description:In
this tutorial you will learn how to edit frames to quickly generate
the animation at right.
Files:The m_t_edit_01.fla
file is in the fla_files folder.
step 1:Open the
m_t_edit_01.fla file. (Figure
A)
A
step 2:It's our old friend
again but with a new paint job. (Figure
B)
B
step 3:Here's what we want
to make. (Figure
C)
C
•Note:We could rebuild
the animation twice but this tutorial is about editing frames so we'll
use some great shortcuts like the ones we touched on in Frame-By-Frame
02 and Shape
Tween 02.
step 4:To move individual
keyframes, click to select, pause, then click and drag. (Figure
D)
D
•Note:This page is
loaded with movies so look for the controller (like the one above and
below) to recognize the images as movies.
step 5:To select a series
of frames, click away to deselect (if necessary), then click and drag
in one motion. (Figure
E)
E
step 6:We haven't gotten
to Layers yet so consider this a preview
of how to add extra layers (just click on the Insert Layer icon). (Figure
F)
F
step 7:If you noticed I
added Layer 4 and 5 above it's because I made a mistake in making this
tutorial. For clarity I've renamed the
layers so they'll look like yours. (Figure
G)
G
step 8:The hollow circle
indicates a Blank Keyframe. (Figure
H)
H
step 9:The hollow rectangle
indicates a Frame. (Figure
I)
I
step 10:Select the frames
in Layer 1 then Option-Drag (hold down the Option key while you click
and drag) the layer to copy it. Repeat so the animation now resides on
all three layers. (Figure
J)
J
step 11:Drag the playhead
back to frame 1 then lock and hide Layers 1 and 2 by clicking the lock
and visibility indicators as shown. (Figure
K)
K
•Tip:Locking layers
guards against unwanted, inadvertant changes to your animation.
step 12:Click on the Edit
Multiple Frames icon then drag the slider so all frames are selected. (Figure
L)
L
•Tip:We see two
balls because each keyframe is now visible (the first and third keyframe
occupies the same position so we only see one at the top). To see each
frame, try the same steps by clicking the Onion Skin icon (two to the
left of Edit Multiple Frames).
step 13:Turn visibility
for Layer 2 then click on Layer 3's name to select all frames. Once selected
we can Edit all three keyframes at once. Hold the shift key down and
press the left arrow key 9 times to move the keyframes 90 pixels to the
left. (Figure
M)
M
•Tip:The arrow keys
nudge a selected object 1 pixel at a time. Holding down the Shift key
while using the arrow keys moves the same object 10 pixels up, down,
left, or right.
step 14:Change the visibility
and locking settings as shown, click on Layer 1's name to select all
frames, then Shift-Right Arrow 9 times to move these keyframes 90 pixels
to the right. (Figure
N)
N
step 15:Deselect the Edit
Multiple Frames option and unlock all layers. (Figure
O)
O
step 16:Command-Return
to Test Movie. (Figure
P)
P
step 17:Knowing how to
quickly edit frames is a real timesaver. Next up: Editing
Instances.
