Getting Started Tutorial

In this tutorial I will use Creative TextFX to create an animated text; I will try to use as many of its features as possible and moreover, I will use only the component’s interface to instantiate and configure Creative TextFX.

Firstly I just want to remind you that, in order to be able to solve the tutorial, you will need the Creative TextFX extension installed on your computer; if you encounter any problems while doing that, please visit the “How to install an extension” tutorial.

Click here to download the source file and the required files for solving this tutorial.

1. Let’s start by opening Flash and creating a new Flash file – ActionScript 3.0. Right click on the stage to open the Document Properties window. Name the file “Getting Started Tutorial”, set its dimensions to 350x200 pixels and the background color to dark grey (333333). Set the frame rate to 35 fps.

2. From the Components panel (CTRL+F7), drag an instance of Creative TextFX on the stage; following, open the component’s configuration interface from the top menu: Window>Other Panels>TextFX Panel.

3. In the Text tab, the target text field, insert the text “Getting Started Tutorial”; select the font face Arial, size 24, and color light-grey (CCCCCC) – make sure the text is selected so that the changes will take effect. Press Embed Fonts to embed the used text into the file’s library.

4. In the Properties window, set the position of the component on the stage at X=78, Y=156 coordinates.

5. From the Time Manager, enable the In, Wait and Out components, but disable the Delay option; also, enable the Loop option.

6. From the In Effect tab, select as the effect to use NeonTube and its preset Extend_slow_starter; as Block Type select Letter and leave the easing options unmodified. Let’s configure the effect to last 70 frames; make sure that the Load Preset Duration is unchecked.

7. From the Wait Effect tab, select as the effect to use ShockingFlakes, with its default preset. As Block Type select Word and leave the easing options unmodified. Make sure the Load Preset Duration is unchecked and set the effect’s duration as 105 frames with a delay of 35 frames both before and after the effect; finally the Wait Effect element will last 175 frames, as displayed in the Time Manager.

8. For the Out effect, enable Use In Effect Configuration, so the effect is configured as a mirror version of the In Effect.

9. Leave the Actions tab with its default options, without adding any dynamic behavior to the effect; we will use these options in a different tutorial later. From the Filters tab, select the Bevel filter and configure it as in the image below (I used a 5 pixel blur and strength, a high quality, a 45 degrees angle with a 100 pixels distance and the green color for both the filter’s elements):

10. In the Other Options section of the interface, found at its bottom, enable Move Component and configure it with the following parameters: X=10, Y=10, Duration=315 frames and Elastic – easeInOut easing options.

11. Press CTRL+Enter to preview your file.

Thank you for your time and I hope this tutorial was useful to you. I invite you to read the rest of our tutorials and check out our other products on www.extendstudio.com. If you have any questions or suggestions please contact me at jon.stanciu@extendstudio.com.