Select Insert> Convert to Symbol or
press F8. You should see a new graphic symbol appear in the Library.
Name it Dot and ensure it's centered with the Use Center Point option checked.
Create a new graphic symbol in the Library and name it Background.
Open the symbol for editing.
Create a circle. Select and delete the outline. Using the Object
palette, select the shape and resize it to 150 x 150. Center it with the Use
Center Point option checked. Fill the circle with a dark blue. Close
the symbol and return to Scene 1.
Again, create a new graphic symbol in the Library and name it Mask.
Open the symbol for editing. (We're going to make the net that
catches mouse roll over/roll out events which in turn will deactivate the
menu.) (Follow these next steps very carefully!)
Create a square shape. Select and delete the outline. Again, using the Object
palette, select the shape and resize it to match the window size of your movie
(in this case it's 200 x 200). With the Use Center Point option
checked position the shape centered on the X axis and slightly
below on the Y axis. (Mine is set to X:-100, Y:-85.) Fill the
shape with a neutral color like gray.
Open the symbol Background, select the circle shape and copy
it.
Open the symbol Mask and Paste in Place the circle
shape over the top of the gray square shape.
With the symbol Mask still open, deselect the circle shape by
clicking in the area around the two shapes now on screen.
Reselect the circle shape and delete it. We've now punched an exact hole
through our net. I'll explain the madness later.
Jason Lampitt is an Interactive Developer for a major media development firm in Englewood, Colorado. He has a background in fine art as well as graphic design and has been developing multimedia titles for the past 6 years. Jason has a passion for bringing design to life through multimedia and helping
others to understand the sometimes complex and confusing world of
interactive development. In his spare time Jason is an active outdoorsman,
mountain biker and family man.
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Creating an Animated Hidden Menu System
