Flash layers tutorial

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Definition

This is part of some Flash tutorials.

Learning goals

Learn how to use layers

Prerequisites

Flash CS3 desktop tutorial. It's probably a good idea to use a layout similar to the ones I suggest there.

Quality and level

This text should technical people get going. It's probably not good enough for beginners, but may be used as handout in "hands-on" class. That is what Daniel K. Schneider made it for...

It aims at beginners. More advanced features and tricks are not explained here.

Introduction

Layers help you organize items for more complex document.

• You can draw and edit objects on one layer without affecting objects on another layer.
• You can lock layers (to protect from editing)
• You hide layers, make them visible in other layers, or just the outlines.

The layers tool is part of the Timeline panel.

Overview picture

The layers tool is in the left part of the timeline. We will explain below annotations in the following screendump.

The Flash CS3 Layers tool

Drawing in a layer

To draw, paint, or otherwise modify a layer simple click on the the layer in the Timeline to make it active. A pencil icon next to it indicates that the layer is active.

Creating new layers and deleting layers

Either:

• Insert->Timeline->Layer
• Click on layer icon (left most item in the Edit bar just below the timeline)

When you create a Flash document, it only contains a single layer, i.e. less than you need.

To delete a layer and it's contents, right-click. You also can lock/hide other layers that way. Before you delete a layer make sure that you save its objects in the library as symbols if you plan to reuse them)

Show only outlines of a layer

• Click on the rectangle next to a layer. If this rectangle turns empty then you only should see outlines of its objects.

• You also can change the outline color by double-clicking on the rectangle. E.g. if your background is green (like in our example), the outline should be of a different color (it's not really in our case).

Lock and hide layers

Click on the dots below the appropriate hide/lock/display icons to apply this to a single layer, or on the icons themselves to apply an operation to all layers.

Moving layers

To move a layer in the stack simply grab it up or down. Position of the layer has an influence on the order objects are drawn. This depends on the load order defined in the Publish Settings (File menu)

The example again

In the following screen capture:

• The painting layer is active (the pencil is shown)
• The objects layer only shows outlines and in addition its locked (lock sign is on and rectangle is empty. Its objects are drawn in light green, i.e. the color of the rectangle)
• The Sky layer is hidden (The X sign is on).

The Flash CS3 Layers tool, shown with outlines of layer and a hidden layers

Layer folders

Once your documents get really complex, you can organize layers into folders, e.g. on folder per task: Static objects, animations, background etc.

Either:

• click on the folder icon in the Edit bar (third item)
• or use Insert->Timeline->Layer Folder

You then can drag around layers. Hiding, locking etc. works more or less like with folders (try it out ...)