Using the Bone Tool in Flash

Designing for the Web

We are going to "Flip the Classroom" for this project. Searching for information about a topic on the Internet can seem simple,  just type in what you need and you get the answers.  Not always.  Sometimes I spend ten minutes watching or reading a tutorial and realize that I am wasting my time.  So what makes a tutorial found on the web worthwhile?  YOU tell me at the end of this lesson, be prepared to share the process with the class.

In this lesson you will be required to:

• Create a short animation that utilizes the bone tool. This can be a brief showcase of the bone tool.
• Find useful resources on the web that will teach you how to make an animation utilizing the bone tool. 

If you choose you may work with a partner.  Start your search for information on animations created using the bone tool.  Answer the following questions in a new journal entry.  

1. What websites were the most helpful to you and who were they published by?
2. Which sites weren't so helpful to you and who were they published by?
3. Were there any sites that were blocked from you that you think could have been useful?
4. Were you able to access any videos of someone creating an animation using the bone tool?
5. Once you found the information what complications did you have creating the animation?
6. Did you utilize Photoshop when creating this animation?
7. How did you and your partner work together? What portions of the work did you do?
8. What would you like to add to or change about your animation?

Flash Final

Designing for the Web

Make your final Flash project a personal work of art that reflects your style and interests. Your final project in Flash should include:

• shape, classic, motion, and/or motion presets
• sound
• ActionScript (play/pause button)
• a point of view and a clear theme
• 30 seconds or longer

FLASH FINAL PROJECT DOCUMENT

Below are two examples of ways to approach this project (they are works in progress..).

Expression in Ceramics

Multiple Tile Reflection

Take some time to reflect on the process you went through to create your tiles and the final result.  It is always good to learn from your work.

Self-Reflection Tile 

Adding "Action Script" to your Slide-Show

Designing for the Web

The movie below is a final flash project created by a student from a previous semester.  In a few weeks you have been introduced to the very basics of what Flash can do.  We have only scratched the service of what Flash is capable of.  ActionScript was added to the file below.  Action Script is a type of code added into keyframes to add action to the movie.  For instance the action makes the movie start when you press the word "play".  Go ahead and press play and see what happens.In your final flash project you will use the same script to start your own movies.  

ART CLUB!!

There is a lot going on in Art Club!!  

We will be making a difference by creating portraits for orphans in Ghana this year! Last year we gifted portraits to children in the Philippines  They were so thrilled to get original artwork created by the students at Branford High School!  We can't wait to get started. 

We will also begin creating jewelry, ornaments, and tags using Ceramics.  Art Club members will be looking for inspiration today and writing down the steps needed to create their piece.  Next week will jump in and start working in clay.  Here are some pieces that are inspiring me!  

Slide-Show in Flash

Designing for the Web

Now that you know how to  create Shape, Motion, and Classic Tweens it is time to learn how to create a slide show in Flash.  The images below are fading in and out by adjusting the "alpha" in the color effect area of the properties panel.  

There are many ways to make a slide-show using Flash. You can look up some other ways on the internet or follow the  directions here. Begin by inserting your image to a layer (File-import image to stage), convert it to symbol-choosing movie clip for your option.  Then insert a key-frame 10 frames down the timeline. Insert another keyframe on Frame 25.   On frame 25 make the alpha  0.  After doing this create a Classic Tween between  frame 10 and 25.   On a new layer insert a key-frame where the first picture begins to fade out (frame 10).  Import a new image. Convert to symbol. On this frame the alpha will be 0.  Insert a keyframe 15 frames down the timeline (frame 25).  At this frame the alpha will be 100.  Create a classic tween. Insert a keyframe 10 Frames down the timeline (frame 35).  Insert another keyframe 15 frames down the timeline.  At this frame the alpha will be 0.  Create a classic tween between (frames 35-50).  Repeat this process by inserting a key frame where the previous picture begins to fade out. 

The final part of the slide show is fading the very first picture of the slide in where the last picture is fading out.  This should create a smooth transition from beginning to end.  

When creating a slide show you can speed up or slow down the transitions by putting fewer or greater frames in between the key-frames.  There are many ways to make slide-shows, this is only one way to get you started.
Now create one of your own and place in the "Flash Intro" folder as an .swf when finished. Save as "lastnameslideshow"

Bouncing Ball Animation

If you have completed the trace lesson and would like to move ahead and learn some more animation concepts in Flash view the bouncing ball tutorial and start the process of creating this type of animation.

Bouncing Ball Animation