Flash animation lessons. Learn Macromedia Flash Adobe Flash Tutorials
All sections of the site site
Flash animation lessons
Flash animation - learning
Recently, more and more people want to learn on their own make beautiful animation. Of course, this desire is understandable. How to approach flash animation creation?
Animation in Flash is based on changing the properties of objects that are used in the "cartoon". For example, objects can change their position, shape, size, color, degree of transparency, they can disappear or vice versa, appear, etc.
Flash technologies allow you to create entire interactive movies, during which the site visitor can use the keyboard or mouse to navigate to different parts of the movie, move objects, enter information into the proposed form, and perform many other operations.
The main purpose of Flash is to create interactive Web pages rich in graphics and animation.
Plus, Flash is a fairly independent technology, which is based on the use of vector graphics in a special Shockwave Flash (SWF) format.
Although this is not the first vector format, the creators of SWF managed to find the most successful combination between the visual capabilities of graphics and convenient tools for working with it.
In addition, received flash objects easily integrated into web pages.
An important feature of SWF is that images created on its basis can not only be animated, but can be supplemented with all sorts of interactive elements and sound.
An additional advantage of the SWF format in which the video is recorded is its portability, that is, this format can be used on any hardware and software platform (Macintosh computers are no exception!).
There are a lot of different tutorials on the Internet on the program. Adobe Flash, but they give an approximate understanding of the program, so to speak, "in general".
Most of these "tutorials" do not talk about performing certain specific tasks. For example, I just want to make a banner for a website in Adobe Flash or Photoshop... and it makes no sense for me to read everything about Adobe Flash.
Because even just reading will take six months. What can we say about practice! But for most users it is enough to understand the program interface and learn the basics Flash animations
But to master the creation of flash drives yourself ("at random") is almost unrealistic. Well, Photoshop is a complicated program... but learning how to create your own flash drives is much more difficult!
Flash animation courses
You definitely can't do without video courses. Therefore, I sincerely recommend not to waste time, but to purchase a high-quality video course with understandable flash animation tutorials:
What else is interesting about flash (flash):
Animation creation– an interesting and exciting process, especially if clear and effective lessons. The list of today's instructions is just that.
Applying the knowledge gained in practice, following the author's advice step by step, you can easily learn how to create varying degrees of complexity in Adobe After Effects. The lessons are more intended for advanced users who already have some skills in creating animation, and are familiar with the functionality and tools of the program. Of course, beginners will also find a lot of useful and unusual things for themselves, they will be able to learn even more about the incredible potential of Adobe After Effects!
If you are looking for simple and clear lessons, this assembly is for you. It includes 33 lessons, each of which involves creating animations of varying complexity and type. You will create famous characters, various objects, using program chips and various design directions. After completing the course, you will have a wide variety of work to add to your portfolio, which is especially important if you want to do commercial animation and make it your job.
In addition, based on the knowledge gained, you will be able to further develop your skills, because the courses involve familiarity with the basic tools of Adobe After Effects, as well as consolidating the acquired skills. Agree, an excellent "foundation" for revealing your talents and further self-development.
Almost every lesson begins with descriptions of the program's workspace, as well as how to properly create a new project and set it up. The author talks in detail about the nuances of settings, tools, life hacks - the information will be appreciated by both beginners and more experienced users.
See also:
- How to create a knight animation?
- How to create a dog animation?
- We understand homework.
- How to create fish animation?
- How to create candle animation?
- How to animate an airplane?
- How to animate a car?
- How to create an animation with a UFO?
How to create Rick and Morty animation?
Adobe After Effects is a great tool for anyone interested in motion and animation. Its possibilities are endless, and help to create a lot of creative GIFs of any complexity. By joining the course, you will learn from the very first lesson how to learn how to work in Adobe After Effects CC 2017.
In the first lesson, the author will show and tell you how to create animated characters Rick and Morty, based on a simple illustration from the Web. You can find the same one, or sketch your own. In the first lesson, you'll also learn how to customize your workspace, what tools you'll need to get started, how to create a new project, open files, import them from Photoshop, and more.
How to create an animation with pseudo-3D rotation?
In the lesson, a lot of attention is paid to the preparatory stage. Based on the reference, the author created his own animation with a pseudo-effect, which he then analyzes step by step in the lesson. You will understand why the preparatory stage is important and how it proceeds, how to turn a sketch into a full-fledged object, and much more.
In addition, in the process you will use new tools - rulers, a proportional grid and a magnifying glass. With their help, you will learn how to determine the center of the sheet. The author will also talk about what an animation step is, how to calculate the number of frames per second, how to view the parameters of another file in the program.
Thanks to the lesson, you will learn about a new approach to animation, you will be able to create original GIFs, including those for commercial projects.
Creating an animation of a hovering robot.
A great tutorial for beginners, which will also be useful for experienced users. The peculiarity of the instruction is to create animation completely from scratch, which is especially true for people who see the Adobe After Effects program for the first time, but want to learn animation. As in the previous lessons, we are working in Adobe After Effects CC 2017, parsing the illustration into layers, which we will then animate.
From the lesson, you will also learn what masks, contours are, how to connect objects, what is snapping, timeline, how to increase the composition. At the same time, the author shares various tricks for professionals, explains the advantages of hotkeys, and makes his own developments that allow you to optimize the process of creating animation.
How to create tea bag animation?
