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Transformations
Author: Eddie Carroll | Website: http://www.flashkit.com |

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Hi there folks! Welcome to the world of transformations (not to be confused with Autobots and Decepticons). This cool little function is another tool that will help you unleash the creative beast within. Want to know more? Lets see how it works.

To perform a transformation on your text or object like rotation, flip and skew simply select the text or object using the arrow tool in the tool bar and Choose Modify> Transform. A submenu will appear and will give you a number of options like Scale, Rotate, Scale and Rotate, Rotate Left, Rotate Right, Flip Vertical and Flip Horizontal. You can do this quickly by selecting the object with the arrow tool in the tool bar and clicking on the rotate or scale icon below the tool bar. (see below)

Rotation
To rotate an object, select the object with the arrow tool from the tool bar and choose the rotate icon from below the tool bar. You will notice 8 small circles in the pattern of a rectangle appear around the object. Move you cursor to a corner, click and drag in a circular motion. Wha la!

Skew
Skewing an object transforms it by slanting it along one or both axes. To skew an object follow the same instructions for the Rotation but instead of dragging a corner of the box , try dragging the circle in the center of each side of the rectangle selection.

Scale
The Scale function will allow you to increase or decrease the height and/or the width of an object. To Scale, select the object then select the scale icon which is to the right of the rotate icon below the tool bar. You will notice 8 small squares in the pattern of a rectangle appear around the object. Now to scale in both axis' at the same time click and drag a corner inwards or outwards. To scale in one axis use the square in the center of each side of the rectangular selection.

Flip
Flipping is a similar concept to scaling except you grap any square (corner or side) and drag it back over the object and beyond. Doesn't make sense? try think of it in terms of a piece of paper. To flip a piece of paper you grap one side or corner and turn it. The same applies here in Flash.

Now you are probably thinking that this transforming business is a pretty inprecise art. Surly there is a way to enter exact values? The answer to that is YES! To do this Choose Window> Inspectors> Transform. A Dialog box will appear (see below) which will allow you to scale in one or both axis', rotate, and skew.

Note: You can use most font types in Flash however designing across several platforms could pose a problem. In addition your visitors must have the type's font installed on their system in order for your movie to display properly. To cater for this check out our tutorial on Device Fonts.

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Quick Reference : Transformations

Rotation

1. Select the object
2. Choose the rotate icon
3. Click and drag a corner of the selection in a circular motion.

Skew

1. Select the object
2. Choose the rotate icon
3. Click and Drag the center of a side of the rectangle selection.

Scale

1. Select the object
2. Select the scale icon
3. To scale in both axis' at the same time click and drag a corner of the rectangular selection
4. To scale in one axis click and drag the center of a side of the rectangular selection.

Flip

Select the object

Select the scale icon

Click and drag a corner or side back over the object and beyond

Transforming an object by specifying values

Choose Window> Inspectors> Transform.

Enter relevant values to scale in one or both axis', rotate, and skew.

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» Level Basic

Added: : 2000-02-06 Rating: 7.65 Votes: 383 Hits: 8238

» Author

Eddie was the content editor for Flash Kit.

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