreciate the creativity, patience, care and effort devoted by real animators in their work.
Studying all by my lonesome has some drawbacks. For one, I sometimes come to a wrong conclusion in understanding a particular concept. Also, techniques to make drawings and animations simpler and easier are learned the hard way. But through trial and error and a little bit of patience you can have a general idea of how everything fits together[ Click here to read more ]
Studying all by my lonesome has some drawbacks. For one, I sometimes come to a wrong conclusion in understanding a particular concept. Also, techniques to make drawings and animations simpler and easier are learned the hard way. But through trial and error and a little bit of patience you can have a general idea of how everything fits together
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Flash
This is a fairly recent pursuit, born from my renewed interest in drawing and cardboard models.
I wanted to learn 3D Modeling to help in designing my models but ended up trying to learn Flash due to financial constraints. I bought a book to understand the Flash basics. However, I do not have the vaguest clue how to use Action Scripts in Flash. I am still looking for a book on Action Scripts to study[ Click here to read more ]
I wanted to learn 3D Modeling to help in designing my models but ended up trying to learn Flash due to financial constraints. I bought a book to understand the Flash basics. However, I do not have the vaguest clue how to use Action Scripts in Flash. I am still looking for a book on Action Scripts to study
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