An interesting animation that can be used in commercial projects, for example, for a tea shop or cafe video. The author will dwell on the workspaces in detail, tell where and what tools are located, what the work screen looks like, how to adjust the weight for yourself.
In detail, he dwells on the “Project” window, how to set it up, which means each item. You will learn how to create a new project from scratch, customize it. At what points you need to stop, what settings are important.
What is a "Preset" and which one to choose? We also look at the Duration parameters, and how to calculate them. What is 25 frames per second? Why is this important and what is the secret of smooth animation. We take pictures from the web as a basis.
How to create a knight animation?
The peculiarity of the lesson is in creating animation completely from scratch. We consolidate the skills and knowledge gained in previous lessons, as well as improve them. The instruction is perfect for advanced users of the program, but it will also be of interest to beginners who want to emphasize something for themselves, expand the theoretical base, open up more program features.
The author reveals the features of the program, helps to optimize the process using hot keys, and also tells in detail why it is worth using only the English version of the program, and how it differs from the one translated into Russian. After the tutorial, you will have an animation of a knight with arrows, which you can add to your portfolio.
How to create an animation of a flying laptop?
This time we create an unusual animation in the original style. As a source, you can use work from the Web or create your own sketches and draw them in illustrator. Import the illustrator file into the program for further work. Using the source file as an example, the author will show how to correctly import files into the program, which option to choose - footage or composition.
You will learn what is the difference between them and why it is worth choosing the "Composition" option (it is necessary that the layers be separated for ease of editing). The author will also reveal other tricks, and show how to create animation of "flying" objects. Great option for a commercial project, or as a portfolio project .
How to create an animation with a rabbit on a cloud?
We draw a cute animation - a rabbit on a cloud. In addition to a full step by step instructions with an analysis of the parameters, nuances and features of the program, you will also learn why it is better to use the English version of the program. Moreover, the speaker will tell you what are the differences between the English and Russian versions, and why professionals choose the first option.
You will also learn which windows to pay attention to first of all, what Project is and what it is for. The author will show and tell what a submenu is and what it includes. Let's talk in detail about composition, creating a new project, importing files and process features. Also you will know where to look recently open files. The lesson will teach you how to save time while working, optimize the process and other life hacks. The author will also talk about the hidden features of the program.
Other topics: the importance of basic knowledge, hotkeys, encoding, groups of tools for navigation, movement, creating objects or texts, retouching. We actively create various geometric objects, as well as consolidate skills in navigation tools (magnifying glass, hand, etc.)
How to create a penguin animation?
We pay special attention to the preparatory work, get acquainted with the toolbar in even more detail (as a continuation / addition to the previous lesson). We draw a sketch in the program for future animation. In the learning process, we use both simple tools and more complex ones.
We consolidate skills and build basic animation using simple geometric shapes. You will also learn how to draw, add details, create animated elements using the timeline. We dwell in more detail on the timeline - what it is, how to increase, adjust, and so on. We discuss layers, their properties (you can hide, leave, block), renaming a layer.
You will also learn how to block objects, what shape objects are, how to change colors.
How to create weather switch animation?
The main focus of the lesson is on the possibilities of hotkeys. We draw in the program more complex - polygonal - shapes and elements. We get acquainted with related techniques, use the Mesh tool, get acquainted with its functions. The author will show where to look for this tool, work with fill, create additional elements that we will use in animation.
Working with background and effects. As a result, you get a fairly simple but effective animation, built on the basis of the movement of many identical elements, which should appear in the frame smoothly and simultaneously.
Based on the acquired skills, you will be able to create even more complex animation based on similar techniques, which will significantly expand your capabilities.
How to create animation with Gravity Falls characters?
A very cool lesson dedicated to the very popular cartoon characters Gravity Falls - Mabel and Dipper Pines. The peculiarity of the lesson is that we need to animate only individual, small elements of the picture. As a basis, you can take your own image or choose a source from the Web.
We create pre-compose. We use points and adjust them to fix certain elements of the picture and due to this make part of the picture stationary. Adding animation to the timeline. Change the settings to get the desired animation effect.
We consider such concepts as energy and smoothness of movement, set the correct Frame Rate to make the picture smooth. The author will explain why this is important, as well as what frame rate was used in modern games, classic Disney animation and in movies.
How to create space animation in Adobe After Effects?
Lesson level is a little more difficult compared to others, and no less interesting! This time you have to work not just with animation, but learn how to animate the inscription. In the tutorial, you will create an animation effect as a caption element based on a background from the web.
You can choose any "space" background with stars, then create an inscription on it, which we animate, and not the whole word, but only some letters, needs to be set in motion. As a result, you will get an unusual and very creative work that you can add to your portfolio.
How to create a dog animation?
We turn into animation a vector image of a dog, preliminary found on the Web. To implement the lesson, you can use your own drawings from . The author describes in detail the main tools and work areas of the program, dwelling on each item. Thanks to this, you will learn about the features of the toolkit.
In addition, from the lesson you will learn what Anchor Point or anchor point (selected frame point) is, what it is for and how it works. As the main tool throughout the lesson, we will use the pen to acquire and consolidate a new, important skill.
We understand homework.
The lesson will be useful for those who want to evaluate the homework of other participants within the course, learn something new, learn from mistakes and examples of work. The author of the course analyzes the work of the sections of the course, pointing out inaccuracies, shortcomings and errors.
