Section 5.1. Selecting Graphic Elements

5.1. Selecting Graphic Elements

With few exceptions, before you can modify an object on the Stage, you first have to select the object. It's just as in a word processor, where you have to highlight a word with your cursor before you can edit or delete it. Since Flash deals with more complex objects than words, it gives you a variety of selection tools for different purposes. The Tools panel (Figure 5-1) has three different selection tools. Each is good for selecting different types of objects.

There are a couple of exceptions to this rule: specifically , modifying fill color using the Paint Bucket tool (Section 2.5.2.2) and reshaping lines and curves using the Selection tool (below). But in general, you need to select stuff in Flash before you can work with it.

Tip: To select everything on the Stage, choose Edit

Select All.

Selection . Clicking with the black arrow selects entire strokes, fills, shapes, and objects (such as bitmaps and symbols), as well as individual portions of those strokes, fills, shapes , and objects.
Subselection . The white arrow lets you select the individual points that make up lines and curves.
Lasso . This tool, which looks like a miniature lasso, is great for selecting groups of objects, oddly shaped objects, or portions of objects. When objects are close together on the Stage, you can use the lasso to carefully select around them.

The following sections describe each of these three tools in detail.

Note: The selection tools behave differently depending on whether you've drawn your objects on the Stage using object drawing mode or chosen to stick with merge drawing mode (which Flash assumes you want until you tell it differently). This chapter shows the selection tools in object drawing mode. (Section 2.2.3 explains the differences between the two modes.)

5.1.1. The Selection Tool

The aptly named Selection tool is the workhorse of Flash's selection tools; with it, you can select individual graphic elements such as strokes, fills, shapes, symbols, text blocks, and grouped objects. You can also use the Selection tool to select a portion of any object, as shown in Figure 5-2, or to move or reshape an object (a process sometimes referred to as transforming an object).

Figure 5-2. Using the Selection tool is the easiest way to select just about any object, whether it's a shape, a stroke, a bitmap, a fill, or a text block. To use the Selection tool: In the Property panel, click the tool; then, on the Stage, click the object you want to select. To select groups of objects, you have a choice: You can either Shift-click each object, or click outside the group and drag until Flash displays a selection box around your group .

5.1.1.1. Selecting a graphic element

The most common thing you're going to want to do with the Selection tool is select an entire graphic elementa circle, a line, a block of text, a bitmap, a hand-drawn kangarooso that you can apply color to it, copy it, skew it, or make some other modification to it.

Note: To deselect a selected object (regardless of which tool you used to select it), simply click any blank spot on the Stage.

To select an entire graphic element (or groups of elements) using the Selection tool:

In the Tools panel, click the Selection tool .

Flash highlights the Selection tool, and Selection-specific options appear in the Options section of the Tools panel (Figure 5-3). When you mouse over the Stage, Flash displays a tiny gray selection box just below your cursor.

Note: You use the "Snap to Objects" option to help you align an object you've selected using the Selection tool. You'll find out more about this option on Section 5.2.6.1.
Either click the object you want to select, or (best for lines and groups of objects) click near the object and drag your cursor until the selection box surrounds the object .

Tip: You can also select groups of objects with the Selection tool when you Shift-click each object you want to select.

Flash highlights the selected object either by displaying a selection box around the object as shown on the left in Figure 5-3 or covering the selected area with the selection pattern on the right. Either way, the Property panel changes to reflect the object you've selected.

Note: When you select a straight line, you may find it tough to see the selection box because Flash draws it so closely around the line that it almost looks like part of the line itself.

Figure 5-3. Flash displays a selection box around grouped objects (like the circle and rectangle shown here), symbols, and text blocks to let you know you've successfully selected them. To let you know you've successfully selected an ungrouped fill or stroke, Flash displays the subtle pattern shown here on top of the freeform Brush-drawn fill and part of the Pencil-drawn stroke.

