This lecture covers the following sections:

3.1 Masking an Image
3.2 Animating the Mask

1. Select a Keyframe on the timeline.
2. Create an image of your choice using the tools available in the Tools box.
3. Alternatively, click "File", and then click "Import" from the drop-down menu that appears. On the Import window that has poped up, browse and select the file containing the image (may be a photograph) that you would want to import to the flash file. Click "Open" on the Import window.
4. The image is now on the flash Stage. Using the Free Transform Tool, adjust the size of the image on the Stage.
5. Position the image on the Stage wherever you want it to be using the Arrow Tool in the Tools box.
6. Decide the length of the animation, and choose the final timeframe on the Timeline accordingly. Click on that timeframe. The in-between timeframes would be tinted ash. It indicates that the image would be available for all those frames during the animation.
7. Select the layer containing the image by clicking that layer in the Layer window. Right-click the mouse to get the drop-down menu about layers (not frames).
8. On the drop-down menu that has appeared, click on "Insert Layer". A new layer would appear just above the layer containg the image.
9. Right-click on the new layer to get the drop-down menu, and click on "Mask".
10. This action would introduce some changes on the mask layer and the image layer, which is to be masked. One of which is the introduction of locks on the mask layer and on the layer to be masked, just below the lock symbol on the Layer window.
11. While the lock symbol is on, you cannot make any changes to the images corresponding to these layers. Therefore, unlock the layers by clicking on the lock symbols on the mask layer and on the layer to be masked.
12. Now click on the first Keyframe of the Mask layer, select perhaps the Oval/Rectangle Tool and draw an oval/rectangle anywhere on the Stage. In case of the oval/rectangle drawn, retain only the fill and delete the stroke boardering the fill.
13. Click on the lock symbol on the Layer window and lock all layers. You will now see the image only through the oval/rectangle drawn by you on the mask layer, and the rest of the image is masked.

1. Create a masked image according to the steps given in Section 3.1.
2. Unlock the mask layer and the masked layer by clicking on the locks on the layers.
3. Motion/shape tween the object drawn on the mask layer such that the object changes its size.
4. Lock the mask and the masked layers.
5. Click the controller's Rewind and then the Play buttons to witness the mask unfolding the image in a cinematic style.

For more information or clarification or to give your comments,
contact shanthini at   shanthi@ids.lk

Glossary:

Controller:

If the controller is not seen in the workspace, select "Window", and then "Toolbars" on the drop-down menu. On the menu that appears with 3 choices, choose "Controller". The playback controller would then appear somewhere on the workspace.