Watching the video, you will hear a lot of useful tips, tricks in design, styles, and also learn how to evaluate your own work on the quality of execution, creativity, from a technical point of view. An excellent skill for further development, which will definitely come in handy in the future - on the way to improving skills and gaining new knowledge.
How to create an animation of a children's flower pot?
Animating a cute and fairly simple illustration. You can predraw your drawing in Abode Illustrator, or you can sketch in the Adobe After Effects window. We take any drawing as a basis - our own or from the Web, choosing one or more sources.
Thanks to the lesson, we will learn how to animate not only individual details of the picture, but also additional elements, for example, gusts of wind, which will add unusualness and “freshness” to the animation. In the future, such a chip can be used in a wide variety of projects.
How to create an animation with morphing?
The purpose of the lesson is to introduce students to such an effect as morphing, show examples, and also learn how to implement such an effect in work. In short, morphing is a technology in animation or the visual effect of turning one object into another.
It is necessary that the object transforms smoothly, does not “cut” the eye, looks stylish and interesting. A similar chip can later be used in television movies or feature films, as well as in commercials for TV. Morphing is often used in superhero movies or science fiction films. The author will show how to create such a visualization based on simple objects.
How to create an animation with a lighthouse?
Working with a drawing created in Adobe After Effects. We take our own ideas or references as a basis. You can also draw a picture in Illustrator and then import it into our program. We create a project with several animation elements.
The main element is a lighthouse that illuminates the shore with a lamp that moves in a circle. Twinkling stars act as the second element of animation. The author will also explain what keys are and how to use them when creating animation to get exactly the effect you need. In parallel, he gives various tips, talks about practice, shares chips.
How to create fish animation?
The lesson is devoted to two important topics - the use of the pen and the animation of such an object as a fish. The object was not chosen in vain: the fish move smoothly, gently moving the body and fins. This is what needs to be conveyed in the lesson. The lesson will also allow us to improve and consolidate the skill of using the pen thanks to the image of the object right in the Adobe After Effects window.
How to create a rugby themed animation?
Original animation with an unusual angle on the theme of sports is a great option for those who plan to design for games or create graphics for commercial use, specializing in sports events. The lesson will be appreciated by both beginners and experienced users who want to add "freshness" to their work or find a new approach.
The author shows how to create animation from scratch, and also talks about the basic basics - tools. For animation, we use a ready-made illustration, you can create it from scratch or find references on the Internet, draw it in Illustrator. You also need to break the illustration into layers so that you can work with each of them separately.
How to create a cook cat animation?
Cute animation based on a drawing. You can use your own illustration or references from the web. You can also create a base in or After Effects. The lesson is devoted to the phased creation of the animation of the cat-cook. The author also analyzes the timeline in detail, explaining each function and possibility. For example, you will learn how to change the size of the line, what is the transparency of the layer, and other features.
Also, the author will dwell on the basics, and therefore the listener will have the opportunity to refresh knowledge and supplement them. In addition to theory, all the acquired skills are consolidated in practice. After the lesson, an animated cat will appear in your portfolio, which will become an ideal character for a commercial project (the design of a restaurant website or a cafe commercial).
How to create an animation from the cartoon "Beyond the fence"?
This time the basis for our animation will be the characters of the well-known animated series "On the other side of the fence". As a basis, we use a GIF from the Web. The lesson is aimed at consolidating the skills acquired in previous lessons, as well as gaining new theoretical knowledge. Particular attention is paid to the timeline and the use of keys. In addition, we actively use such a concept as the speed of movement, adjust it and change it as necessary.
We will work on the background animation, position parameters. The author will also tell you how an experienced master differs from a beginner, analyzes in detail the animation taken as a basis. You will also learn how to draw GIF elements, how to convert them into shapes, contours, what a mask is, how to draw it, and why it is needed. How to correct mistakes and shortcomings.
How to create an animation with a burger and Japanese chopsticks?
Diversify our portfolio with original work. This time we set in motion a burger and Japanese chopsticks. The drawing is created immediately in the program window. It is quite simple, and therefore the preparation will not take much time. After that, let's move on to animation. We create a new project, configure it taking into account the features of the options. Change the background as desired.
We actively use hot keys, adjust the position, we can change the Frame Rate. The author talks in more detail about such a concept as shapes. What is it, how to create and use them. Overview of selection tools, keys, careful study of the movement of objects. In addition, you will learn why it is better to use an English-language program.
How to create a scared roll animation?
Today we are creating a funny animation with a scared roll. An unusual work with a wow effect that will appeal to both the professional and the beginner, especially if you are working on a portfolio and want to add something very original. Animation is based on cyclic movement, that is, the repetition of a series of combinations of movements. We work with prepared drawings in Abode Illustrator.
You can also draw characters directly in After Effects. Import the file, pay attention to the settings. We also create a new document, taking into account the settings. We actively use the timeline, and also work with layers, study submenus and layer options. You'll learn what paths are, vertices, how to work with fills, and more.
How to create candle animation?
Dynamic and funny animation of two candles, one of which burns and the other extinguishes it. The peculiarity is not only in the dynamics, but also in the change of the background in the process of movement. The author starts with the main parameters and the working window of the program, and then proceeds to creating animation.
He talks about presets, composition and other basic settings. From the lesson, you will learn about many practical tips and life hacks, as well as create a beautiful and bright GIF for your portfolio.
How to create a pseudo 3D midi keyboard animation in After Effects?
