Photo shape animation in flash

Date: 8.6.2009, 16:8    Total views: 10549

Using this thoroughly explained, detailed flash lesson, I will explain to you how to create advanced and attractive photo shape animation using the Shape Tween and some special flash tips and tricks. You can use this animation for any presentation, photo banner, flash header, or for some other flash elements. Using this lesson, you will also learn how to draw photo shapes, how to apply flash filters on any photo, how to animate any photo and much much more. This animation is so easy for create but in the same time very, very modern and useful. Let's start!

Example:



Step 1

First, save the photo below that we will use for this lesson.





Step 2

Create a new flash document. Press Ctrl+J key on the keyboard (Document Properties) and set the width of your document to 420 pixels and the height to 320 pixels. Select white color as background color. Set your Flash movie's frame rate to 30 and click ok.



Step 3

Call the current layer photo. 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 photo that you just saved in step 1 into a flash stage. While the photo 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

While the photo is still selected, hit F8 key (Convert to Symbol) to convert it into a Movie Clip Symbol.



Step 6

Click now on frame 50 and hit F6 key.

Step 7

Create a new layer above the layer photo and name it shape.

Step 8

Select the shape layer, lock photo layer and take the Rectangle Tool (R).

Step 9

In the Colors portion of the Tool panel, block the Stroke color by clicking on the little pencil icon and then on the small square with the red diagonal line. For Fill color choose any color and draw a rectangle shape about 26x26 px and place it on the position like it is shown on the picture below!



Step 10

Click now on frame 10 and hit F6 key. While you're still on frame 10, select the Free Transform Tool (Q) and make the shape below.



Step 11

Click now on frame 25 and hit F6 key. While you're still on frame 25, make the shape below.



Step 12

Click now on frame 40 and hit F6 key. After that,  make the shape below.



Step 13

Click now on frame 50 and hit F6 key. While you're still on frame 50, make the shape below.



Step 14

Right-click anywhere on the gray area between frame 1 and 10, 10 and 25, 25 and 40 and frame 40 and 50 on the timeline and choose Create Shape Tween from the menu that appears.



Step 15

Select the Selection Tool (V) and move the first frame on frame 50 of layer photo using the drag and drop technique. See the picture below!



Step 16

Click now on frame 75 of layer photo and hit F6 key.

Step 17

Go back now on frame 50, select the Selection Tool (V) and click once on the photo to select it. Then, go to the Properties Panel (Ctrl+F3) below the stage. On the right, you will see the Color menu. Select Advanced in it, click on Settings button and make the adjustments as follow:



Step 18

Right-click anywhere on the gray area between the two keyframes on the timeline and choose Create Motion Tween from the menu that appear.



Step 19

Click now on frame 75 of layer shape and hit F5 key.

Step 20

Move layer photo using the Selection Tool (V) above the layer shape. See the picture below!



We're done now!

Test your movie and enjoy!

Download source file (.fla)