working with text and editing drawn objects

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Copyright 2003, Paradigm Publishing Inc.

Working with Text and Editing Drawn Objects

Macromedia FlashMacromedia FlashDesign & ApplicationDesign & Application

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Use the Text tool to insert a text block into a Flash document.

Move, delete, copy, and resize a text block. Change the font, font size, and text color of selected tex

t and text blocks. Create a vertical text block. Change alignment, line spacing, and margins within text

blocks. Adjust tracking of letters in a text block. Break text apart into separate objects. Change document properties. Use the Paint Bucket and Ink Bottle tools to modify

drawn objects. Use the Eye Dropper tool to copy attributes from one

object to another object.

Performance ObjectivesPerformance Objectives

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Use the Hand and Zoom tools to view objects on the stage.

Erase portions of a drawing using the Eraser tool. Draw and edit curved lines. Use the Free Transform tool to rotate, skew, scale,

distort, or envelope an object. Adjust stroke length, smooth, and straighten strokes. Adjust a stroke line to change a shape's appearance. Edit fills, divide shapes into segments, and split a shape

apart. Group and ungroup related shapes. Change colors using the Color Mixer panel and the

Color Swatches panel. Apply and create gradient color to objects. Use the Fill Transform tool to modify a gradient fill. COMMANDS REVIEW

Performance ObjectivesPerformance Objectives

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Using the Text ToolUsing the Text Tool

Text ToolText Tool creates two typesof text blocks

-expands automatically to the width of the text that

you key inside the block

Extending

-wraps the text within the defined width of

the block

Fixed

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Extending Text BlockExtending Text Block

click the Text tooland click in the stage

where you want the textblock positioned

an insertion pointappears with acircle handle

at the top right

key text-press Enter to key

another lineAn extending text block can be converted to a fixed text block by dragging the block's circle

handle to the width that you want.

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Fixed Text BlockFixed Text Block

click the Text tooland drag the crosshairin the stage the width

of the desired text block

an insertion pointappears with asquare handleat the top right

key text-text automaticallywraps to next line

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Editing TextEditing Text

click the Text tool and position the pointer over the existing text block

- pointer appears as an I-beam- click to place insertion point and edit

text using Backspace or Delete keys

Proofread CarefullyProofread Carefully

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Manipulating Text BlocksManipulating Text Blocks

Moving use the Arrow tool to select the text block drag to a new location

Deleting use the Arrow tool to select the text block press Delete

Copying use the Arrow tool to select the text block use Copy and Paste commands

Resizing use the Text tool to select the text block drag over the square handle left or right

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Text PropertiesText Properties

Defaults font = Times New Roman font size = 12 points text color = blue

Can be changed before or after the text block is created use the Arrow tool to select existing text

blocks Use the Shift key to select multiple text

blocks Changes made remain in effect for

future text blocks

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Font and Font AttributesFont and Font Attributes

click to scroll throughclick to scroll throughavailable fontsavailable fonts

Font PreviewFont PreviewWindowWindow

Bold and Italic attributesBold and Italic attributes

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Font and Font Attributes…/2Font and Font Attributes…/2

a portion of text cana portion of text canhave a different fonthave a different font

select Text (fill)select Text (fill)color buttoncolor button

-select color swatch-select color swatchfrom palette or createfrom palette or create

a custom color ina custom color inColor PickerColor Picker

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Font SizeFont Size

double-click existingvalue and key

new value

click down-pointingtriangle and drag

slider barup or down

OROR

Text is defined in points.One point is approximately 1/72 of an inch.

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Vertical Text BlocksVertical Text Blocks

click Change directionof text button

and select option

key text

Pressing Enter in an extending vertical text block creates a new column. In a fixed text block, a new

column is created when the text fills the defined height.

In a vertical text block, only one character displays per line.

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Vertical Text Blocks…/2Vertical Text Blocks…/2

Text or selected characters can be rotated90 degrees by clicking the Rotation button.

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Alignment OptionsAlignment Options

Select the text block or text within the block and then click the desired alignment button.

Left/TopJustify

CenterJustify

Right/BottomJustify

FullJustify

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Format Options Dialog BoxFormat Options Dialog Box

The units of measurement can be changed.

