Specifications

178 Creating Graphics: Applying Gradients
After examining the completed illustration, you’ll begin by opening a
starter Flash document and end by publishing the document for web
playback. The tutorial should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Before you take this tutorial you should read Chapter 2, “Flash Basics,” in
Getting Started with Flash.
In this tutorial, you will complete the following tasks:
Examine the completed FLA file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Open the starter document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Apply a linear gradient. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Create a radial gradient. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Apply the finishing touches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Test the application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
The tutorial in this chapter follows the order of a typical workflow for
creating a Flash application. Other workflows are also possible.
The tutorial workflow includes the following tasks:
■ “Examine the completed FLA file” on page 179 allows you to look at
the completed Flash document.
■ “Open the starter document” on page 181 lets you begin the tutorial
with a FLA file that has some graphics already created for you. You will
apply gradient effects to these graphics.
■ “Apply a linear gradient” on page 181 shows you the steps needed to
apply a linear gradient with specific colors.
■ “Create a radial gradient” on page 183 shows you the steps needed to
apply a radial gradient and make adjustments to its focal point.
■ “Apply the finishing touches” on page 187 shows you the steps for
performing a transform operation on a gradient. A transform operation
is a change in an object’s size or shape. You will also add a few more
gradient effects to complete the illustration.
■ “Test the application” on page 191 shows you how to publish your
Flash document to a SWF file and view it in a web browser.