Lesson Notes
Lesson 1
  1. Introduction
  2. Access the Server
  3. Drawing & Painting
Lesson 2
  1. Basic Animation
  2. The Timeline
Timeline Review
  1. Timeline Review
Lesson 3
  1. Symbols & Library
  2. Shape Tweening
Lesson 4
  1. Animation Review
  2. Break Apart
  3. Distribute to Layers
Lesson 5
  1. Motion Path
  2. Buttons
  3. Intro to Actions
Lesson 6
  1. Setting Up Projects
  2. Project Checklist
  3. Action Scripting Buttons
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
  1. Animated Buttons
Lesson 10: Walk Cycle
  1. Character Design
  2. Terms Explained
  3. Project Overview
  4. Setting Up
  5. Frame 9 & Animated Guides
  6. Animating The "Bounce"
  7. Legs & Feet
  8. Arms & Finalizing
Lesson 11: Preloader
  1. Simple Preloader
  2. Advanced Preloader
Lesson 12
Lesson 13
Lesson 14
Lesson 15
Lesson 16
Lesson 17
Lesson 18
Lesson 5: Pt. 1
| Pt. 1 | Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 |
Tweening Motion Along a Path
Flash: Interactive Web Animation
Excerpted and modified from the Macromedia MX Flash Help File


Motion guide layers let you create an animation by drawing a path for an object to follow. You can link multiple layers to a motion guide layer to have multiple objects follow the same path. A normal layer that is linked to a motion guide layer becomes a guided layer.

To create a motion path for a tweened animation:

1

Create a layer with an object, a keyframe at the beginning, a keyframe at the end, and a motion tween between the keyframes.

If you select Orient to Path, the baseline of the tweened element will orient to the motion path. If you select Snap, the registration point of the tweened element will snap to the motion path.

2

Do ONE of the following:

Select the layer containing the animation and choose Insert > Motion Guide.

Control-click the layer containing the animation and choose Add Motion Guide from the context menu.

Flash creates a new layer above the selected layer with a motion guide icon to the left of the layer name.

3

Use the Pen, Pencil, Line, Circle, Rectangle, or Brush tool to draw the desired path.

4

Snap the center to the beginning of the line in the first frame, and to the end of the line in the last frame.

Note: For best snapping results, drag the symbol by its registration point.

5

To hide the motion guide layer and the line so that only the object's movement is visible while you work, click in the Eye column on the motion guide layer.

The group or symbol follows the motion path when you play the animation.

 
To link layers to a motion guide layer, do one of the following:

Drag an existing layer below the motion guide layer. The layer is indented under the motion guide layer. All objects on this layer automatically snap to the motion path.

Create a new layer under the motion guide layer. Objects you tween on this layer are automatically tweened along the motion path.

Select a layer below a motion guide layer. Choose Modify > Layer and select Guided in the Layer Properties dialog box.

 
To unlink layers from a motion guide layer:

1

Select the layer you want to unlink.

2

Do one of the following:

Drag the layer above the motion guide layer.

Choose Modify > Layer and select Normal as the layer type in the Layer Properties dialog box.

Lesson 5: Pt. 1
| Pt. 1 | Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 |