Section 2.5. Adding Color


2.5. Adding Color

The Colors section of the Tools panel lets you choose the colors for your strokes and fills. Before you click one of the drawing icons to begin drawing (or afterward, to change existing colors) you can click either of the Stroke or Fill icons in the Color Section to bring up a color palette, as you see in Figure 2-22. Choose a color from the color palette, and Flash applies that color to the Stage as you draw.

2.5.1. Changing the Color of a Stroke (Line)

One of the best things about drawing in Flash is how easy it is to change things around. If you draw a bright orange line using the Pencil tool, for example, you can change that line an instant later to spruce, chartreuse, or puce (and then back to orange again) with just a few simple mouse clicks.


Note: In Flash, all lines are made up of strokes. The Flash drawing tools that produce strokes include the Pencil, the Pen, the Line, and the shape tools (Oval, Rectangle, and PolyStar).

Flash gives you two different ways to change the color of a stroke: the Property Inspector and the Ink Bottle tool.

Figure 2-21. Copying and pasting is the easiest way to try out a look. If you're copying a complex image, as shown here, you may want to group the selected image first by choosing Modify Group. (Theres much more detail on grouping objects on Section 5.2.4 in Chapter 5.) For additional copies, simply choose Edit Paste in Center or Edit Paste in Place again.

2.5.1.1. Coloring strokes with the Property Inspector

Changing the color of a stroke using the Property Inspector is best for situations when you want to change the color of a single stroke or when you want to change more than just the color of a stroke (for example, you want to change stroke thickness or the color of the fill inside the stroke).

To change the color of a stroke using the Property Inspector:

  1. On the Stage, select the stroke you want to change .

    A Property Inspector similar to the one in Figure 2-23 appears.

  2. In the Property Inspector, click the Stroke Color icon .

    A Color Picker appears.

  3. Click to choose a new color for your selected stroke .

    The Color Picker disappears, and Flash redisplays your stroke using the color you chose.

Figure 2-22. Before you begin drawing with the Pen or Pencil tools (both of which let you create strokes), you can choose the color Pen or Pencil you want to use by clicking the Stroke Color icon and then selecting a color from the palette that appears. If you want to change the color that appears when you use the Brush tool (which creates fills), you need to click the Fill Color icon (and select a color) before you click the Brush tool and begin to draw.

Figure 2-23. Using the Property Inspector is a quick and easy way to change the color of a single stroke. First, select the stroke you want to recolor; then, in the Property Inspector that appears, click the Stroke Color icon. When you do, the Color Picker appears, complete with any custom color swatches you've added to it (if any). The instant you choose a color, the Color Picker disappears and the selected stroke(s) change to the new color. Notice here that the Fill Color icon has a slash through it, meaning that no fill is currently selected.

2.5.1.2. Coloring strokes with the Ink Bottle tool

The Ink Bottle tool is great for situations when you want to apply the same color to a bunch of different strokes all in one fell swoop.

To change the color of a stroke (or several strokes) using the Ink Bottle tool:

  1. In the Tools panel, select the Stroke Color icon (Figure 2-24, top ).

    The Color Picker appears, and as you mouse over the different colors, you notice your cursor looks like a tiny eyedropper.

  2. Click a color to choose it .

    The Color Picker disappears, and Flash redisplays the Stroke Color icon using the color you just selected.

  3. On the Stage, select the stroke(s) you want to recolor .

    Flash highlights the selected strokes.

  4. In the Tools panel, click the Ink Bottle tool (Figure 2-24, bottom ).

    As you mouse over the stage, you notice your cursor looks like a little ink bottle.

  5. Click the selected strokes .

    Flash recolors the selected strokes, as shown in Figure 2-24 (bottom).


Tip: If all you want to do is change the color of one stroke, you don't need to select it first. Just click the Ink Bottle tool and then, on the Stage, click the stroke to recolor it.

2.5.2. Changing the Color of a Fill

If you change your mind about the color of any of the fills you add to the Stage, no problem. Flash gives you two different ways to change the color of a fill: the Property Inspector and the Paint Bucket tool.


