Datasheet

Chapter 1 ✦ SWiSHmax QuickStart

Creating objects

The SWiSHmax Toolbox contains a number of drawing tools that you can use to create graph-

ical elements for your movie. You can draw a variety of shapes by hand or use preconfigured

AutoShapes, explained later in this section.

See Chapter 5 to learn more about drawing, Chapter 6 to learn how to modify drawings, and

Chapter 7 to learn how to work with color.

You can hide and/or lock layers in the Layout window to make it easier to work. Select a layer,

and click the eye icon to the left of the label’s name in the Outline panel to change the visi-

bility status. Click once to display an x drawn through the eye icon, indicating the associated

layer is hidden. Click the eye icon twice and the associated layer is locked, indicated by a

gold lock to the left of the object’s label in the Outline panel.

You leave the background layer locked for the remainder of the movie construction process.

When you use stationary layers, locking them is a good idea. When you select other objects

on the stage, you can be sure the locked object(s) isn’t moved by mistake.

SWiSHmax has a set of tools for drawing different shapes. Follow these steps to select an

AutoShape tool and draw a shape:

1. Click the visible AutoShape tool in the Tools panel, and hold the mouse button down

until the submenu opens, as shown in Figure 1-6.

Figure 1-6: Select an AutoShape from the submenu.

2. Click a tool from the submenu. If you are working on the sample project, click the

rounded rectangle tool. The submenu closes, and the selected tool is active.

The AutoShape displayed in the Tools panel continues to show the most recently selected

tool until you select a different one.

3. Click the stage on the Layout panel with the tool and drag to construct the AutoShape.

To complete the shape used in the sample project, click the stage at about the position

of Alaska on the map layer and drag to draw a rounded rectangle that covers most of

the continents shown on the map. The Shape panel becomes active in the panels at the

right of the program window.

Note

Autoshape tool

Note

Tip

Cross-

Reference

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