Note: If you use the Selection tool to select a line or shape, Flash displays the Straighten and Smooth options (check out the Options section of the Tools panel). These options let you tweak your lines and shapesuseful if you've got a shape almost the way you want it, but not quite (and you don't want to have to start over and redraw the whole thing). To incrementally straighten a curved line, with the line selected, click the Straighten option. To incrementally turn a series of straight-line angles into a curve, with the line selected, click the Smooth option.

With the object selected, you can make any modifications you want to the object using the main menu options, Flash's color or transform tools (Section 2.5 and Section 5.2.2.3) or any of the panels, such as the Property Inspector.

5.1.1.2. Selecting part of a graphic element

Sometimes you want to carve a chunk off an object to work with it separately: to apply a gradient effect, to cut it out of your image entirely, or whatever strikes your fancy. Using the Selection tool, you can drag a rectangle anywhere over an object to tell Flash to select just that portion of the object.

Note: If you want to select a freeform portion of an objectfor example, you've drawn a jungle scene and you want to cut the shape of a baboon's head out of ityou need the Lasso tool (Section 5.1.3). The Selection tool allows you to select only a rectangular shape.

To select just a portion of an ungrouped graphic element using the Selection tool:

In the Tools panel, click the Selection tool .

Flash highlights the Selection tool.
Click near the object and then drag your cursor until the selection box surrounds just the portion of the object you want to select (Figure 5-4) .
Let go of the mouse .

Flash highlights the selected portion of the object as in Figure 5-4, right.

Note: Flash doesn't let you select a portion of a grouped object, a bitmap, or an object created using object drawing mode. To select a portion of a grouped object (or a single object created in object drawing mode), you need to ungroup it first (Modify

Ungroup). To select a portion of a bitmap, you need to break it apart first (Modify

Break Apart). To learn how to draw an object using merge drawing mode, check out Section 2.2.1.3.

5.1.1.3. Moving and reshaping (transforming) with the Selection tool

The Selection tool does double-duty: It lets you select objects and portions of objects, as described in the preceding section, but it also lets you move and reshape, or transform , them. This double-duty is greatas long as you know what to expect. (Many's the budding Flash-ionado who's sat down to select part of an image and been totally dismayed when the object suddenly, inexplicably, developed a barnacle-like bulge.)

Note: Whether or not Flash treats your shape as a single cohesive entity (for example, an outlined circle) or a combination of independent elements (the circle's outline plus the circle's fill) depends on whether you drew that shape in object or merge drawing mode.

Here's how it works. If you click the Selection tool and then position your cursor directly over an unselected fill or stroke, Flash displays, next to your cursor, one of three icons: a hooked cross, a curve, or an angle.

Moving (hooked cross ). The hooked cross (Figure 5-5) tells you that you can click to move the object directly beneath your cursor.
Reshaping (curve ). When you see the curve icon shown in Figure 5-6, dragging reshapes the line beneath your cursor (in other words, it lets you add a curve).

Figure 5-5. The hooked cross shown here tells you that if you drag this fill, you can move it across the Stage. Release the mouse when the object is where you want it.

Figure 5-6. When you see the curve icon (top), you can drag to pull the line in any direction you like (middle). Releasing the mouse finishes the modification (bottom).

Tip: To add an angle rather than a curve, when you see the curve icon, press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) before dragging.
Reshaping (angle ). Dragging the angle icon (Figure 5-7) lets you reshape one of the corners of your object.

Figure 5-7. When you mouse over an object's corner and see the angle icon shown here, dragging lets you pull the corner in any direction to reshape it. Releasing the mouse finishes the modification. Here, the upper-right corner of a rectangle is being reshaped.

5.1.2. The Subselection Tool

When you want to modify the individual points and segments that make up your shapes, use the Subselection tool.

As shown in Figure 5-8, the Subselection tool (the white arrow) lets you redisplay shapes as a series of points and segments. You can drag any point to modify it (as well as the attached segments) or drag the tangent handle (temporary slope guide) for a curve to adjust the curve. You can also move a shapeboth its outline strokes and inside fillusing the Subselection tool.

