Flash+Tips

=Flash Tips=

In this section there will be **helpful advice for users new to Flash and General tips for how to use Flash more effectively.**
__//Daniel says://__ • Make sure to put every piece of drawing you want to move individually in a different layer • Insert Key frame every time you want to start to change or move the animation on each layer. • Use the white mouse to control the animation • Use the black mouse to click on the tools you want to use • Highlight the layer before you put motion tween, and shape tween • Make sure to use the right size for your brush tool according to what you are drawing (this makes the animation more PROFESSIONAL ) • Make sure to name each layer as you will end up having a lot of layers • When using rotation skills make sure you click CW or CCW. If you don’t do this it would not rotate • When using Shape tween, understand that you can change the shape with the white mouse and also delete the original picture and create a new one.

__//Azita says://__
 * Every moving item should be on a different layer
 * Every layer should be named so you can locate them
 * To fill in a background you need to draw an outline first
 * Remember to delete the original picture when using shape tween
 * Remember to insert the key frame at the end of each tween
 * when inserting a shape tween make sure that you change your picture at the end of the tween

**Detail****s about what makes a good animation and why (i.e. animation criteria)**
//A good animation should have…//


 * __Meaningful messages:__ Messages should be appropriate for the person you’re sending it to (Ex, if you are creating an animation about Happy birthday, the message shouldn’t say things like “farewell” or “have a good trip”. The message should say “Happy birthday!”)
 * __Smooth movements:__ No skips or lags in the animation. (Ex, if you drew a person walking, the person should walk not fast, and not slow, so it has to be smooth)
 * __Understandable:__ Animation, text, and audio must be clear enough to be understood for the audience (Ex, it should be easy to understand and fonts and sizes should be easy to understand)
 * __Creative:__ Original and something that would go with the viewers taste (Ex, it can be unique and special)
 * __Design:__ Well drawn and designed background and characters. (Ex, the drawings shouldn’t have any white marks, and the designs should be all colored well. Also the background should match the color with the objects)
 * __Color:__ Matching colors. (Ex, if you are doing an animation about ocean, your animation’s colors should be bluish. Also if your animation takes place in the morning, the colors should be bright and if your animation takes place in the evening or at night, the colors should be dark)
 * __Expressions:__ Body and facial expressions match the concept (Ex, you should not have a happy background and a sad person)
 * __Realism:__ Viewer should be thankful for the message of the card (Ex, people who will get the e-card should understand what the person is trying to say)
 * __Emotions:__ Emotions match the sound of the animation (Ex, if your song is classical and slow, the emotions should be sadness, loneliness, and boredom)
 * __Simple:__ Simply realizable in the time frame and comprehensible by your audience (Ex, it shouldn’t be too fast or too slow when the scene is changing)
 * __Rhythm:__ Rhythm of the characters, audio, and text must match; Matched audio and animation (Ex, the sound should match the animation and the characters)
 * __Text:__ Word choice is proper, expressive and fits the theme (Ex, the word choices should be appropriate and easy to understand)
 * __Length:__ 30 second – 1minute animation (Ex, your animation should be simple)
 * __Finished:__ No incomplete scenes or drawing (Ex, all your scenes should be finished)

If you want to your flash more professional, you should have…
 * __Music:__ Music fits to the animation (related theme, style, speed). (Ex, if your animation is going to be about happy birthday, you should have a song that might be fast, exciting, happy, and interesting)
 * __Interactive:__ Clickable buttons or graphics (Ex, you can make replay buttons)

**External links to other useful websites to support your information**
Azita says: [|shape hints] - gives a tutorial on shape tween for version Flash 5.0

Daniel says: This [|website] helps you when you are having problems with rotations animations. This also has audio and visual teaching you step by step. This [|website] helps you understand what is layers and what it is used for.