- FLASH TUTORIALS | MULTIMEDIA | London Metropolitan University | Pen Lister | penworks@gmail.com
Symbols:
General Information:
Symbols are the key elements that Flash uses. When in doubt, use a symbol. Symbols have the ability to hold fancy properties and behaviours or actions, so converting your images or vector graphic drawings into symbols is usually a very good thing to do.> To make a symbol from scratch, press control, F8.
> To convert an item that already exists into a symbol, double click it to select it, then press F8.
> To work on a symbol while seeing it in position on the stage, double click it.
You will see from Image 3 that the symbol window allows for a choice of three main types of symbol: Movie Clip, Button or Graphic. Read more below to find out the difference between each type of symbol, and what they can do.
- MOVIE CLIP
- BUTTON
- GRAPHIC
A Movie clip symbol is like a mini movie inside the main movie of the Flash file. It has a timeline and can have as many layers as you like. It can have behaviours attached to frames or symbols inside it, and is in all ways just like the main flash movie. Its just inside the main movie.
It can also be used by leaving it outside the main movie and calling it, but more about that later.
A Button symbol can be many things in a Flash movie. It can be just what it says - a button. But it can also be a way of triggering behaviours with the mouse of the user, by making 'invisible' button areas that make things happen when a mouse goes near them, or clicks on them etc. It is a way of making things happen interactively. A button symbol has layers, but doesnt have a timeline in the same way a movie clip has. It has 'UP', 'OVER', 'DOWN" and "HIT'. More about them later.
A Graphic symbol is much like a movie clip in that it has layers and time lines. But it is more used in the context of graphic layout and design. It can hold fancy image tonal behaviours like colour alteration or fading in and out. Its important if you want to move graphics about that they are symbols, so this is what to convert your design graphics to, if you want visual effects or stuff moving nicely.
Image 3
Image 3, as we have seen, shows the symbol window, where you name your symbol and select which type of symbol it is. It also shows the Library, a very important control window - you can see what's in your Library, and drag and drop symbols onto the stage, or into each other. You can also create folders to keep different types of symbols in, or symbols from each scene, so you don't get confused by what belongs where.TERMS: (slight repeat)
- Symbol
- Movie Clip, Button and Graphic symbols
- Symbol window
- Library
- Behaviours
- Properties
- Actions
- Wow, thats enough for now.....
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