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Character Spacing and KerningCharacter Spacing and Kerning

- amount of horizontal white space between

characters

tracking

- spacing between certain pairs of

letters

kerning

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Superscripts and SubscriptsSuperscripts and Subscripts

characters elevatedslightly above thenormal position

characters placedslightly below thenormal position

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Text MenuText Menu

The Text Menu can be used insteadof the Properties panel for changes

made to the text blocks.

point to option andclick desired setting

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Breaking Text ApartBreaking Text Apart

Converts each letter in a text block to an individual text block.

Executing the Break Apart command a second time will transform the individual text blocks

into individual graphic objects.

MModify, Breaodify, Breakk Apart or Ctrl + B Apart or Ctrl + B

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Document PropertiesDocument Properties

MModify, odify, DDocument or Ctrl + Jocument or Ctrl + J

-contains options to set the size of the stage, change the background color, set the frame rate for animations, and

change the units of measurement for rulers

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Paint Bucket ToolPaint Bucket Tool

Paint Bucket ToolPaint Bucket Toolchange colors of

existing fillsin objects

Gap Size Options

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Ink Bottle ToolInk Bottle Tool

Ink Bottle ToolInk Bottle Toolchange colors ofexisting strokelines in objects

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Eye Dropper ToolEye Dropper Tool

Eye Dropper ToolEye Dropper Toolcopy a stroke'sattributes or fillcolor from one

object to another

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Viewing the StageViewing the Stage

click click VView, iew, MMagnificationagnification OROR

drag over current settingdrag over current settingand type in new settingand type in new setting-can also select setting-can also select settingfrom drop-down list boxfrom drop-down list box

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Zoom ToolZoom Tool

Zoom ToolZoom Tool to zoom in or out on anobject on the stage

Enlarge Modifier-doubles magnification

each time you clickover an object

Reduce Modifier-halves magnificationeach time you click

over an object

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Hand ToolHand Tool

Hand ToolHand Tool to scroll the stage

drag pointer on the stage-left, right, up, or down

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Eraser ToolEraser Tool

Eraser ToolEraser Tool used to rub outunwanted portionsof strokes, fills, orshapes, or it can

be used as adrawing tool

Faucet-allows you to erase an entire strokeline or fill just by clicking the eraser

anywhere on the stroke or fillEraser Shape

-pop-up list with various sizes andshapes for the eraser pointer

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Eraser ModesEraser Modes

erases stroke linesand fills that you drag

the eraser over

will not remove the strokelines that you drag over

will not remove anyfills that you drag over

removes only currentlyselected fills

erasing is constrainedto one object only

Flash redraws an image that is being erased when you release the mouse button.

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Drawing Curved LinesDrawing Curved Lines

with the Pen tool active,drag up from the

starting point-tangent handles define

the size and shape

move the Pen tool tothe position where youwant the curve to end,

click, and dragdesired angle

click the Arrow tool tocomplete the curved shape

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Drawing Curved Lines…/2Drawing Curved Lines…/2

To create additional curves, do not click the Arrow tool to complete the curved shape.

-you would continue moving the Pen tool to the position of the next curve and then

draw another segment line

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Editing a Curved LineEditing a Curved Line

with the Subselection toolactive, click a curved lineto reveal its anchor points-dragging an anchor pointallows you to modify the

shape or length of the curve

When the subselection pointer displays with a solid box it means the entire line will be selected.

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Free Transform ToolFree Transform Tool

Free Transform ToolFree Transform Tool select the object you

want to edit as you would with the Arrow tool

Free TransformModifier Options

Rotate and Skew

Distort

Scale

Envelope

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Rotate and SkewRotate and Skew

Rotate-drag corner handle

-Shift + drag = 45-degreeincrements

Skew-point to object's boundary

line between handlesand drag

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ScaleScale

Scale-point to a black handleand drag to enlarge or

reduce the size-drag a corner handle toscale horizontally and

vertically at the same time

MModify, odify, TTransformransformaccesses menu optionsto transform an object

e.g. Scale and Rotate dialog box

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DistortDistort

Distort-drag black handle to

alter the shape ofthe object

Distort pointer

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EnvelopeEnvelope

Envelope-drag a handle to

modify the shape's boundaries

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Transform PanelTransform Panel

WWindow, indow, TTransformransformincludes the scale, rotate,

and skew options

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Editing Stroke LinesEditing Stroke Lines

select the Arrow tooland select a line segment

Smooth Modifier-to smooth curves

Straighten Modifier-to convert curvedline segments into

straight-line segments

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Editing Stroke Lines…/2Editing Stroke Lines…/2

By default, the Recognize shapes feature isturned on at the Normal tolerance setting.The feature can be turned off or changed.

