AS3 tweening platform

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Introduction

Prerequisite: Read Flash using ActionScript libraries tutorial. You must understand how to tell CS3/CS4 where to find an ActionScript library !!

Warning: Documentation in here refers to an older version. I believe that everything should still work fine, but newer releases have additional functionality - Daniel K. Schneider 12:53, 18 April 2010 (UTC).

TweenLite, TweenFilterLite, TweenMax, TweenGroup and TransformManager, are Actionscript 3 tweening classs written by Jack Doyle, GreenSock The purpose of this page is to have a printable version of the documentation (useful for teaching in a lab with small screens) and to add some examples that could be useful to "simple" Flash designers.

• TweenLite - a light-weight and fast tween class to create animation and shape tweens in one go.
• TweenFilterLite - extends TweenLite to add more filters (like blurs, glows, contrast, brightness, etc.). It's bigger and a bit slower than TweenLite.
• TweenMax - does both of Tweenlite and TweenFilterLite and more. It's still bigger and bit slower.
• TweenGroup - allow to manage groups of TweenLite/FilterLite/Max tweens. E.g. you can create a few tweens with TweenLite and then then play these in sequence.
• TransformManager - add interactive scaling/rotating/moving of DisplayObjects in your Flash animation.

Please refer to the GreenSock website for official information and also consider donating something to Jack. You will get some additional benefits. Since I only teach Flash once in a while I only gave $30 in 2008 and $50 in 2010 - Daniel K. Schneider.

In order to understand what some of the parameters and properties do, you may have to consult the AS3 manuals at Adobe, in particular the ActionScript3 language reference.

See also: Flash CS4 motion tweening with AS3 tutorial, i.e. a short introduction to Adobe's not as nice solution...

Installation

Executive download, installation and use summary:

1. Download the tweening platform from Greensock
2. Unzip the file and if you want, copy the *.swf file to some actionscript libraries directory you may have.
3. Open/create a new *.fla file
4. Open the File->Publish Settings - Flash tab
5. Make sure that "ActionScript 3" is selected, then click on the Settings
6. Select Library path (not source, external library, etc.!) and tell CSx the directory where it can find the *.swf file.

Summary documentation

Syntax used

Syntax used for datatypes

If you see something like this xxx:YYY, it means that you have to use value of type YYY. Typically, you must specify:

Objects

If you work with CS3, instance names of movie clips)

 target:Object
 e.g. my_rocket

Objects also can refer to ECMAScript objects that you create on the fly with {...}

 variables:Object

E.g. an object with properties x=120 and y=110 is created like this:

 {x:120,y:110}

Numbers

 x:Number
 e.g. 15

Color_uint

E.g. for red you could use the following Hex value:

 0xFF0000

Boolean

 xxx:Boolean
 e.g. knockout:true

Functions

You will have to give a function name. This can be a Class.method.

xxx:Function
E.g. ease:Strong.easeInOut

Arrays

You have to create an array using [...]. Typically this is used to pass parameters to methods , e.g.

easeParams:[1.5, 2.45]

Tweenlite Usage summary

This class includes a few static methods that you can use like functions.

1. TweenLite.to - create a tween of multiple properties of an object
2. TweenLite.from - same as above (you specify the result of the tween))
3. TweenLite.delayedCall - Call a function after number of seconds
4. TweenLite.killDelayedCallsTo - Kill delayed calls (see previous line)
5. TweenLite.killTweensOf - Kills all tweens of a particular object
6. TweenLite.removeTween - Removes a tween

TweenLite.to

Description: Tweens the target's properties from whatever they are at the time you call the method to whatever you define in the variables parameter.

Disclaimer: Information be wrong and/or outdated - Daniel K. Schneider 17:13, 28 October 2008 (UTC).

Syntax:

 TweenLite.to(target:Object, duration:Number, variables:Object);

You can keep track of an instance if you want to (e.g. to kill it):

 var myTween:TweenLite = TweenLite.to(target:Object, duration:Number, variables:Object);

Alternative object-oriented syntax:

 var myTween:TweenLite = new TweenLite(target:Object, duration:Number, variables:Object);

This is almost equivalent to the above. The former is usually preferable since it will handle garbage collection.

Mandatory parameters

1. target:Object Target MovieClip (or any object) whose properties we're tweening
2. duration:Number Duration (in seconds) of the tween
3. variables:Object An object containing the end values of all the properties you'd like to have tweened (or if you're using the TweenLite.from() method, these variables would define the BEGINNING values). Putting quotes around values will make the tween relative to the current value. For example, x:"-20" will tween x to whatever it currently is minus 20 whereas x:-20 will tween x to exactly -20.

