Timeline Effects


Timeline effects are automated versions of some of the animation types created manually in the previous sections. You might wonder why they weren't discussed first. Now, though, you can appreciate what they do because you understand the mechanics behind them. You are also more likely to understand that with timeline effects, you are sacrificing customization and increasing file size for ease of creation.

A timeline effect can be applied to any piece of text, graphic symbols, groups, and even shapes. Select the object to which you would like to apply the effect and choose Modify, Timeline Effect. Most of the time you will want to use animation effects such as Transform (position, rotation, scale, and color effect changes) or Transition (fading up and/or wiping the object selected), Blur, Expand, Drop Shadow, or Explode. Many of these effects are made to be used specifically with a text field, but can make interesting effects when applied to other objects.

When the timeline effect is applied to the object, a new layer is created with a newly created symbol on it and the specified number of frames in the layer. In the library there is a new folder called the Effects folder that contains your new symbol with all the applied effects built in. Then, follow these steps:

1.

Create text on a new layer.

2.

Select the text and use the contextual menu or choose Insert, Timeline Effects, Transform/Transition, Transition from the top menu bar.

3.

In the Transition dialog box remove the Wipe feature by deselecting the checkbox and choose the Direction as Out.

4.

Then press the Update Preview button to see the effect and press OK to create the effect.

You can now see that when you move the playback head, the effect has been created. To remove the transition or edit it, choose Modify, Timeline Effects, Edit Effect or Remove Effect. The contextual menu provides a nice shortcut if you (Ctrl-click) [right-click] on the object and choose Timeline Effect, Edit Effect or Remove Effect from the menu.

There are a few limitations as you begin playing with these effects: First, you can only apply one effect to any object. You also cannot simply pull the symbol with the effect attached from the library to create a new object. In addition, you need to remember the settings from one transition to the next. Because of these limitations, timeline effects are most useful for creating on-the-fly presentations and slide transitions, but not for production work.



Special Edition Using Macromedia Studio 8
Special Edition Using Macromedia Studio 8
ISBN: 0789733854
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 337

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