The topic for the lesson was an interesting computer technology, which is called pseudo-three-dimensionality. Pseudo 3D is graphics that try to mimic a 3D game space, but it is not. A similar effect is often used in computer games. One example of this approach is the well-known game Doom.
That is what we will study! The author will tell and show how to create keyboard animation using pseudo-3D. The lesson will be of particular interest to those who plan to link their future work with gaming technologies or computer games. In the future, you will be able to create more complex animations using this feature.
How to create an astronaut animation?
We create a GIF with an astronaut in a spacesuit moving in outer space against the background of the planet. We work with the background and small details, creating a smooth picture with several moving elements. We continue to work with the timeline, consolidating skills.
We also begin to consider layers and settings in more detail. The author shows and tells in detail how to work with the program, what needs to be done to get this or me effect. He also answers the questions of the webinar participants in parallel.
How to create an animation of a saxophonist?
The topic of the lesson is creating a collage-style animation with sound. First we need to prepare the materials from which we will create a collage. You also need to select a photo as the basis for the illustration. It is also necessary to find a video with the performance of saxophonists in order to repeat their movements, to make the animation more natural.
We draw in Abode After Effects, creating many layers. Thanks to this, it will be easier for us to animate the collage. You can also use Photoshop files. All this and much more is clearly shown by the author of the course. He also answers the questions of the course participants in parallel.
How to create animation with mouse and refrigerator?
“How a mouse hanged itself in a refrigerator” - we create a complex animation with a characteristic dangling mouse and a drop-down refrigerator based on vector graphics. We work with space, draw additional elements (refrigerator, floor, walls). You can add more detail, or leave it as in the example.
Then we proceed to the details, at the same time remembering the hot keys and basic tools. You will also learn how to create compositions, customize them, work with the layer and its settings. In terms of complexity, the lesson is more suitable for advanced users or those who take this course from the first lesson.
How to create an animation with jellyfish?
As an idea for the lesson, we use a gif - a frame from the movie, which we turn into vector graphics. The most difficult element is the jellyfish, we are also working on other elements: part of the room and characters. The main functions, features and tools of the program are briefly highlighted, as in previous lessons. The peculiarity of the lesson is to show the movement of jellyfish along a certain trajectory.
The author will show and tell you how to implement this idea so that the movements are as natural and smooth as possible. You will also see exactly which keys the webinar author is using, so you can reinforce your hotkey skills.
How to animate an airplane?
We start with an overview of the basic things - we are working on the main tools, creating a new project (new document), working windows. We draw the base from scratch in the program. You can also use Illustrator and then import it into After Effects. Set up a new document and start drawing, then animate the image.
We pay special attention to the smoothness of the gif movement, adjust the Rate parameters to achieve the desired effect. Today we work with 14 frames per second, by analogy with films. We look at the result, correct the shortcomings, make adjustments to the project. We also work with the flight path, with objects that go beyond the sheet. We use a pen and other tools.
How to animate a car?
As a basis for animation, we choose a complex element - a car. We use a three-dimensional image with tones and halftones, which we will then set in motion. You can create a drawing in Illustrator or directly in the After Effects window. We take any sketch or photo from the Web as a basis. Also in the process we will need some textures, for example, glass and a pattern.
We form a common picture. In the process of work, we “bind” the elements to each other, and also work with anchor points, setting them up and checking, adjusting the number of frames per second. We execute almost all commands with hot keys to remember them and speed up the work process.
How to create animation with isometry?
Isometry is an original technique, on the basis of which you can create not only illustrations, but also animation. It is the latter that you will do, having learned how to create elements of the banking sector (plastic card and coins) using this technique.
Such animation can be used in commercial projects, for example, for designing the website of a bank, any financial institution. So why not diversify your portfolio with such an example! An isometric view is a great way to show off your skills and work on your skills.
How to create a shameless cat animation?
At the same time, the author answers the questions of the webinar listeners, for example, why the English version of the program is needed for work, and also how relevant animation itself is, including as a professional employment.
How to create an animation with a UFO?
The final lesson of the course, thanks to which you will create a flying saucer with a beam. We start with an overview of the working screen and the main functions of the program, then move on to creating GIFs. We consolidate all the skills and knowledge gained in previous lessons, namely, we work with layers and their capabilities, edit the background, set up animation and adjust the speed of movement using the timeline.
We also set up the composition, draw in the program using a pen and other tools, set various effects in the animation. After the whole Abode After Effects course, you will have 30+ full-fledged examples of work in your portfolio, UFO animation is one of them.
For more than seven years I have been working remotely with foreign customers from the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany and other countries. I draw graphic resources and animation for games in Adobe Animate CC. The editor used to be called Adobe Flash Professional CC.
On an old blog, I started a similar cycle of lessons, but instead of continuing there, I decided to rewrite everything again in order to share new experiences.
Why do we need another cycle of lessons about drawing in Adobe Flash? I have been doing this for many years and I believe that my experience can be useful for beginners. Especially for those who have never drawn with a graphics tablet before. If you draw well on paper, but have never drawn on a computer, then I definitely have something to tell you.
And for those who can’t draw on paper, I’ll try to explain how you can develop this skill as a whole, without being tied to a graphic editor: building perspective and composition, choosing colors, shading and other topics.
