Hands-On: Flash MX 2004 the Basics

Exercise 1 : Using theProperties Inspector to Edit

Light-weight practice in this first hands-on task, you'll use the Properties panel to inspect and change the fill colors. Please click the Expand/Collapse arrow so that the Properties panel opens all the way.

Create a new default size550 x 400 pixel file.

Take a look at the Properties panel and notice the type of information listed, it will be changed.

Select the Brush tool by clicking once in the Tools panel. Notice that by selecting the Brush tool, the Properties panel has changed. Now Paint a squiggly line on the Stage.

Before you draw again, select a different color from the Fill Color swatch in the Properties panel. Click the swatch and select a different color from the choices shown.

Paint another squiggly line in this new color on a blank area of the stage. Now select the Arrow Tool(by clicking the black arrow at the top left of the Tools panel—or, simply type a "v").

Click once on the first squiggly line to select it. Notice that the Properties panel changes again. Additional information about the shapes' coordinates and size appear. While the shape is still selected, change the fill color by clicking on the Fill Color swatch in the Properties panel and picking a new color.

TIP : The swatch with a red line through it—Stroke Color—is for shapes drawn with the Pencil tool.

Finally, make both squiggly shapes the same color. Make sure that you still have one shape selected and then click and release on the Fill Color swatch. Then(while the cursor looks like and eye-dropper) click on the other squiggly shape to sample its color. This is just a quick example of how the cursor changes to tell you what will happen when you click.

TIP: For a bit more practice, do the following to see some more of the powerful text options added to Flash MX.

In the same window with the squiggles, select the Text tool, click the Stage, and then type a few words. Click the Arrow tool when you're finished typing. From the Properties panel, you can select a different font, change the font size, change the color, and control the text in many

common ways. Unless you’ve become totally attached to this file, you don’t have to save it. But you could print out a copy of your best work if you want grade credit for the Hands-On.

TIP: The Format button on the PI panel includes additional options related to margins.

The Pencil Tool options.                                      The Pencil Tool line options.

The Paint Brush Options                                        More Paint Brush choices

The Eraser Tool choices

Try painting Inside, Outside and any combination Flash MX 2004 gives you, don’t be shy, and use them all!

Painting Inside really depends upon where your brush is , if it’s inside a shape then you’ll be paint inside the shape, however, if it is on the background, then the background becomes the Inside and you’ll be painting there instead.

The Eraser tool of course erases to the background color, and since this page is white the effects of the Eraser show white.

Bottom line, have some fun while you discover how and why these tools work the way they do.