03 First Part 2 (Line Shading)

  • Open your hard drive and navigate to your flash folder and open your document

    • File > Save As create a new version

    • Click on the fill color icon

    • Choose a color

    • Select you Paint Bucket Tool

    • Choose a gap size setting. If you have large open areas choose large gaps, if there is a lot of tight passages you may need to make the gap size smaller.

    • Fill in your Character

    • If your Character will not fill it could be one of a few things.

        • You may not have enclosed shapes for instance the line at the bottom of the shirt is a temporary line that is only there so that I can fill the shirt

        • You may have gaps that are too large at you gap size setting. Adjust the gaps using your Selection Tool or change the gap size.

        • You may have not made sure that the object drawing setting was turned off. To check for that click on the frame (the black dot

        • If you see any blue boxes around your lines then this is the problem

        • To fix this got to modify > Break apart or command B

        • Lastly, if when you select your frame there is a blue box around the entire image then it is a symbol (how did you do that already? That is an advanced step) If this is the case go to your library and select your symbol and work on it in the library.

    • Once you get your character all filled in it is time to shade it. Decide which direction the light is coming from. If you plan to have two characters having a conversation and imagine them facing each other than the light should be coming from opposite directions.

    • Once you decide which way the light is coming select the Line Tool.

    • Once again make sure object drawing is not selected

    • Draw lines where you imagine the shadows will fall on your character (opposite the light source)

    • Choose your selection tool

    • Bend the lines so that they look more natural

    • Choose the Eyedropper Tool

    • Select the skin color

    • Open the Color Pallet

    • Make sure the H radio button is selected and darken the color a bit

    • Fill in Shadowed areas on the skin and repeat the process for the hair and shirt

    • Select the Eraser Tool

    • Make sure the faucet setting is selected and remove the shading lines

    • click on the frame to select everything

    • Modify> Convert to symbol

    • Make sure to make it a graphic and give it a name that goes with his/her look

    • Command S to save