Work with mask layers – Adobe Flash Professional CS3 User Manual
Page 242
FLASH CS3
User Guide
236
To create a mask layer from a movie clip, use ActionScript. A mask layer created with ActionScript can be applied
only to another movie clip. See Using movie clips as masks in Learning ActionScript 2.0 in Adobe Flash.
For a video tutorial about animating masks, see
.
For a sample of scriptable masks, see the Flash Samples web page at
Download and decompress the Samples zip file and navigate to the Masking\ScriptableMasks folder to access the
sample.
Work with mask layers
You can use mask layers to reveal portions of a picture or graphic in the layer below. To create a mask, you specify
that a layer is a mask layer, and either draw or place a filled shape on that layer. You can use any filled shape, including
groups, text, and symbols, as a mask. The mask layer reveals the area of linked layers beneath the filled shape.
For a video tutorial about animating masks, see
.
For a sample of scriptable masks, see the Flash Samples web page at
Download and decompress the Samples zip file and navigate to the Masking\ScriptableMasks folder to access the
sample.
See also
“Tweened animation” on page 240
“Add a motion tween to instances, groups, or type” on page 242
“Tween motion along a path” on page 245
Create a mask layer
1
Select or create a layer containing the objects to appear inside the mask.
2
Select Insert > Timeline > Layer to create a new layer above it. A mask layer always masks the layer immediately
below it; create the mask layer in the proper place.
3
Place a filled shape, text, or an instance of a symbol on the mask layer. Flash ignores bitmaps, gradients, trans-
parency, colors, and line styles in a mask layer. Any filled area is completely transparent in the mask; any nonfilled
area is opaque.
4
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the mask layer’s name in the Timeline, and select Mask. A mask
layer icon indicates the mask layer. The layer immediately below it is linked to the mask layer, and its contents show
through the filled area on the mask. The masked layer name is indented, and its icon changes to a masked layer icon.
5
To display the mask effect in Flash, lock the mask layer and the masked layer.
Mask additional layers after creating a mask layer
•
Drag an existing layer directly below the mask layer.
•
Create a new layer anywhere below the mask layer.
•
Select Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties, and select Masked.
Unlink layers from a mask layer
❖
Select the layer to unlink and do one of the following:
•
Drag the layer above the mask layer.