Here is a simple example that will move a symbol called "mouse" to position x=120 in about 1.5 seconds)

TweenLite.to(clip_mc, 1.5, {x:120}

Properties you can defined in the variables object:

You can change many properties at the same time and this one reason why this library is so nice. In the following example a movie clip called "clip:mc" will move to position x=120, it's alpha will fade to 50% and its volume will fade out completely:

TweenLite.to(clip_mc, 1.5, {alpha:0.5, x:120, volume:0});

alpha:Number

The alpha (opacity level) that the target object should finish at (or begin at if you're using TweenLite.from()). For example, if the target.alpha is 1 when this script is called, and you specify this parameter to be 0.5, it'll transition from 1 to 0.5.

autoAlpha:

Same as changing the "alpha" property but with the additional feature of toggling the "visible" property to false if the alpha ends at 0. It will also toggle visible to true before the tween starts if the value of autoAlpha is greater than zero.

x:Number

To change a MovieClip's x position, just set this to the value you'd like the MovieClip to end up at (or begin at if you're using TweenLite.from()).

y:Number

To change a MovieClip's y position (like above).

scaleX:Number

Scaling in X direction, i.e. making the with smaller or larger

scaleY:Number

Scaling in Y direction, i.e. making the height smaller or larger

rotation:Number

Clock-wise rotation in degrees.

delay:Number

Number of seconds you'd like to delay before the tween begins. This is very useful when sequencing tweens

ease:Function

You can specify a function to use for the easing with this variable. For example, fl.motion.easing.Elastic.easeOut. The Default is Regular.easeOut (and Linear.easeNone for volume).

You can use all the standard AS3 methods defined in fl.motion.easing and fl.transitions.easing

If you want to create your own easing equation use Jack's Custom Ease Builder on-line tool.

Example

TweenLite.to(logo,0.4,{scaleX:1,scaleY:1,alpha:1,ease:Strong.easeInOut,delay:0.8,overwrite:false});

Example of custom function definition and use

 import com.greensock.easing.CustomEase;
 CustomEase.create("myCustomEase", 
  [{s:0,cp:0.509,e:0.612},{s:0.612,cp:0.715,e:0.412},{s:0.412,cp:0.109,e:1}]);
 TweenLite.to(mc, 2, {x:"250", ease:CustomEase.byName("myCustomEase"")});

easeParams:Array

Allows to pass parameters to the ease function (see above)

TweenLite.to(my_mc, 2, {_x:200, ease:Elastic.easeOut, easeParams:[1.5, 2.45]});

volume: Number

To change a MovieClip's volume, i.e. the SoundTransform property. Set this to the value you'd like the MovieClip to end up at (or begin at if you're using TweenLite.from()).

tint:Color_uint

To change a MovieClip's color, set this to the hex value of the color you'd like the MovieClip to end up at(or begin at if you're using TweenLite.from()). An example hex value would be 0xFF0000. If you'd like to remove the color from a MovieClip, just pass null as the value of tint.

removeTint:Boolean

To remove the tint of a DisplayObject. Use the value true.

frame:Integer

To tween a MovieClip to a given frame.

roundProps:Array

Allows to define inbetween rounding values. E.g.

TweenMax.to(my_mc, 3, {_x:500, _y:0, bezier:[{_x:250, _y:50}]});

onStart:Function

If you'd like to call a function as soon as the tween begins, pass in a reference to it here. This can be useful when there's a delay and you want something to happen just as the tween begins.

onStartParams:Array

An array of parameters to pass the onStart function.

onUpdate:Function

If you'd like to call a function every time the property values are updated (on every frame during the time the tween is active), pass a reference to it here.

onUpdateParams:Array

An array of parameters to pass the onUpdate function (this is optional)

onComplete:Function

If you'd like to call a function when the tween has finished, use this.

onCompleteParams:Array

An array of parameters to pass the onComplete function (this is optional)

overwrite:Int

You can enter 4 values: 0 (NONE) = No tweens are overwritten; 1 (ALL) = All tweens of the same object are completely overwritten immediately when the tween is created; 2 (AUTO) = Searches for and overwrites only individual overlapping properties in tweens that are active when the tween begins; 3 (CONCURRENT): Overwrites all tweens of the same object that are active when the tween begins.

persist:Boolean

If true, the TweenLite instance will not automatically be removed by the garbage collector when it is complete. By default, it is false.

renderOnStart:Boolean

If you're using TweenLite.from() (or runBackwards:true) with a delay and want to prevent the tween from rendering until it actually begins, set this special property to true. By default, it's false which causes TweenLite.from() to render its values immediately, even before the delay has expired.

runBackwards:Boolean

Flips the start and end values in a tween. That's the same as using the from() method (see below).

