Creative MovieFX v2

In this tutorial we will use Creative FlashFX, the Flash components pack that incorporates Creative MovieFX and Creative TextFX (please click here to read more about Creative TextFX). Not only that the products have similarities regarding their interfaces and the workflow while using them, but they are fully compatible with each other.

We will animate some text using Creative TextFX and, following, we will animate a movie clip using Creative MovieFX. The result will be a nice animation in the Halloween spirit.

Firstly I just want to remind you that, in order to be able to solve the tutorial, you will need both the Creative MovieFX and Creative TextFX extensions 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 “How to create a Halloween animation using FlashFX”, set its dimensions to 300x151 pixels and the background color to black (000000). Set the frame rate to 35 fps.

2. Insert a new layer and rename the layers “CTFX” and “CMFX”.

3. Extract the attached archive in the folder of your choice. From the Flash top menu, select “File>Import>Import to stage” or click CTRL+R; import the image to the stage and place it at coordinates X=180, Y=105, on the “CMFX” layer.

4. With the picture still selected, click F8 or select “Modify>Convert to Symbol”, and convert it to a movie clip.

5. From the Components panel (CTRL+F7), drag an instance of Creative MovieFX on the stage, over the newly created movie clip; following, open the component’s configuration interface from the top menu: Window>Other Panels>MovieFX Panel.

6. From the Time Manager, enable the Delay (100 frames), In (40 frames), Wait (40 frames) and Out Effect components (105 frames); also, enable the Start Hidden option and leave the Loop option unmodified.

7. From the In Effect tab, select as the effect to use Burn and its preset Extend_Default.

8. In the Wait Effect tab, leave the used effect None and make it last for 40 frames.

9. From the Out Effect tab, select as the effect to use MappedSphere and its preset Extend_unfold. Let’s configure the effect to last 105 frames; make sure that the Load Preset Duration is unchecked. Modify the “fade” parameter to 100 and the “wobbleDistance” to 100 as well.

10. In the Other Options section of the interface, enable the Move Component; configure the parameters to X=10, Y=10 and Duration=185 frames. Set the easing function to Back and easing type easeIn.

11. 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.

12. In the Text tab, the target text field, insert the text “Happy Halloween !!!”; select the font face Bookman Old Style, size 26, and color orange (F77F1D) – 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.

13. From the Time Manager, enable the In and Out Effect components, but disable the Delay and Wait Effect option.

14. From the In Effect tab, select as the effect to use GlowEffect and its preset Extend_Default. From the Out Effect tab, enable the “Use In Effect Configuration” option.

15. In the Properties window, set the position of the component on the stage at X=21, Y=57 coordinates.

16. Press CTRL+Enter to preview your file.