Hands-On: Flash MX 2004 the Basics

Exercise 2: Working With Imported Images

• Flash can import many different image types, including GIF, JPGFreehand and Illustrator images.
• GIF and JPG images are bitmap, or raster images that consist of a grid of dots called pixels.
• Images created in Freehand, Illustrator and FireworksMX are vector images consisting of geometric lines and curves.
• You can use Flash tools to work with vector images but not bitmap images, to work with a bitmap image; you must first break apart the image and convert to a vector image.

Breaking Apart Bitmap Images

1. Open any Bitmap image you have or download one from the classfiles.
2. Select the image with the black arrow tool.
3. Click Modify.
4. Click Break Apart or[Control] + [B]
5. Small white dots cover the bitmap image to indicate that the image is broken apart.
6. Click anywhere else on the page to deselect.

Fill an Object with a Bitmap Image

1. Create a simple image with any of the Oval, Rectangle, Pen, or Brush tools.
2. Fill your simple image shapewith the broken apart bitmap image by clicking the eye-dropper tool to copy the bitmap image to the object you want to fill.
3. Use the Fill Transform Tool to rearrange, skew, and turn the image to your liking.    

The image below was first broken apart and then it was applied to a circle, a 8 point star and a free-form shape.