EEdit, Predit, Prefferenceserences

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Adjusting Stroke AppearanceAdjusting Stroke Appearance

Lengthen or shorten a line segment drag an end point when you see the

pointer with a shadow box attached to it

Reshape a curved line drag the pointer when you see the

curve attached to it

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Editing FillsEditing Fills

The fill that shades an enclosed shape withcolor is treated separately from the

stroke line that surrounds it.

Fills can be dragged away from objects tocreate shadows or three-dimensional images.

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Segmenting Fills within ShapesSegmenting Fills within Shapes

Draw lines inside a closedshape to segment the filland edit each segment

separately.

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Breaking a Shape ApartBreaking a Shape Apart

Split a shape apart bysegmenting it with a line

and then moving thesegment away from the

original shape.

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Lasso ToolLasso Tool

Lasso ToolLasso Tool drag a selection areaaround an irregular shape

Polygon ModifierPolygon Modifier allows you to create a selection

area inside a fill by clicking points to

form a closed shape

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Intersecting Lines to Create SegmentsIntersecting Lines to Create Segments

Segment fill with curvedlines by ensuring thecurved lines intersect

each other.

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Grouping ShapesGrouping Shapes

Flash combines shapesthat overlap

in a combined shapeit is easy to accidentally

drag the wrong line segment

Grouping objects can solve these problems.-Flash treats the group as a single entity to

facilitate editing tasks

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Grouping Shapes…/2Grouping Shapes…/2

To group an object, selectboth the stroke line and fill.

MModify, odify, GGrouproup

MModify, odify, UUngroupngroup

If you need to change the fillor stroke color after the object

has been grouped, you willhave to ungroup it first.

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Grouping Shapes…/3Grouping Shapes…/3

The order in which you group objectscreates a stacking order.

MModify, odify, AArrangerrange to change thestacking order

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Color Mixer PanelColor Mixer Panel

WWindow, Color Miindow, Color Mixxererclick button for which

you want to change colors

drag crosshair todesired color

increase or decreasebrightness level

drag slider bar or keyvalue to alter

color's composition

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Color Swatches PanelColor Swatches Panel

WWindow, Color Sindow, Color Swwatchesatches

click Stroke color orFill color button in the

toolbox and thenclick desired color swatch-toolbox button updates

to the color swatch chosen

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Applying a Gradient Fill ColorApplying a Gradient Fill Color

A gradient is a gradual blendingof two colors in a fill in

either radial or linear direction.

Radialgradient

Lineargradient

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Applying a Gradient Fill Color…/2Applying a Gradient Fill Color…/2

select from the Gradient Switches

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Creating a GradientCreating a Gradient Open the Color Mixer panel Change the Fill style from solid to either Linear

or Radial Click the pointer at the left end of the color band Click the color swatch and choose desired color Click the pointer at the right end of the color

band Click the color swatch and choose desired color The gradient displays in the color preview box The gradient is now active in the Fill Color

button

The two colors are blended together.

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Fill Transform ToolFill Transform Tool

Fill Transform ToolFill Transform Tool

drag the center point to adjust the point at which the first color blends with

the second color

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Commands ReviewCommands Review

How do you break apart a text block?

MModify, Breaodify, Breakk Apart or Ctrl + B Apart or Ctrl + B

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How do you change the magnification setting?

click click VView, iew, MMagnificationagnification

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How do you change the stacking order of an object?

MModify, odify, AArrangerrange to change thestacking order

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How do you change text properties?

point to option andclick desired setting

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How do you display the Color Mixer panel?

WWindow, Color Miindow, Color Mixxerer

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How do you display the Color Swatches panel?

WWindow, Color Sindow, Color Swwatchesatches

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How do you change document properties?

MModify, odify, DDocument or Ctrl + Jocument or Ctrl + J

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How do you group select objects?

MModify, odify, GGrouproup

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How do you transform an object?

MModify, odify, TTransformransformaccesses menu optionsto transform an object

e.g. Scale and Rotate dialog box

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How do you ungroup objects?

MModify, odify, UUngroupngroup

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Working with Layers, Libraries, and Importing

Graphics

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working with text and editing drawn objects

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