Choosing a graphics tablet
It doesn't matter if you can draw, you will need tools: devices and programs. Let's start with the hardware. You already have a computer, but you still need to connect a graphics tablet to it, which will give us the opportunity to draw on a virtual canvas that exists in random access memory. In other words, this is another input device, like a mouse or trackball. But the tablet has advantages that allow you to draw as if on paper. These are pressure sensitivity and a pen-like shape of the manipulator.
There are many manufacturers of graphics tablets: Wacom, Genius, Huion. I've only encountered the first two. In total, I've already tried four Wacom tablets and one from Genius when I started. I highly recommend Wacom - it's high quality for a reasonable price.
If you don't have the money, don't buy the Genius, get the most affordable small used Wacom Bamboo Pen. I used almost the same model Wacom Bamboo Pen&Touch S CTH-460. There were no critical problems for seven years of use, a good device to start with. If you can allocate more money, then take a larger model. I am using Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen&Touch M CTH-670.
What do the numbers and letters mean in the names of Wacom models
I will explain what some numbers and letters in the name mean to make it easier for you to navigate in the company's model park.
Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen&Touch M CTH-6 70
- M— the size of the workspace. There are S - Small (small), M - Medium (medium), L - Large (large);
- CTH- indicates the model range. There are CTL and CTH - entry-level amateur models with optional buttons and touchpad, PTH - professional models, DTH and DTK - professional models with built-in display;
- 6 — the size of the workspace in inches. There are 4 - Small (small), 6 - Medium (medium), 8 - Large (large), as well as 13 and more, but this only applies to tablets with a built-in display. Sometimes in online stores and in ads they do not indicate an alphabetic index, then you can use a digital one to understand the dimensions of the device;
- 70 generation and model. It is important to understand that the higher this number, the newer the device. For comparison, my old tablet has the CTH-460 index, the modern analogue is CTH-490. Generations differ by 10: 460, 470 and so on.
Graphics tablet size
When you draw, the active area of the workspace is very small. In other words, the stylus constantly slides in a radius of a small circle. This circle may move slightly. Over time, a stain forms, which is visible as a dense accumulation of micro-scratches. It shows that you practically do not use the peripherals of the device, everything happens in the center.
It can be assumed that a large graphics tablet is not needed, since you will never use its entire working area, and the activity spot will be the same size as on a smaller model. But it's not.
When you work on a tablet, its active area is projected to the full width of the monitor. Therefore, the larger the tablet, the more accurately you can apply strokes. Conversely, the larger the monitor and the smaller the tablet, the more difficult and uncomfortable it will be for you to draw. From experience I can say that after switching from size S to M when working on a 29-inch ultra-wide monitor, I began to work 25-30% more comfortably. It takes me less effort to draw a complex path, and overall the interaction feels softer and more enjoyable.
Larger graphics tablets should provide even more comfortable working conditions, but I have not had to work on L-models, I can only assume.
Differences between amateur and professional Wacom tablets
Buying a pro model, you get a wireless device made of higher quality plastic with 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity versus 1024 for cheaper models, a beautiful design, additional controls in the form of buttons and a touch ring. I am completely satisfied with the younger outdated models of the Bamboo series, which are discontinued. The difference in cost between amateur and pro versions will be more than two times. The table will put everything on the shelves:
Setting up Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch M CTH-670
Before connecting the device, download the drivers from the official Wacom website.
| List of models | Link to drivers |
|---|---|
| Intuos CTL-4100/6100/4100WL/6100WL Intuos Pro PTH-451/651/660/851/860 One CTL-471/671/472/672 Intuos CTL-480/490/680/690 Intuos CTH-480/490/680/690 Intuos 5 PTK-450/650 PTH-450/650/850 Intuos 4 PTK-440/640/840/1240/540WL |
Windows macOS |
| Bamboo Pen&Touch CTH-460/470/471/660/661/670 Bamboo Pen CTL-460/471 |
Windows macOS |
After connecting the tablet and installing the drivers, launch the application Wacom Preferences, which can be found via Windows search(Win + S) or in the control panel.
The main settings of the company's tablets do not differ, both amateur and professional models are configured in a similar way.
On the tab Tablet you can customize the tablet for the right and left hand, as well as assign actions to the keys. First install them in Disabled, over time it will be possible to assign hotkeys. 
On the next tab Pen important parameters are:
- Tip Feel- pressure sensitivity. Leave in the center. In the process, you will understand what kind of stiffness you like and adjust to taste;
- tracking— stylus position tracking mode. Install Pen Mode— the working area of the tablet is stretched to full screen. Mode Mouse used as a mouse replacement;
- The rest of the settings are not so important. Pen Buttons allows you to assign an action to the stylus buttons. Eraser Feel- the sensitivity of the gum on the back of the stylus. I don't use this feature because it's faster for me to switch using hotkeys.
In the same tab in the section tracking press the button mapping... to set how the tablet work area is projected onto the monitor screen. A window will open Pen Mode Details.
In chapter Screen area choose Monitor, if you have several monitors and specify the main one. If there is only one monitor, then leave All Screens
.In chapter Scaling be sure to tick the box Force Proportions so that the client area does not stretch when projected onto the screen. In this case, part of the working area of the tablet will not be used, but we will have normal proportions of 1 to 1. And if you draw a circle, then it will be displayed on the screen as a circle, not an elongated ellipse.
Be sure to check the box next to Use Windows Ink for pressure sensitivity to work.
On the next tab Touch Options uncheck the box opposite Enable touch input to switch your tablet to normal mode.
On the other tabs, I have everything disabled, since I do not use either Touch mode gestures or the branded drop-down menu. This completes the graphics tablet setup.
