When no animation is defined, each frame is static.
In the following example the movie consists of 2 frames, 1 second each:
Intro Animation
The Intro effect defines how the item appears on the frame.
To add intro animation, select the item and choose "Animation" > "Quick Intro"
menu and select one of the effects:
intro-animations.sfd
Outro Animation
The outro effect defines how the item disappears.
To add outro animation, select the item and choose "Animation" > "Quick Outro"
command.
To create more advanced effect and to control animation speed and order choose
"Animation" > "Intro Animation" command.
Select one of the effects "Fly", "Stretch", "Peek", "Cover" or "Rotate" and click OK. Press F9 to preview the animation.
By default the animation takes 0.5 second.
To speed-up the animation
Decrease the duration time, increase to slow-down
Fade
This option causes the item to appear as transparent
Easing
The motion is accelerated (soft start)
Rotation
The item will rotate during the animation
2 way
This option creates back and forth movement
Always Visible
The item will be visible before the animation starts
Effect delay
The time after Intro animation and before the frame.
Use delay time to control the order of animations.
The item with longer delay will appear before items with shorter delay.
Motion (In-frame) animation
Motion settings define how the item moves during the frame, between intro and outro animation.
To define in-frame animation for an item
Select the item and choose "Animation" > "Motion" command. Select the speed and direction of the movement, rotation, rotation direction (CW or CCW) and scaling of the item (whether it should enlarge or decrease)
To combine motion with intro and outro animation of the item
Select the item and choose "Animation" > "Motion" command. Make sure "Intro" and "Outro" options are checked.
Move on Path
To move an item on a path choose Animation > Motion and select the path from the drop down list.
You have to draw a path first. To hide the path select it and apply 0 line with to it.
Timing Animations
To change the length of the motion phase
Change the duration of the frame with "Frame" > "Frame Delay"
To change the length of the intro or outro phase
Change the duration of the intro or outro effect with "Animation" > "Intro Animation" or with with "Animation" > "Outro Animation"
Creating an Intro/Outro Loop Sprite
Use Intro/Outro Loop Sprite to create items that play infinitely. The item will use current Intro and Outro animation effect.
Place the item on the frame to start the loop. Intro and Outro animation for the item will loop infinitely until the item disappears.
To create a loop
To define an "Intro/Outro Loop Sprite", select the item and choose "Sprite Animation/Loop" command located under "Item" menu.
If no intro or outro effect exists you have to choose one of the predefined animations or
set other intro and outro transformation.
Adjusting Intro/Outro Loop Sprite
Select the item and choose "Animation" > "Intro Animation" to adjust the first phase of the animation.
Choose "Animation" > "Outro Animation" to adjust the second phase of the animation.
To specify the angle, zoom or movement of the Intro/Outro sprite
Select the item and choose "Animation" > "Advanced Intro Animation" to adjust the first phase of the animation.
Choose "Animation" > "Advanced Outro Animation" to adjust the second phase of the animation.
Enter values in the "Transformation Details" area. Delta X,Y is the start or the end offest of the movement (in pixels),
Scale X,Y defines if the item should be resized (in percents),
Control X,Y is added to the "control point" of the item to rotate or scale the item around a point.
Default control point is the center of the item.
To speed up or to slow down Intro/Outro sprite
Select the item and choose "Animation" > "Intro Animation", then change Duration value to change the speed of the first phase.
Choose "Animation" > "Outro Animation" then change Duration value to change the speed of the second phase. Use low value to speed up the phase or high value to slow down. Duration defines how long the phase should take.
To create a sprite that loops back and forth
After you create the sprite select the item and choose "Animation" > "Intro Animation" and check "2 way" option.
To create a sprite that fades in and out
Select the item and choose "Animation" > "Intro Animation" and check "Fade" and "2 way" option. Then make sure "Item" > "Sprite Animation / Loop" is checked (check if necessary)
Clipping Path for the Animation
Intro or Outro animation effect can use additional clipping path.
To change clipping options select the item and choose "Animation" > "Advanced Intro Animation"
No Clip No clipping path is used
Static Clip Alligator will add static clipping path around the item bounding box. It clips the object being animated.
Animated Clip Flash Designer adds a clipping path around the item and animates the clipping path instead of the item.
Move your mouse over "No Clip", "Static Clip" and "Animated Clip" to see the difference.
