skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Saturday, May 14, 2011
You can use the Eye Dropper tool to copy fill and stroke attributes from objects.
To use the Eyedropper tool:
1. Select the Eye Dropper tool and click the object whose attributes you want to copy. (When you click a stroke, the tool automatically changes to the Ink Bottle tool. When you click a filled area, the tool automatically changes to the Paint Bucket tool)
2. Click the object that you want to apply the new attributes to.
Using the Eyedropper tool to select a bitmap fill:
Rather than painting with a fixed color or gradient you can paint using a bitmap image. A very important special use of the eyedropper tool is to select bitmap fills.
1. Place a bitmap image on the stage. Either drag it from your symbol library (Ctrl+L or Window > Library) or import a bitmap image from a file (Ctrl+R or File > Import).
2. Make sure the imported bitmap is selected. (If not: click on it with the Arrow tool).
3. Press Ctrl+B to break apart the image.
4. Select the Eye Dropper tool and click on the image.
You will now see a miniature of your image in the Color Fill tool box. Use the Paint Bucket tool to apply the bitmap fill to an object. (Note: you can apply the fill to any filled object as well as any closed outlined area.)
NEXT
The Paint Bucket tool fills enclosed areas with color.
It can both fill empty areas and change the color of already painted areas.
You can paint with solid colors, gradient fills, and bitmap fills.
You can also use the Paint Bucket tool to adjust the size, direction, and center of gradient and bitmap fills.
To use the Paint Bucket tool to fill an area:
1. Select the Paint Bucket tool.
2. Choose a fill color from the color tool box.
Color Tools:
3. Click the Gap Size modifier 
and choose a gap size option:
- Don't Close Gaps : if you want to close gaps manually before filling the shape. Closing gaps manually can be faster for complex drawings.
- Choose one of the Close options to have Flash fill a shape that has gaps.
4. Click the shape or enclosed area that you want to fill.
To adjust a gradient or bitmap fill with the Paint Bucket tool:
1. Select the Paint Bucket tool.
2. Click the Transform Fill 
.
3. Click an area filled with a gradient or bitmap fill.
Depending on the type of object you're painting you will see different handles:
a. Transform Linear Gradient Fills
.
b. Transform Radial Gradient Fills
.
c. Transform Bitmap Fills
.
4. Reshape the fill in any of the following ways:
a. To reposition the center point, drag the center point.
b. To change the width of the fill, drag the square handle on the side of the bounding box. (This option resizes only the fill, not the object containing the fill.)
c. To change the height of the fill, drag the square handle at the bottom of the bounding box.
d. To rotate the fill, drag the circular rotation handle at the corner. You can also drag the lowest handle on the bounding circle of a circular gradient or fill.
e. To scale a linear gradient, drag the square handle at the center of the bounding box.
f. To change the radius of a circular gradient, drag the middle circular handle on the bounding circle.
g. To skew or slant a fill within a shape, drag one of the circular handles on the top or right side of the bounding box.
h. To tile (repeat) a bitmap inside a shape, scale the fill.
Note: To see all of the handles when working with large fills or fills close to the edge of the Stage, choose View > Work Area.
NEXT
The Brush tool draws brushlike strokes, as if you were painting. It lets you create special effects, including calligraphic effects.
Unlike the Pencil Tool, the Brush tool draws both a fill and an outline.
SHIFT key : Constrain directions
You can press the Shift key while dragging to constrain drawing to vertical or horizontal directions.
Colors
You can specify the color with the Stroke and Fill Color tools.
Color Tools:
Brush Modes
You can specify the Brush Mode in order to define the way the tool works:
- Paint Normal - paints over lines and fills on the same layer.
- Paint Behind - paints in blank areas of the Stage on the same layer, leaving lines and fills unaffected.
- Paint Selection - applies a new fill to the selection when you select a fill in the Fill modifier or the Fill panel. (This option is the same as simply selecting a filled area and applying a new fill.)
- Paint Fills - paints fills and empty areas, leaving lines unaffected.
- Paint Inside - paints the fill in which you start a brush stroke and never paints lines. This works much like a smart coloring book that never allows you to paint outside the lines. If you start painting in an empty area, the fill doesn't affect any existing filled areas.
Brush Modes:
NONE | NORMAL | BEHIND | SELECTION | FILLS | INSIDE
Brush Size
Also, in the Brush options, there is a drop down that lets you select the size of the brush. Simply click the size you want.
Brush Shape
Finally, the Brush options lets you select the shape of the brush. Try experimenting with the different shapes and see what effect each offers.
Lock Fill
The last option listed under Brush options, is the Lock Fill option. The explanation for this is a bit tricky.
When you use the brush tool in it's default state this option is not turned on. Let's assume that you selected a gradient fill and painted something using the brush tool. In this case the brush tool would use the center of your painting as the center for the gradient fill.
Now, if you paint yet another drawing next to the first one, Flash will use the new drawing's center as center for the gradient fill.
However, had you pressed the "Lock Fill" option before drawing the second painting, Flash will maintain the gradient center from the first painting.
The best way to understand this option is trial and error, so if you don't get the above explanation, then try painting with and without the "Lock Fill" option set. While doing so, make sure that you use a gradient fill for the drawing or you won't see any effect at all (because plain colored fills have no center).
NEXT
Using the Eraser Mode Option
Using the Faucet Option
Using the Eraser Shape Option
