Masking in Flash

Masking in Flash

Masking is exposing of your graphic or picture in the layer below. While rumbling through the net you could notice a number of nice Flash effects, for example ripple effect, some wording on a beautiful sky background, sparkling bordering an object, and you could ask yourself a question “How is it possible? How can this be made?” The answer is in mask creating.
This time we will show you the essentials of masking in Flash MX 2004. Please, download the .fla file in the end of the article.

Please, make sure that you have an installed Flash Player 7.0 to view the Flash animation. Flash MX 2004 should be also installed to be able to download and view the .fla file.

To start learning this tutorial, please, see whether you have essential knowledge in such part of Flash like Shape Tween and working with layers.

If you are through with this, the only thing you have to do is to follow the instructions given below.

1.Inserting Layers and naming them.

-- There will be a layer in your timeline window by default. Insert one more layer as you need to have two layers in order to mask an object.

-- give the names to these two layers, the top layer should be called “Mask” and the below -- “background”

2.Creating Shape Tween.

-- Add your picture to the “background” layer.

-- Go to “Mask ” layer and draw a circle in that layer with the Oval tool from the Tool Box..

-- Drag the circle to one end of the picture.

-- Now go to “frame 40” of your “Mask” layer, pressing F6 you will insert a new keyframe.

-- Go to your “frame 40” of your “background” layer, pressing F5 you will insert
frames in such a way that your background image will be seen all through the mask.

-- “Frame 40” of your “Mask” layer selection is your new keyframe. Keep the playhead on “frame 40” of  “Mask” layer and rag the circle to the other end of the picture.

-- Now return to “frame 1” of the “Mask” layer. Keep the playhead on “frame 1” of your “Mask” layer. Select Shape tween in the properties window.

Masking

Make a right click on the “Mask” layer and select Mask. So, now you are through. For finishing the action press Ctrl+Enter and you will view your Mask.

Enjoy the result!