Figure 5-8. If you click the Subselection tool and then click an object you've created using any drawing tool (Pen, Pencil, Brush, Line, or shape), Flash redisplays the line as a series of segments and points. Click any segment (Flash displays a tiny black square as you mouse over a segment), and Flash lets you move the entire object. Click a point (a hollow square) instead, and Flash lets you change the object's shape.

To use the Subselection tool to move an object:

In the Tools panel, click the Subselection tool (Figure 5-8 ).

Flash highlights the Selection tool.
Click the object you want to work with (or click near the object and drag your cursor until the selection box surrounds the object ).

Flash redisplays the object as a series of segments and selectable points (Figure 5-8).
Mouse over any of the segments in the object .

Flash displays a black square.
Drag to move the object. When you're satisfied, let go of the mouse .

Flash displays your moved object. Figure 5-8 shows an example.

To use the Subselection tool to modify a point (and, by association, the segments attached to that point):

In the Tools panel, click the Subselection tool (Figure 5-9, left ).

Flash highlights the Subselection tool.
Click the object you want to work with (or click near the object and then drag your cursor until the selection box surrounds the object) .

Flash redisplays the object as a series of segments and selectable points (Figure 5-9, middle).
Mouse over the point you want to modify .

Flash displays a hollow square.
Click once and then drag the point to reshape your object. When you're satisfied, let go of the mouse .

Flash displays your modified object. You see an example in Figure 5-9, right.

Figure 5-9. Left: You know your mouse is over a selectable point when you see the hollow square next to your cursor.
Middle: Drag the point in any direction to reshape your object.
Right: When you let go of the mouse, Flash displays your transformed object.

Tip: If the point defines a curve (in other words, if you see a hollow square at the end of a curved line), clicking the point tells Flash to display a temporary slope guide, or tangent handle . You can click either end of the tangent handle and drag to adjust the curve.

5.1.3. The Lasso Tool

Say you want to select just part of an object to work with: to cut, recolor, and so on. The Selection tool (Section 5.1.1) works just fine if your objects are nicely spread out on the Stage with lots of room around each one. But if your Stage is jam-packed with images, you can't select the image you want with the Selection tool without inadvertently selecting parts of images you don't want. Figure 5-10 shows an example.

Note: The Lasso tool only lets you select portions of objects if those objects are either ungrouped lines or fills or broken-apart bitmaps. You create ungrouped shapes by using merge drawing mode, but you can also ungroup them after the fact by choosing Modify

Ungroup. To break apart a bitmap, select it and then choose Modify

Break Apart.

You can also use the Lasso tool to select nonrectangular portions of objects both by drawing freehand and by pointing and clicking.

5.1.3.1. Freehand selecting with the Lasso

Depending on how steady your hands are, drawing a freehand lasso around an object (or around the portion of an object you want to select) is the quickest way to select what you want. Straight out of the box, this is how the Lasso works.

To use the Lasso tool to select objects (and portions of objects) freehand:

In the Tools panel, click the Lasso tool (Figure 5-11, left ).

Flash highlights the Lasso tool; and in the Options section of the Tools panel, the Lasso- related options appear.
Click near the object you want to select, and drag your mouse to encircle the object .

Figure 5-11 (right) shows you an example.
When you've completely encircled your object, let go of the mouse .

Flash selects everything inside the loop you drew with the Lasso tool.

Figure 5-11. Left: To use the Lasso tool, click near the object and drag your mouse to draw a circle around the object.
Middle: When you let go of the mouse, Flash highlights (selects) everything you lassoed.
Right:Use the Lasso tool to select portions of objects, too (or portions of multiple objects).

Tip: You can have a tricky time describing a precise loop using the Lasso, especially if you're using a mouse instead of a graphics tablet. Fortunately, Flash has got your back; if you don't completely close the loop, Flash closes it for you, using a straight line. If this action isn't what you want, just select Edit

Undo Lasso and then start over. If youre still having trouble, try using the Zoom tool to enlarge the Stage or try the Lasso's Polygon mode, described in the following section.

