Shape tween and shape tween are two important tweened animations in Flash that can be created using timeline. Shape tween is the process of changing the shape, size, color of an object. Just like motion tween effect FlashMX 2004 makes it easier to shape tween an object. This tutorial will help you to create a simple shape tween effect in FlashMX 2004 using timeline. For more tips and tutorials visit our website.

For viewing the animations in this site you need to install Flash Player 7.0 or higher and for downloading the .fla files from this site FlashMX 2004 must be installed in your system

Create a simple shape tween effect in FlashMX 2004 using timeline

1. To create shape tween in FlashMX 2004 you first need to install FlashMX 2004 in your system.

2. Start the FlashMX 2004 and create a new Flash document. (To create a new flash document, open a file and then select its type as Flash Document).

3. After creating a new Flash Document, FlashMX puts a default layer (“layer 1”) in the timeline and the playhead stands in the first frame of layer 1.Note that the first frame is a keyframe.

 

4. You have to create a new object (circle, line or anything you like) or import an image into the frame you selected. To draw an object, use the rectangular or oval tool in the toolbox. For importing an image to the stage follow File>Import>Import to stage. This is the initial shape of the object.
   

5. The object you just created or imported to the stage must be first converted to a symbol before applying the tweening effect. To convert an object to a symbol select the symbol and press F8.A menu appears and select the symbol type to graphic and press OK.

6. The symbol you created is on the first frame of the first layer. You need to add a new keyframe on the same layer. To add a new keyframe on the timeline select the frame number you want to add the keyframe (here 20) and press F8.Flash automatically adds a new keyframe in frame 20.
   

7. Select the new keyframe. You can see the object you created on the stage. Delete it and draw a new object that is different from the deleted object. This is the final shape of the object

8. Now we have to add the shape tween to the object in the timeline. Select a frame between the two keyframes and from the pop up menu in the property inspector select ‘Shape’. An arrow appears in the timeline as shown in the figure below.

 

 

9. Congratulations. You have created an object and added shape tween effect to it. To view the animation you created press Ctrl+Enter.