Objectives
• Examine websites that use masking, path, easing, and character animation techniques.
• Build mask effects, path animation, ease effects, and character animations involving advanced motion tweens.
• Identify how masking, path, easing, and character animations can be used to enhance user experience on the web.
Overview
You have completed the CS4 Flash course, all three ACA levels. Now you will apply the skills you learned by creating the following student product:
Presentation of a mask effect, a path animation, an animation using easing, and a character animation
Activity steps
1. Review masking, path animation, eases, and character animation by accessing some of the following sites that use these specific techniques, such as the following:
• National Geographic’s Lewis and Clark Journey map www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/journey_leg_1.html
• Visionlearning’s Three States of Matter http://web.visionlearning.com/custom/chemistry/animations/CHE1.1-an-threestates.shtml
• The home page of Leo Burnett, a marketing communications company www.leoburnett.com/
• PBS Kids show Fetch! Face-Off game http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/faceoff/game.html
2. Review motion tweening learned in your CS4 Flash course to simply change position can be applied in different ways to create more advanced effects.
3. Review the steps to create a masking effect.
4. Review the steps to create a path animation
5. Review the steps for easing a tween, using the classic and motion tween easing methods.
6. Review how to use the bones tool and motion tweens to create character animations.
7. As an individual create a masking effect, a path animation, an easing effect, or a character animation, and then get together with your team to review everyone's effort.
8. After said review, the team will build an example of the effect and brainstorm three applications for their effect. Use the guides and rulers in Flash to accurately line up the objects you use when creating your masking effects, eases, and path and character animations.
9. After you have had a chance to complete you tasks, share your samples and explain the applications you would see for your techniques.
Preparation
• Review How to create masks, How to ease tweens, How to use a motion guide with a Motion tween animation and How to create character animations.
Rationale
Motion tweens can be used for more than moving objects from one position to another. Designers use masking to reveal different levels of information or imagery; they use path animations to show progress over time; they use eases to make animations more natural; they use character animations to make animations of characters more lifelike.
Background resources
• Flash Kit has examples of masking and path animations; search for “mask effects” and “motion path.” www.flashkit.com
• National Geographic’s Lewis and Clark Journey map www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/journey_leg_1.html
• Visionlearning’s Three States of Matter http://web.visionlearning.com/custom/chemistry/animations/CHE1.1-an-threestates.shtml
• The home page of Leo Burnett, a marketing communications company www.leoburnett.com/
• PBS Kids show Fetch! Face-Off game http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/faceoff/game.html
Self Assessment