Special Effects

There are four effects you can apply to symbols:

• Alpha: Changes the transparency of an object
• Tint: Changes the color of the symbol instance.
• Brightness: Changes the brightness of a symbol instance
  
• Special: Lets you modify both Alpha and Tint for a symbol instance.

We have already had exercises with the Alph property. You will now make a file using the tint feature in flash.

Test it out on the right==>

Creating the Basic File

1. Start a new movie. Make the dimension 150 by 150 and the background black (Modify>Movie).
2. Change the layer name to something more descriptive by double clicking the words layer 1, then retyping a name. For this exercise call it rectangle.
3. Draw a rectangle in the first frame.
4. Convert this into a symbol, since Flash effects can only be applied on symbols. To convert a object to a symbol, double click the object with the arrow tool, select Insert>Convert to Symbol.
5. Click motion clip as the property and name it rectangle.
6. Align the object to the center of the page.
7. Add a keyframe at frame 30.
8. Create a motion tween between the starting and the ending frames. Click back in Frame 1, open the Frames Panel (Windows>Frames) and select Motion from the Tweening drop down list.
   

Applying the Tint Effect

1. Hightlight frame 30 (which is a keyframe) and select the symbol instance using the arrow tool .
2. Open the Instance Properties window by clicking on Modify - Instance. Click the Effects Panel, then select Tint from the drop down menu.
3. Move the Tint slider to 100% or alternatively enter the value in the text field. Move the color slider up and select a color from the color palette.

I changed the tint of the symbol instance in the ending frame to a bright yellow. The square in my file now changes color from blue to yellow.

Brightness
The Brightness effect is simple. You need select Brightness from the Color Effect drop down menu at the Effects Panel, and then move the slider for a desired shade or alternatively, enter a value in the text field. I choose the brightness at 50%.

Advanced
The Advanced Effects window presents a set of sliders and their associated text fields through which you can change both the RGB (color) and alpha values for the same symbol instance.