Animate CC or Flash Professional CC?
Adobe Animate CC is a rebranding of Adobe Flash Professional CC with several new features added to the program. Even with the old name, it has gained immense popularity among artists, animators and indie game developers. Vector principles of construction allow you to create sprites for any resolution. Any version you can get your hands on is fine for drawing. Drawing tools have not changed for many years, but only slightly improved. I'll be using Adobe Animate CC, but what I've written will apply to older versions of Adobe Flash Professional as well. By the way, Adobe has recently switched to a monthly subscription model to gain access to its products instead of expensive one-time licensing. Currently, the price for using Adobe Animate CC is $20 per month.
First launch of Adobe Animate CC
After loading, create a new file and select the type Action Script 3.0. In the same window, you can specify the scene parameters:
- Width And Height— the width and height of the scene in pixels. Let's set it to 1920 x 1024, as the resolution in a modern monitor or smartphone;
- Ruler units- units of measurement, set pixels;
- frame rate- the number of frames per second, leave 24;
- background color- background color, set to gray.
These settings can also be changed after the document has been created. To do this, select a tool Selection Tool (hot key V), open the window Properties and expand section Properties. If you cannot find this window, then use the menu Window → Properties or by pressing Ctrl + F3.
Hot key settings
To increase work efficiency, you need to use hotkeys to the maximum. In the early stages, it takes getting used to and learning new key combinations, but it provides a solid jump in your efficiency in the long run. I've redefined most of the hotkeys to be on the right side of the keyboard. Why exactly on the right? The fact is that I am left-handed and, accordingly, it is more convenient for me. If you are right-handed, then you will have to come up with your own scheme. Also, I use the Rapoo E9050 and Apple Wireless Keyboard, which are laptop keyboard form factors, so if you're using a full-sized one, then again, work hard and come up with your own scheme - it will pay off in a lot of time saved - and consider my scheme, as an example.
Get the idea: group key commands on the comfortable side of the keyboard for quick access without constantly changing hand position. Most of the time it should lie in one place, only the fingers "walk" in a small radius, pressing the buttons. Of course, there will be teams that demand a change of position, but they are in the vast minority. Here is my schema:
| Team | Description | old combination | New combination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select All | Choose all | Ctrl+A | Ctrl+A, O |
| Deselect All | Remove selection | Ctrl+Shift+A | Ctrl+Shift+A,P |
| Undo | Undo action | Ctrl + Z | Ctrl+Z, [, Z |
| redo | Repeat action | ctrl+y | Ctrl+Y, ] |
| Zoom | Scaling | Shift+Z, Z | Shift+Z,\ |
| zoom in | Enlarge Image | Ctrl+=, Ctrl+Num= | Ctrl+=, Ctrl+Num=,= |
| zoom out | Zoom out | Ctrl+=, Ctrl+Num= | Ctrl + -, Ctrl + Num -, - |
| straighten | Straighten selected curves | 9 | |
| Smooth | Smooth Selected Curves | 0 | |
| Flip Horizontal | Flip Horizontally | F | |
| flip vertical | Flip Vertical | Shift+F | |
| Cut | Cut to clipboard | Ctrl + X | Ctrl + X, X |
| Duplicate Symbol... | clone symbol | ctrl+d | |
| Swap Symbol... | Change symbol | Ctrl+] |
In most cases, new combinations do not replace the old ones, but complement them, several new commands are introduced. You need to make settings through the menu Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts.... In the search field, enter the name of the team, in the column Shortcut click on an empty space opposite the desired command and press a new keyboard shortcut.
Do not try to understand the commands given in the table, all of them will be explained in the following lessons. In the future, when you start to actively use them, most likely you will redefine them several times until you find the most convenient option.
Brush settings
brush tool(hotkey B) - the brush tool, the most used when drawing. Settings are concentrated in two windows:
The brush setup is finished, let's paint something.
Painting with a brush
Pick a suitable color using the Color window (Ctrl + Shift + F9), select the brush tool (B) and start with one long stroke with a little effort to outline the future shape. Then circle the resulting outline to smooth out all the bumps - the brush is ready.
Note that only three strokes were used in the example above. You want to aim for medium-length strokes so that your hand doesn't leave the tablet. Try to make many small strokes incorrectly, as the resulting contour will not be smooth and with a lot of extra points.
Adobe Animate CC works on vector principles. All objects are described mathematically and can be scaled without loss of quality, in contrast to the raster approach. This allows us to manipulate vector objects, which we will never do with the same ease in a raster editor. We can smooth and simplify paths, straighten curved lines, change proportions and deform graphics without losing quality. Each stroke is automatically converted into mathematical curves that we can fine-tune and modify.
To verify all of the above, activate the tool subselection tool(hotkey A) and select the brush you just painted. Now you can see the points of the vector path and even change them.
Conclusion
Today we have set up Adobe Animate CC and are ready to start drawing. Practice a little before we continue. Learn how to draw simple geometric shapes without distortion, try different colors and brush settings (experiment with the Smoothing option).
