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Animating Objects

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.

Outro Animation

The outro effect defines how the item disappears.

Quick Animations

To add intro and outro animation, select the item and choose "Intro" or "Outro" menu and select one of the effects:

intro-animations.sfd

To add customized intro or outro animation, select the item and choose "Intro" > "Intro Animation" or "Outro" > "Outro 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

Blur

The item will be out of focus

2 way

This option creates back and forth movement

Always Visible

The item will be visible before the animation starts

Delay After

The time after Intro animation ends and before the frame. The item with longer delay will end animation earlier than items with shorter delay.

Delay Before

The time after the frame and before Outro animation starts. The item with longer delay will start start animation later than items with shorter delay. Use delay time to control the order of animations.

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

By default item will appear at 0% (beginning of the frame) and hide at 100% (end of the frame). You can change values under Start At, Show At, Stop At and Hide At or 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 "Intro" > "Intro Animation" or with with "Outro" > "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 "Loop Animation" command located under the "Animation" 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 "Intro" > "Intro Animation" to adjust the first phase of the animation. Choose "Outro" > "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 "Intro" > "Advanced Intro Animation" to adjust the first phase of the animation. Choose "Outro" > "Advanced Outro Animation" to adjust the second phase of the animation.

Enter values in the "Start At" or "Stop At" area. Move 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 "Intro" > "Intro Animation", then change Duration value to change the speed of the first phase. Choose "Outro" > "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 "Intro" > "Intro Animation" and check "2 way" option.

To create a sprite that fades in and out

Select the item and choose "Intro" > "Intro Animation" and check "Fade" and "2 way" option. Then make sure "Animation" > "Loop Animation" 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 "Intro" > "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.

clipeffects.sfd

Frame Mixing

To start intro animations on the next frame before outro animations end choose "Animation" > "Animation Properties" and change "Mix with previous Frame" value.