Note: The Flash drawing tools that produce fills include the Brush tool and all of the shape tools (Oval, Rectangle, and PolyStar).
2.5.2.1. Coloring fills with the Property Inspector

Using the Property Inspector to change the color of a fill is great for situations when you want to change more than just fill color: for example, you want to change both fill color and the color of the stroke outline surrounding the fill.

To change the color of a fill using the Property Inspector:

  1. On the Stage, select the fill you want to change .

    A Property Inspector similar to the one in Figure 2-25 appears.

    Figure 2-24. Top: Clicking the Stroke Color icon displays the Color Picker. Here, you can change not just the hue, but also the transparency you want. To do so, click the arrow next to the Alpha box and drag the slider anywhere from 0%, (completely transparent) to 100% (completely opaque ).
    Bottom: After you select one or more strokes, click the Ink Bottle tool to change the color of all of the selected strokes. To change the color of strokes one by one, you don't need to select them first; simply click them with the Ink Bottle tool.
  2. In the Property Inspector, click the Fill Color icon .

    The Color Picker appears.

  3. Click to choose a new color for your selected fill .

    As soon as you let go of your mouse, the Color Picker disappears, and Flash redisplays your fill using the color you chose.


Tip: To change the color of a bunch of fills quickly, select the fills you want to recolor first; then select the Fill Color icon and choose a new color. When you do, Flash automatically redisplays all your selected fills using your new color.
Figure 2-25. When you select a fill-containing shape (here, the inside of a circle), the Property Inspector automatically appears. In the Property Inspector, you see the Fill Color icon. Click it to display the Color Picker and then click to choose a new color for your fill. If you don't see the exact color you want, you can click the Custom Color icon to blend your own custom shade . And while you're here in the Property Inspector, you can also change the stroke outline of the shape, if you like.

2.5.2.2. Coloring fills with the Paint Bucket tool

The Paint Bucket tool is great for situations where you want to apply the same color to one or more fills on the Stage, either one fill at a time or all at once.

To change the color of a fill using the Paint Bucket tool:

  1. In the Tools panel, select the Fill Color icon (Figure 2-26, top ).

    The Color Picker appears, and as you mouse over the different colors, you notice your cursor looks like a tiny eyedropper.

  2. Click a color to choose it. (If you know the hexadecimal number of a specific color you want, you can type it into the field next to the preview window .)

    The Color Picker disappears, and Flash redisplays the Fill Color icon using the color you just selected.

  3. On the Stage, click the fill(s) you want to recolor .

    Flash recolors each fill you click, as shown in Figure 2-26 (bottom).


Tip: If you don't have a completely closed outline around your fill, Flash might not let you apply a fill color. To tell Flash to ignore small gaps (or medium gaps, or even relatively large gaps) surrounding your fill: in the Options section of the Tools panel (Figure 2-26, bottom), click Gap Size . Then, from the pop-up menu that appears, turn on the checkbox next to Close Small Gaps, Close Medium Gaps, or Close Large Gaps. Then try to modify your fill again. (If you're unsuccessful , you may want to consider closing the gap yourself using one of Flash's drawing tools.)
Figure 2-26. Top: Click the Fill Color icon to choose a new color for your fills. As you move your cursor around the Color Picker, you notice the Preview Window displays the color your cursor happens to be over at any given time.
Bottom: After you select a new fill color, apply it to the fills on Stage by clicking the Paint Bucket and then clicking each fill. If you're adding a fill for the first time and you find that Flash doesn't add your fill color, make sure your fill is perfectly enclosed . If it's notif there's so much as a tiny gap in the outline surrounding your fillFlash won't be able to tell where your fill stops and the Stage begins, so your new color won't take. Fortunately, you can tell Flash to ignore the gap and change your fill color as best it can. To do so, click the Gap size option (shown here) and, on the pop-up menu that appears, turn on the checkbox next to Close Small (or Medium, or Large) Gaps.




Flash 8
Flash Fox and Bono Bear (Chimps) (Chimps Series)
ISBN: 1901737438
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 126
Authors: Tessa Moore

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