Flash for Beginners - Using Arrow Tool for Flash MX, MX 2004 and Flash 8

Arrow tool is a basic yet essential tool in flash authoring environment. The most basic used of arrow tool in flash authoring tool is to select, move, enlarge and shorten an object around the stage. Besides this functionality, flash arrow tool can be used to reshape an object. In this flash for beginners guide, flash arrow tool used to reshape a fills (object) will be discussed.

Flash arrow tool has four modes as shown in figure below

Today, we shall see how the two modes: curved mode and corner mode can do for us.

Corner Mode Flash Arrow Tool

When an arrow works in the corner mode, depending on what kind of object we are working with, we can perform various tasks. If the object is a single line or curved line, arrow tool in corner mode can shorten, lengthen your line or reposition the end point of your line.

If the object we work on is a rigid shape i.e. rectangular, square, oval or any irregular shape, the arrow in corner mode is used to change the shape of the object in a straight and align kind of manner.

Curved Mode Flash Arrow Tool

Curved mode proved to be useful when we would like to reshape a straight line to be a curvature line and a straight rigid shape to something rounder. In order to test this curved mode, used the same rectangular above and move your mouse to the center of one of the side until the arrow tool turns into a curved mode. Upon when, you click and drag. Voila, you have created a round kind of shape from a rigid rectangular shape.

If you have read thus far, I'd like to thank you and hope you have found this flash basic for beginners series to be useful.