Water reflection effect

Date: 4.5.2009, 19:51    Total views: 17576

Using this thoroughly explained, detailed flash lesson, I will explain to you how to create advanced water reflection effect using a mask technique and some special flash tips and tricks. You can use this animation for some flash banner, or some animation. You don't have to use action script code to make this lesson. Using this lesson, you will also learn how to import any image into a flash stage, how to animate it, convert any image into a Movie Clip Symbol, enlarge it using a Free Transform Tool (Q), how to convert any layer into a mask and much much more. Let's go!

Example:



Step 1

First, save the image below!





Step 2

Create a new flash document. Press Ctrl+J key on the keyboard (Document Properties) and set the width of your document to 400 pixels and the height to 300 pixels. Select any color as background color. Set your Flash movie's frame rate to 22 and click ok.



Step 3

Call the current layer image. Double-click on its default name (Layer 1) to change it. Press Enter once you have typed in the new name!

Step 4

Choose now File > Import > Import to stage (Ctrl+R) and import the image that you just saved in step 1 into a flash stage. While the image is still selected, go to the Align Panel (Ctrl+K) and do the following:

1. Make sure that the Align/Distribute to Stage button is turned on,
2. Click on the Align horizontal center button and
3. Click the Align vertical center button.



Step 5

Click now on frame 35 and hit F5 key.

Step 6

Go back now on the first frame and hit Ctrl+C key (Copy). After that, create a new layer above the layer image and name it image again. After that, click on the first frame of layer image again and hit Ctrl+Shift+V key (Paste in Place).

Step 7

While the image that you just copied and pasted is still selected, hit F8 key (Conver to Symbol) to convert it into a Movie Clip Symbol.



Step 8

Click now on frame 15, 20 and 35 and hit F6 key.

Step 9

While you're still on frame 35, select the Free Transform Tool (Q), press and hold down Shift key and enlarge image like it is shown on the picture below!





Step 10

After that, select the Selection Tool (V) and click once on the image to select it. After that, go to the Properties Panel (Ctrl+F3) below the stage. On the right, you will see the Color menu. Select Alpha in it and put it down to 0%.



Step 11

Go back now on the first frame, select again the Free Transform Tool (Q), press and hold down Shift key and decrease image like it is shown on the picture below!





Step 12

After that, select the Selection Tool (V), click once on the image that you just decreased and repeat step 10.

Step 13

Right-click anywhere on the gray area between frame 1 and 15 and frame 20 and 35 on the timeline and choose Create Motion Tween from the menu that appears.



Step 14

Create a new layer above the layer image again and name it mask.

Step 15

Select now the mask layer. After that, select the Rectangle Tool (R) and draw a shapes and place it on the position like it is shown on the picture below!



Step 16

Click now on frame 35 and hit F6 key. While you're still on frame 35, place the shapes on the position like it is shown on the picture below!



Step 17

Right-click anywhere on the gray area between frame 1 and 35  on the timeline and choose Create Shape Tween from the menu that appears.



Step 18

Select mask layer and convert it to a mask by right-clicking on the mask layer and selecting Mask. See the picture below.



Test your move now (Ctrl+Enter).

We're done!

Have a nice day!

Download source file (.fla)