TweenLite.from

TweenLite.from(target:Object, duration:Number, variables:Object);

Description: Exactly the same as TweenLite.to(), but instead of tweening the properties from where they're at currently to whatever you define, this tweens them the opposite way - from where you define TO where ever they are now (when the method is called). This is handy for when things are set up on the stage where the should end up and you just want to animate them into place.

Parameters: Same as TweenLite.to(). (see above)

TweenLite.delayedCall

TweenLite.delayedCall(delay:Number,onComplete:Function,onCompleteParams:Array);

Description: Provides an easy way to call any function after a specified number of seconds. Any number of parameters can be passed to that function when it's called too.

Parameters:

1. delay: Number of seconds before the function should be called.
2. onComplete: The function to call
3. onCompleteParams [optional] An array of parameters to pass the onComplete function when it's called.

TweenLite.killTweensOf

TweenLite.killTweensOf(target:Object);

Description: Provides an easy way to kill all tweens of a particular Object/MovieClip.

Parameters:

• target: Any/All tweens of this Object/MovieClip will be killed.

TweenLite.killDelayedCallsTo

TweenLite.killDelayedCallsTo(function:Function);

Description: Provides an easy way to kill all delayed calls to a particular function (ones that were instantiated using the TweenLite.delayedCall() method).

Parameters:

• function: Any/All delayed calls to this function will be killed.

TweenLite examples

As you can see in the code below, in order to use this class, you will have to do the following.

• If you work with CS3 you need an instance of MovieClip that is named, e.g. "movie_clip".
• Then, in some keyframe, hit F9 and you can write AS code. The code must include at least:

 import com.greensock.TweenLite;

• When Flash requires that you import "official" flash classes you will have to import these too. E.g.

 import fl.motion.easing.Back;

As a simple example, you could tween the alpha to 50% (0.5) and move the x position of a MovieClip named "movie_clip" to 120 and fade the volume to 0 over the course of 1.5 seconds like so:

import com.greensock.TweenLite;
TweenLite.to(movie_clip, 1.5, {alpha:0.5, x:120, volume:0});

The following example shows how to tween the movie_clip MovieClip over 3 seconds, changing the alpha to 50% (0.5), the x coordinate to 460 using the Back.easeOut easing function, and adding a starting delay of 1 seconds. In addition, we call a function named "onFinishTween" when it has completed and pass it a few parameters (a value of 5 and a reference to the movie_clip).

AS3 code:

import com.greensock.TweenLite;
import fl.motion.easing.Back;

TweenLite.to(movie_clip, 3, {alpha:0.5, x:460, ease:Back.easeOut,
          delay:1, onComplete:onFinishTween, 
		  onCompleteParams:[5, movie_clip]});

function onFinishTween(parameter1_num:Number, parameter2_mc:MovieClip):void {
 trace("The tween has finished! parameters: " + parameter1_num + ", and " + parameter2_mc);
  }

Simple Tweenlite example

Example code:

• tween-lite-ex1.fla (CS4 or better)
• tween-lite-ex1.html

If you have a MovieClip on the stage that is already in its end position and you just want to animate it into place over 5 seconds (drop it into place by changing its y property to 100 pixels higher on the screen and dropping it from there), you could:

import com.greensock.TweenLite;
import fl.motion.easing.Elastic;
TweenLite.from(movie_clip, 5, {y:"-100", ease:Elastic.easeOut});

Sequence of tweens so that they occur one after the other. Just use the delay property and make sure you set the overwrite property to false (otherwise tweens of the same object will always overwrite each other to avoid conflicts). Here's an example where we colorize a MovieClip red over the course of 2 seconds, and then move it to a _y coordinate of 300 over the course of 1 second:

import com.greensock.TweenLite;
TweenLite.to(movie_clip, 2, {tint:0xFF0000});
TweenLite.to(movie_clip, 1, {y:300, delay:2, overwrite:false});

TweenFilterLite usage

TweenFilterLite extends the TweenLite class, adding the ability to tween filters (like blurs, glows, drop shadows, bevels, etc.) as well as advanced effects like contrast, colorization, brightness, saturation, hue, and threshold.

