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project: Setting movie properties
 
   
 

description: In this tutorial you will learn how to set the size of your movie, the speed at which it plays, and the color of the background.

Files: Open a new document (Command-N).

  
   
 
   
  •Note: We will be working with the Document Properties dialog box (Modify > Document... or better yet, Command-J) but calling a Flash file a "document" is a bit of a misnomer as far as I'm concerned.
   
  step 1: Open the aforementioned dialog box. An alternate means is to click on the Size button in the Properties Panel. (Figure A)
   
  A
   
  step 2: However you did it, the dialog box is now open. Notice that the default frame rate is highlighted as if it knew we'd want to change that setting. (Figure B)
   
  B
   
  •Note: Twelve frames per second is a bit slow and choppy for most animations.
   
  step 3: Type 20, hit the Tab key (to jump to the next text field), type 650, Tab, 300, then how 'bout changing the color of the background? (Figure C)
   
  C
   
  step 4: Click and Pick any color. (Figure D)
   
  D
   
  step 5: Notice that you have the option to make your own default settings (but hold off on that for right now). (Figure E) We'll get to the other options in a later tutorial.
   
  E
   
  step 6: Your Timeline and Stage should look something like this. (Figure F)
   
  F
   
  •Tip: Double-Clicking on the Frame Rate (Figure F) is probably the easiest way to access the movie's properties. (Okay, okay. The Document Properties dialog box.)
   
  step 7: Notice that the Properties Panel now reflects our new settings. (Figure G)
   
  G
   
  step 8: That's it for setting the properties. On to Frame-By-Frame Animations.
   
   
   
 
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