Similar content
Recently, more and more letters come through the site with questions about where to start learning flash. I will publish a few, I think it will be interesting for many beginners. The answers are solely my vision and my experience, which does not mean at all that if you do it differently, then nothing will work out. Who cares, read below (spelling and grammar of messages saved). And if you are not a beginner, then you will definitely be bored and tedious to read this :)
“hello)) my name is Nico, I am from Tajikistan and now I have a great desire to become a flash animator, but I just don’t know where to start, I found your site here a lot of useful things, but for me, a beginner, they are still difficult. please advise me where to start learning flash animation)) I will be very grateful . and how do you draw, write, if I buy a wakom bamboo pen and learn to draw on it ”
Niko, you have the main thing - desire. If it does not evaporate in a couple of weeks or months, then the result will be. Where to start - with the materiel.
1.Purchase/download a flash tutorial from the web. Take one of the latest versions (Flash Cs4-Cs 6), forget about Macromedia tutorials, FlashMX, it's already the last century in the truest sense. Although much has not changed in the flash since those times.
If you plan to study Action script (and for a flasher, knowing at least the basics of as, I think, is simply necessary) - stop at c As3. As2 is slowly becoming a thing of the past, we will keep up with the times.
Since I studied Flash for a long time, I cannot recommend any specific publications, because I am not familiar with them.
You will probably be very surprised, but all books on learning flash contain the same information :) This is especially true for books for beginners.
I really liked the books How to Cheat in Adobe Flash in English from flash animator Chris Georgenes (he writes lessons on flash animation for Adobe).
This is a series of books, they are reprinted for each new version flush. If you know English language is a great book, pleasing to the eye with wonderful graphics.
Download How to Cheat in Adobe Flash in Cs5 along with the disc is possible.
My study of the flush began with a tutorial. In studying flash, it was not the textbook itself that helped me personally, but the video course that came with the textbook. So let's move on to point #2.
2. Video tutorials.
I think that video lessons are the most effective, because I myself studied flash in a video course.
3. Another thing in learning flash animation is indispensable without such a program as Swf Decompiler. This is a breaker for svf files, that is, ready-made animations. Here's what she's talking about. It allows you to view (not swipe :) the work of a pro, it helps a lot in learning the flush. You take an already finished work and look at the timeline, how it was done, and try to repeat it. Animation is not always displayed correctly - masks, twins, but the principle can be understood and taken into account.
4. It is very effective to learn flash on specific examples. Set yourself the goal of making an animation according to an invented scenario - for example, an animation of a car driving along a certain trajectory. When there is an end goal, it is easier to teach.
5. If questions arise during the study, they can be left here on or in the community in topic. Or on any other forums where flashers live.
The biggest flash forum I know of is - flasher.ru. So, dear newcomers - use the benefits of the Internet and this resource in particular :)
6. And another important point. In order to make good animation, it's a good idea to turn to classic animation tutorials (especially if you want to learn how to animate characters, not just text blocks for banners).
Having mastered flash as a tool, you will become not quite an animator, but rather a "wiggler" who knows how to move objects.
There are plenty of books on classical animation - stop at "Timing in Animation", you can take .
About where to get Adobe Flash. If you want to find or take something, then there is nothing better than google. He knows everything :)
Is it possible to learn how to work in flash on your own? It's quite real, almost all the good flash animators I know have learned flash themselves, without courses and exams. Patience, diligence - and everything is in your hands. I’ll even say this - I don’t know the flashers who attended the courses, they all taught on their own.
“Thanks for the blog, I found a lot of useful things for myself.
I'm a pure vector artist, and it was not difficult for me to draw in flash. The problem started when it came to animation.
Could you make a lesson for the most brainless wry-handed noobs)) So that even I would understand)) "
( tara )
There will be a lesson on animation for beginners. I have no idea how to fit everything into one lesson, I think it will be a series of lessons. I was sure that there are a lot of lessons for beginners on the Internet, but for some reason they often ask for them. So stay tuned for updates on the site and in
Adobe Flash Professional is a large multifunctional program that is difficult to learn and use.
Adobe, in its unchanging habit, cares little about simplifying its programs. If other programmers for the sake of simplicity discard all intermediate options, then nothing is lost in Adobe. All intermediate options for working on the program will be included in the final version in the form of some kind of button, panel or line in the menu. As a result, the weight of programs (in Mb) grows and the program becomes overcomplicated. In addition, many instruments completely or partially duplicate each other.
Was no exception to this rule and Adobe Flash Professional. The program has three different drawing modes, three different animation modes and many other confusing features that can scare potential users away from the program.
Note: The authors of Adobe Flash Professional have somewhat simplified the latest versions of the program - such functions as creating classic motion tween , no Motion Editor , only one ActionScript 3.0 programming language is used, etc.
Program settings
Adobe Flash Professional is configured by default, but you can change these settings as needed.
From the Edit menu, choose Preferences (Windows) or Flash > Preferences (Mac OS).
From a variety of settings, YOU can turn off the Welcome Screen - No Document.
IN latest versions program, you can select the color of the program window (tab "General" - User Interface - Dark, light).
You can change the number of possible undo operations ("Undo" - Undo) - by default 100.
Flash supports up to 9999 undoes, but you don't have to select the maximum because this will slow down the program.
Highlight colors - You can change the default colors used for the displayed bounding boxes around drawing objects, groups, or symbols.
And other.
Create a new document
You can create and open documents using the Welcome Screen or the File menu.
The "Welcome" screen is a launching pad for creating and opening files, including built-in templates for Flash animations, banners, animations for mobile phones.
In the Create New column of the Welcome window, select ActionScript 3.0.
Or: From the File menu, choose New.
The New Document window will open.