Syntax (identical to the TweenLite class), e.g.

TweenFilterLite.to (target:Object, duration:Number, variables:Object);

To understand what filters are, you may read documentation at Adobe:

• Flash graphic effects learning guide An Adobe tutorial made for CS3 designers and that also explains concepts.
• About filters (Chapter of the Adobe Using Flash (CS3) manual)

To understand what the TweenFilterLite filters do, you also could consult the AS3 or Flex documentation. The parameters of the TweenFilter class are much easier to use than the properties and the methods of the "official" AS3 libraries. However this documentation may help to understand the meaning of these parameters and what kind of values you should use.

• flash.filters package (ActionScript 3.0 Language and Components Reference) or
• Package flash.filters (Adobe Flex 2.0.1 Language Reference)

Example:

 TweenFilterLite.from (movie_clip, 5, {colorMatrixFilter:{colorize:0xFF0000}})

In addition to the TweenLite parameters described above you can use:

timeScale:Number

Speed up or slow down a tween

globalTimeScale

Globally speed up/down all tweens

blurFilter:Object

Create a blur with one or more of the following properties:

Parameters: blurX, blurY, quality.

Example:

TweenFilterLite.to(movie_clip, 2, {blurFilter:{blurX:1, blurY:2}})

glowFilter:Object

Apply a glow effect to display objects

Parameters: alpha, blurX, blurY, color, strength, quality, inner, knockout,

colorMatrixFilter:Object

Apply various color filters

Parameters: colorize, amount, contrast, brightness, saturation, hue, threshold, relative, matrix,

Example

 TweenFilterLite.to(movie_clip, 2, {colorMatrixFilter:{colorize:0xFF0000, amount:1}});

dropShadowFilter:Object

Will add a drop shadow to an object.

Parameters alpha, angle, blurX, blurY, color, distance, strength, quality

Flex Adobe dropShadowFilter doc

bevelFilter:Object

Create a bevel effect gives, i.e. three-dimensional look

Parameters angle, blurX, blurY, distance, highlightAlpha, highlightColor, shadowAlpha, shadowColor, , gth, quality

TweenMax features

TweenMax builds on top of TweenLite and TweenFilterLite. It uses again the same syntax and just adds some functionalities that are less essential. The only tradeoff is some slight increase in size, i.e. 11K of AS code (which is still very small).

In addition to FilterLite and TweenLite, you can do the following (and more that we may document some other time):

bezier:Array

Allows to tween with a bezier array.

TweenMax.to(my_mc, 3, {_x:500, _y:0, bezier:[{_x:250, _y:50}]})

bezierThrough:Array

Pass points through which the bezier values should move.

orientToBezier:Array (or Boolean)

MovieClip/Sprite to orients itself in the direction of a Bezier path. The arrays need the following elements: Position property 1 (typically "x"), Position property 2 (typically "y"), Rotational property (typically "rotation"), Number of degrees to add (optional - makes it easy to orient your MovieClip/Sprite properly).

 [["x", "y", "rotation", 0]].

Note: This is an array within an array

Simple TweenMax example

The goal is to take a picture and make it look old or otherwise bad as in the following tweenmax-photo-filter.html example. Instead, you might have used the TweenFilterLite library too.

Procedure:

• Drag a *.jpg picture into the library
• Drag it to the stage and make it a movie clip symbol (Right-click->Convert to symbol). Call it "picture_mc".
• Kill the picture on the stage
• Drag two copies of the new movie clip symbol to the stage
• Name the first one "picture" and the second one "picture2". This way the AS3 code can use them as objects.

AS3 code:

import com.greensock.TweenMax;
import com.greensock.easing.*;
TweenMax.to(picture, 
            5, 
            {colorMatrixFilter:{colorize:0xffcc33, amount:0.4, contrast:0.6, brightness:1.1, saturation:0.4}, 
            ease:Back.easeOut});
TweenMax.to(picture2, 
            5, 
            {colorMatrixFilter:{amount:0.4, contrast:0.3, brightness:2.0, saturation:0.8}, 
            ease:Back.easeOut});

Source:

• http://tecfa.unige.ch/guides/flash/ex/greensock/ directory
• File tweenmax-photo-filter.fla