a quick introduction to flash animation
importing files and setting effects
We are now going to import an image to use as a background. Flash can use a wide variety of digital images but in this case we're using a JPEG image.
18. Create a new layer by clicking the New Layer button. Rename the image Map by double-clicking on the name and typing.
19. We don’t want the map to begin appearing until one second into our animation so in the Map layer put a Keyframe in frame 12.
20. Click once on frame 12 in the Map layer and from the File menu select Import to Library... In the Import window find the file called USA.jpg and add it to the import list on the right. Click the Import button. The map of the USA has now been added to the stage on layer 2. (Note: If you're viewing this online and are not in one of my "live" sessions you won't find the map here due to copyright issues. However, just about any large map will do for this exercise.)
21. To use this image it must be converted to a symbol so right-click anywhere on the map and select Convert to Symbol from the menu. Use the solid arrow to center the map on the stage.
22. The map is in front of our other two images and we need it behind them. In the Timeline, click and hold on the Map layer and drag it to the back (down).
23. We want our map to fade in as our title box moves. Although we are using a Motion Tween, the map will not actually move. Instead it will go from being not visible in frame 12 to being fully visible in frame 24. To accomplish this, click on frame 12 in the Map layer.
24. Open the Effect panel by either clicking on the appropriate tab in one of the currently open panels or, if the Effect panel isn’t showing, go to the Windows menu, pull down to Panels and select Effect.
24. In the Effect panel, click on the down arrow next to None and select Alpha. In the box that says 100% enter 0.
25. The map is now invisible in frame 1 but will gradually appear as the animation progresses. Run the animation by going to the Control menu and selecting Play.
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