Macromedia's Flash has caught the attention of the Web. Marcomedia's
site has been identified as one of the top twenty sites in the world.
Of course they make other terrific software, but Flash, with its vector
based animation offers impressive capability for designer control and
motion/sound control.
Flash uses symbols for graphics ... you create or import a graphic
element, convert it to a symbol and place it in a library. Place it
once and use it many times without affecting file size. Dingbats work
perfectly into this format, directly into Flash, or as a base for graphics
created in vector programs like CorelDraw, Illustrator or Macromedia
Freehand (see page 3 and page
6 of this tutorial).
The sample at the left is a very basic Flash movie featuring a dingbat
font as the basis for graphic symbols. Designers are doing amazing things
with Flash and most of the graphics used are very simple - exactly like
dingbats. Next time you see a Flash site, examine the simple graphic
shapes. Movement is the star. (Take a trip to the Macromedia
site for excellent Flash site examples.)
Tip: It is good practice
to use the stage area while creating symbols to prevent confusion as
you build your movie.
Note: While it is possible to build an entire movie without
ever creating a symbol, it is a bad idea. You will work harder, the
movie will not be consistent, and the file size will be bigger. Symbols
are the power of Flash.
Tip: You can test your color with the gradient window
open. It acts as a floating window and the screen remains active.
Create Flash Symbols from Dingbats
Working with dingbats in Flash is much like any vector program. They
are entered as text, and limited editing is available until the font
is converted to a graphic.
Create or open a movie. Choose the Text Tool from the Drawing Toolbar
and click anywhere on the movie or stage (area around the movie often
known as pasteboard in other graphic applications). Choose your dingbat
font and type the character (Zone 23 Foopy 9, character "G"
here). The cursor and text bounding box indicate the font is still text.
To make changes to text, you must highlight the characters.
You can convert the text to a symbol and edit color, scale, etc. later.
Or, you can create the look you want before you convert to a symbol.
Let's start by changing the font to a curve and changing color, and
then talk about editing symbols.
Change the Color
Choose
the Arrow Tool from the Tool Bar and select the font. A dotted border
appears around the character. In the Main Menu, choose Modify>Break
Apart. Your character will now look like the sample at the left and
is ready to edit.
With
the Arrow Tool, click anywhere to deselect and then click and drag along
any edge to change the shape of the object. This must be in one action
and you will see the line moving as in this sample. If you just click
and the object looks again like the sample above, you must click off
and start again.
To
change the color: With the Arrow Tool, click your object to select.
Choose the Paint Bucket Tool from the Toolbar and the cursor turns to
a Paint Bucket. Locate the Fill Color button in the Toolbar (top left
in this illustration). The current color is shown on the button. Click
to change. Choose your color from the picker (shown at left, or click
on the button at the top of the window for access to more choices and
gradients.
You can create preset gradient colors by clicking New, or select one
of the current presets to edit. To change gradient colors, select the
gradient color tab and choose a new color from the picker. You can also
set transparency with the Alpha slider at the right of the screen. To
save a preset, click the change button.
Return to the screen and place the bucket cursor over
any part of the selected area. Click to fill. You will have to click
off the object to see the fill as the crosshatched selection covers
the effect.
This is not the place for a full color tutorial, but should
be enough to get you started. Many people find setting color in Flash
confusing at first, but it is efficient once you learn your way around.
Manipulate your Graphic
Find
the buttons shown here on the Toolbar. Select your object with the Arrow
Tool. The top left button will smooth your object, while the top right
will straighten lines. Choose the curved arrow to rotate, and the bottom
right button to scale your object.
Once you are satisfied with the adjustments on your object
choose the Arrow Tool and select your object. In the Main Menu, choose
Insert>Convert to Symbol. You will be prompted to name your symbol.
Do it! The numbers of symbols builds quickly - organization is very
important when building a Flash movie. In fact, consider creating folders
to help you locate symbols quickly. Click the Options fly-out at the
top right of the Library window to create a folder.
Once your symbol is created, you can use it over and over
again, guaranteeing consistency and adding nothing to file size. You
can also make global changes. In the sample at the top of this page,
I originally had a lot of very bright pink in the graphics. Looked great
until it landed on this page The pink went to war with the green and
orange (as I should have known but got lost in the creative fun). Because
I had used symbols through the movie, I was able to make three simple
adjustments and change the total color scheme of the movie. I love symbols!
That's as far as I can go with Flash for a dingbat article.
If you use Flash, make sure that you consider building your dingbat
collection. Dingbats are handy for any Web graphics. For Flash, there
is no better tool. Have fun!
Choose
the Arrow Tool from the Tool Bar and select the font. A dotted border
appears around the character. In the Main Menu, choose Modify>Break
Apart. Your character will now look like the sample at the left and
is ready to edit. 
With
the Arrow Tool, click anywhere to deselect and then click and drag along
any edge to change the shape of the object. This must be in one action
and you will see the line moving as in this sample. If you just click
and the object looks again like the sample above, you must click off
and start again. 
To
change the color: With the Arrow Tool, click your object to select.
Choose the Paint Bucket Tool from the Toolbar and the cursor turns to
a Paint Bucket. Locate the Fill Color button in the Toolbar (top left
in this illustration). The current color is shown on the button. Click
to change. Choose your color from the picker (shown at left, or click
on the button at the top of the window for access to more choices and
gradients. 
Find
the buttons shown here on the Toolbar. Select your object with the Arrow
Tool. The top left button will smooth your object, while the top right
will straighten lines. Choose the curved arrow to rotate, and the bottom
right button to scale your object. 
