Controlling File Size in Flash Animations, Part 1

Step 1: Create and Draw Leaf

Create a new Flash Document and save it to the directory of your choice. Using the Pen (P) or Pencil (Y) tool, draw a leaf that's similar in shape to the leaf in the illustration below.

Step 2: Add a Gradient and Delete Stroke

Now we'll add a radial gradient fill and delete the stroke. Select the Paint Bucket tool (K) in the Tools panel. In the Color Mixer panel (Window>Color Mixer), select Radial for the Type. Click the gradient color stop on the right, and enter the following settings: R:14, G:47, and B:4. Click the gradient color stop on the left, and enter the following settings: R:133, G:236, and B:87. Click the Paint Bucket inside the leaf to apply the gradient.

Press V to switch to the Selection tool. Deselect the leaf by clicking on the Stage. Next, remove the stroke by clicking on the Stroke and pressing the Delete key (PC: Backspace key).

Select the Gradient Transform tool (F) then click on the leaf to select the gradient. Use the control points to modify the gradient so there's a highlight where the leaf curves.

Step 3: Create Symbols

Control-click (PC: Right-click) on the leaf, and then choose Convert to Symbol from the contextual menu. In the Convert to Symbol dialog, enter "green leaf" for the Name. Select Movie Clip for the Type, and click OK.

Now we'll duplicate the symbol to create the flower petals. In the Library panel (Window>Library), Control-click (PC: Right-click) on the "green leaf" Symbol. Choose Duplicate from the contextual menu. In the Duplicate Symbol dialog, enter "flower petal" for the Name, and click OK.

Step 4: Edit the Symbol's Gradient

Double-click the "flower petal" Symbol in the Library. Click inside the shape with the Selection tool to select the fill. Open the Color Mixer panel. Click the dark green color stop on the right, and enter the following settings: R:50, G:5, and B:1. Click the light green color stop on the left, and enter the following settings: R:247, G:78, and B:60.

Step 5 : Change the Pivot Point and Convert to Symbol

Click the Scene 1 button at the top of the Timeline. Delete the green leaf on the Stage. Drag an Instance of the flower petal from the Library panel onto the Stage. Select the Free Transform tool (Q) and click on the flower petal to select it. Now, click-and-drag the white circle in the center of the flower petal to the left tip of the petal. This is the pivot point for the petal.

Double-click directly on the layer name "Layer 1" to the left of the Timeline and rename it "flower." Select the flower petal. Control-click (PC: Right-click), and then choose Convert to Symbol from the contextual menu. In the Convert to Symbol dialog enter "flower" for the name and select Movie Clip for the Type. Click OK.

Step 6 : Duplicate the Petal

Double-click the Instance of the flower Symbol on the Stage with the Selection tool to edit its Timeline. Select the Instance of the flower petal. Press Command-D (PC: Control-D) seven times. You should have eight Instances of the flower petal on the Stage. Choose Edit>Select All. Control-click (PC: Right-click) on the top petal and then choose Distribute to Layers from the contextual menu. Each petal will automatically be placed on its own layer and Layer 1 will be empty. Rename Layer 1 "actions."

Step 7 : Create a Flower

Select the top flower petal with the Free Transform tool. Choose Modify>Transform>Flip Horizontal. Move the Free Transform tool near the lower-left corner handle. When the cursor changes to a circular arrow, click-and-drag down and to the right to rotate the petal. Select the next petal and choose Modify>Transform>Flip Vertical. Rotate the petal down and to the left. Continue adjusting the petals until you have the petals arranged as shown in the illustration.

Step 8 : Duplicate and Swap

Now it's time to have some fun. Duplicate the flower Symbol in the Library. Name it "flower build," and click OK. Click the Scene 1 button at the top of the Timeline. Control-click (PC: Right-click) on the flower on the Stage then choose Swap Symbol from the contextual menu. In the Swap Symbol dialog, select flower build and click OK. Scale the Instance with the Free Transform tool so that it doesn't take up all of the Stage. Double-click the Instance to edit its Timeline.

Step 9 : Add Animation

Select frame 20 in the actions layer. Hold the Shift key down and click in frame 20 of the bottom flower petal layer. Press F6 to add a keyframe. Move the Playback head to frame 1. Make sure all of the petals are still selected. Press Command-K (PC: Control-K) to open the Align panel. Click the To Stage button, and then click Align Vertical Center button. Drag the petals to the bottom of the Stage. Arrange the petals at the bottom of the Stage so that they look scattered. You may want to use the Free Transform tool to rotate several of the petals so that they look as though they're lying on the ground. Select frame 1 in all of the flower petal layers. Control-click (PC: Right-click) on one of the selected frames, and then choose Create Motion Tween from the contextual menu.

Step 10 : Adjust the Speed

Click the Stage then press Return (PC: Enter) to see the animation. Not bad, but it would be much more interesting if our petals didn't all move at the same speed. We can take care of that by staggering the ending keyframes. Select the keyframe in frame 20 of the top flower petal layer by clicking on it. Now click-and-drag the keyframe to frame 5 then release the mouse button. Use this method to stagger the rest of the keyframes.

Step 11 : Make the Center Grow

Click the Insert Layer icon to create a new layer and drag it below the actions layer. Rename the new layer "flower center." Insert a keyframe in frame 20. Drag an Instance of the flower Symbol onto the Stage. Use the Free Transform tool to scale the Instance down so that it fits in the center of the flower. Select frame 25 in all of the layers. Press F5 to extend the Timeline to frame 25. Insert a keyframe in frame 25 of the flower center layer. Move the Playback head to Frame 20. Use the Free Transform tool to scale down the Instance of the smaller center flower again. Control-click (PC: Right-click) frame 20, and then choose Create Motion Tween from the contextual menu.

Step 12 : Stop the Animation

Insert a keyframe in frame 25 of the actions layer. Choose Window>Actions to open the ActionScript Editor. Expand Global Functions then Timeline Control on the left. Double-click stop to add the stop action. Close the Editor. Click the Scene 1 button to return to the main Timeline. Choose Control>Test Movie to see the results. If you'd like the petals to build the flower more slowly, open up the flower build Symbol and insert additional frames in all of the layers. Start by selecting frames 1–4 in all of the layers. Control-click (PC: Right-click) and choose Insert Frame. Continue testing and inserting frames until you're satisfied with the animation.

In part 2, we'll add the stem and leaves to the flower to create the final animation.

Click to view

Courtesy of Layers magazine.