On the General tab, select the type of Flash file you want to create (ActionScript 2.0 or 3.0).
The default language is ActionScript 2.0, but you can also select ActionScript 3.0. Using ActionScript 3.0 allows you to use all the features of the latest versions of the program (CS5 and CS6). For example, if you want to apply 3D rotation to objects when creating an animation, then you need to select ActionScript 3.0 (ActionScript 2.0 does not support this feature).
ActionScript 3.0 also requires visitors to have the latest version of the Flash player.
Notes :
In the latest versions of the program
1. ActionScript 2.0 is not supported.
2. It is possible to create animation in HTML5 format.
On the tab Create from template You can select a template to open it for editing.
You can always change the properties of your project - from the Modify menu, choose Document, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (Mac OS).
In the Dimensions section, set the width and height of your movie in pixels.
In the Ruler units section, the ruler units are set - centimeters. mm, pixels, etc. Usually the unit of measure for rulers is pixels.
In the Background Color section, the background color of the animation is selected.
In the Frame rate section, the speed is set - frames per second. Usually take the default speed - 24 frames per second.
Option Auto-Save - setting the frequency of auto-save your work.
The Printer option makes your new document match the paper size of your printer.
Saving a document
Your new document must be saved before starting any work or adding any content.
By default, documents are saved in Flash CS6 format - .fla
1 From the File menu, choose Save.
2 Select a folder to save the project. give the project a name.
Always include the .fla extension at the end of the project name.
Note: You can save the project in Flash CS5 format (this option is not available in the latest versions of the program).
Documents created in Flash CS6 will not open in Flash CS5 or earlier.
Documents created in Flash CS5 and earlier will open in Flash CS6.
Opening a document
Select menu File (File) > Open (Open)
Command File > Open Recent - to open the last 10 files.
You can also use the Welcome screen to open documents.
When installed on your computer, Adobe Flash Professional will be installed at the same time and file manager Adobe Bridge , which can be used when working with files.
From the File menu, choose View in Bridge, or Go to program Bridge (Browse in Bridge).
Select the .fla format file in Adobe Bridge . Double-clicking on a file opens it in Adobe Flash.
Interface customization
Customize your workspace as needed -
Animation creation
Templates
Adobe Flash includes many generic templates.
The templates come pre-set with sizes and an ActionScript version.
Select the File > New menu and click on the Templates tab.
Consider the included flash templates.
Drawing
Adobe Flash Professional has a built-in graphics editor for vector images that are used to create animations.
There are several drawing modes in Adobe Flash that work differently - see Drawing Modes
Check out the set of drawing tools that Adobe Flash has - see. Toolbar .
It is not difficult to create such simple objects as a rectangle (square), an ellipse (circle), a line.
To create more complex objects, you will have to familiarize yourself with the entire functionality of the program in the drawing area - see Drawing.
To create a frame-by-frame hand-drawn animation, you will have to use a graphics tablet for drawing, because. Without this, it is extremely difficult to create high-quality animation.
About graphics tablets
Creating a simple animation
In Adobe Flash, there are two main ways to create animation - frame-by-frame animation and animation of smooth changes (tweens). In turn, tweens animation has several varieties -.
With any method of creating animation, you need to study the work
Timeline (Timeline). If you understand the work of the Timeline - consider that half the job of learning the program is done.
Particular attention should be paid to working with layers and on work with personnel .
Having mastered all of the above, you will already be able to create Flash-elements (for example, banners, slides, etc.) to be inserted into your html-pages.
You can create all the elements for your animation in Adobe Flash Professional. Or you can import elements created in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, etc. programs.
The other half of the success in mastering Adobe Flash Professional is learning the ActionScript 3.0 language. In this case, you will be able to use all the functionality of the program, including creating interactive Flash sites.
As an inferior alternative, use the code snippets that come with the program (menu Window (Windows) - Code snippets).
This overview does not include ActionScript tutorials, but such tutorials are available online.
Flash animation management
If you want to create something more complex than simple animated banners or slides, you will need:
A. Learn to create buttons
b. Learn to use ActionScript code.
Buttons (graphic or text) are needed so that your site visitor can control the animation - see Buttons.
Animation in Adobe Flash is created using ActionScript code. Earlier versions of the program used ActionScript 2.0, the latest versions use ActionScript 3.0. These versions have serious differences and are partially compatible.
You don't have to write code manually when creating a flash animation, because. in Adobe Flash, most of the work is done in visual mode. However, in some cases, you need to paste ActionScript code. In this case, you can use the code snippets that come with the program, or write the code yourself.
ActionScript code is used to give the navigation buttons the right actions - jumping to a specific frame of animation or to a specific page on a site, to control and synchronize sound and image, and much more.
For a brief introduction to ActionScript, see ActionScript .
Creation of a flash site
Preview
local viewing
You can quickly preview your animation by moving the red playhead back and forth on the Frame Bar (see below). Timeline).
To see how the animation will look on the web (i.e. with all nested animations), choose menu Control (Control) > Test video(Test Movie) > in Flash Professional (in Flash Professional).
In this case, the created animation is viewed in the built-in Flash Player (Flash Player).
To test Flash for mobile phones, use the menu Control (Control) > Test video(Test Movie) > in Device Central .
Publication
When publishing, the editor creates HTML files, a SWF file, and other files required for Flash to function properly.
For publish settings, from the File menu, select Publish Options(Publish Settings).
To publish, choose Publish from the File menu.
See more.