5.1.3.2. Pointing and clicking with the Lasso

At times, you may find you need to select an object that's really close to another object on the Stage. Or you may find you need to select a very precise portion of an object, such as a perfect triangle.

In these cases, freehand just doesn't cut it; one slip, and you have to start over. You're better off taking advantage of the Lasso tool's Polygon Mode, which lets you click to surround an area. (Flash takes care of filling in the straight lines between your clicks so you don't have to.)

To use the Lasso tool to select objects (and portions of objects) by pointing and clicking:

In the Tools panel, click the Lasso tool .

Flash highlights the Lasso tool. In the Options section of the Tools panel, the Lasso-related options appear.
Click the Polygon Mode option (Figure 5-12). Then, using a series of clicks, enclose the object you want to select .

Flash automatically connects your clicks with straight-line segments.
When you've completely enclosed your object, let go of the mouse .

Flash selects everything inside the loop you drew with the Lasso tool.

Tip: You may find the Lassoespecially in Polygon Modedoesn't want to quit when you do. In other words, when you go to use the main menu or a panel or another drawing tool, you find you can't because Flash keeps insisting you need to draw another lasso. Normally, to deactivate a tool, all you have to do is click the Selection tool. If this doesn't work, on the Stage, right-click the Lasso and then click the Selection tool.

Figure 5-12. Drawing a lasso freehand around the curvy shape on the left side of the Stage is harder than it looks: one slip, and you've selected part of the rectangle right next to it. Fortunately, the Lasso's Polygon Mode combines precise control with automatic help. To use the Lasso tool in Polygon mode, click near the object you want to select and then click again (and again and again) around the area you want. As you click, Flash connects your clicks for you, letting you create an enclosing shape quickly and easily.

5.1.3.3. Selecting ranges of color in bitmaps with the Magic Wand

Flash treats bitmaps the GIF, JPEG, and other image files that you can pull into a Flash document, as you see in Chapter 8differently from the way it treats the images you create using its drawing tools. And if you take a look at Figure 5-13, you see why.

While you can't manipulate bitmaps in Flash anywhere near as easily or as completely as you can manipulate the shapes and lines you draw directly onto the Stage, Flash does offer a special tool specifically for selecting ranges of colors in bitmaps: the Magic Wand. After you select color ranges, you can then recolor them or cut them out of the bitmap completely.

Figure 5-13. Top: The drawing is clearly composed of three shapes, each of which you can click to select separately.
Bottom: The bitmap image is much more complex, with no easily identifiable shape outlines. When you click to select the image on the bottom, Flash highlights the entire rectangular image; it makes no distinction between the colors and shapes inside.

To select color ranges in a bitmap using the Magic Wand:

On the Stage, select the bitmap with which you want to work .

Flash displays a light-colored border around the selected bitmap.
Choose Modify Break Apart .

Flash redisplays the bitmap as a selected fill.
From the Tools panel, select the Lasso. Then, in the Options section of the Tools panel, click the Magic Wand (Figure 5-14, top ).

As you mouse over the Stage, your cursor turns into a tiny magic wand.

Figure 5-14. Top: The first time you click the Magic Wand, Flash notes the color you choose.
Bottom: The second (and subsequent ) times you click the Magic Wand, Flash selects the bits of color nearby that match your first selection. Selecting colored areas of bitmaps with the Magic Wand can be slow going. Don't expect the precision you enjoy when you're working with primitive shapes, such as squares and circles. Still, depending on the effect you're after, the Magic Wand can be useful. Here, most of the background was selected with the Magic Want tool and primed for repainting .
Click the bitmap to select a color range .

Flash highlights bits of selected color.
Click the bitmap again (click a similarly colored area ).

Flash highlights the bits of color that precisely match your first selection.

You can modify the highlighted bits of fill color as you go (cut them, recolor them using the Eyedropper tool described in Chapter 5, and so on), or continue to click the bitmap as you did in step 6 to add to the selection.

In Figure 5-14 (bottom), the designer first selected and then cut (Edit Cut) the pixels to make the selected areas easier to see.