Flash 8-Lesson 3: Creating a Symbol, Gradients, The Rectangle Tool

Creating a Symbol

You are now ready to turn the graphic (the ellipse) you created into a symbol and store the graphic in the Library. Items stored in the Library can be used later.

1. Choose the Selection tool.

2. Click and drag to create a rectangle around the ellipse to select it.
3. Choose Modify > Convert to Symbol from the menu. The Convert to Symbol dialog box opens.

4. Type Start Button in the Name field.
5. Choose Button as the type of behavior.
6. Click OK.
7. Choose Window > Library from the menu. The Library panel opens. You should see Start Button in the Library window.

8. Press the Delete key to delete the ellipse from the Stage. Don�t worry. You have a copy of the Start Button in the Library.

Gradients

When you click a Fill Color box, the Fill dialog box shown here opens.

Gradients show gradations of color. They display on the bottom row of the Fill dialog box. You will use a gradient to create the movie�s sky. But first, you must create the gradient you will use.

To create the gradient:

1. Click the first Color box on the gradient row.
2. Choose Window > Color Mixer from the menu. The Color Mixer panel opens.

2. Choose Linear from the drop-down menu.
3. Double-click on the first Edit Gradient Range icon. Color boxes appear.

4. Click the color blue to select blue.
5. Double-click the second Fill Gradient Range icon. Click the color box and select white.

6. Click and drag the second Fill Gradient Range icon to the three-quarter point on the Gradient Range slider.
7. Click the Menu Options icon.
8. Click Add Swatch. Flash adds the gradient you created to the color box.

The Rectangle Tool

You use the Rectangle Tool to draw rectangles and squares. In this exercise you will create a rectangle and fill it with the gradient you just created. You will then turn the resulting graphic into a symbol and use it later to create the sky.

1. Choose the Rectangle tool.

2. Move to the Property inspector. If the Property inspector is not open, choose Window > Properties > Properties from the menu to open it.
3. Select NoColor in the Stroke color box.

4. In the Fill color box, select the gradient you created.
5. Click the Stage and drag diagonally to create a rectangle.

Later you will use the graphic you just created. For now, turn it into a symbol.

1. Choose the Selection tool.
2. Click the graphic.
3. Choose Modify > Convert to Symbol from the menu. The Convert to Symbol dialog box opens.
4. Type Sky in the Name field.
5. Choose Graphic as the Behavior.
6. Click OK to store the graphic in the Library. If the Library is not already open, click Window > Library to open the Library. You can see the graphic in the Library.
7. Press the Delete key to remove the graphic from the Stage.