Then double-click the Layer 1 and rename it 'Ball.' Next, rename Layer 2 'ActionScript' and lock it. In the Layers palette at the top of the screen, Insert a second layer as shown in Figure B. In the Properties palette at the bottom of the screen, click in the field labeled 'Frame Rate' and change the number from 12 to 24, as shown in Figure A.įigure A Changing the Frame Rate to 24 frames per second (FPS) This is likely a holdover from the last decade or so, when computer processor rates were significantly slower, but these days we can up the frame rate to 24 frames per second, which will give us a much smoother sense of motion. Save your file now, and remember to hit + S after you complete each of the following steps.Įach time you create a new Flash file, the default frame rate is 12 frames per second. This is important, because Flash CS3 will not automatically create ActionScript 2.0 code. In the dialog box that appears, select the Type: Flash File ActionScript 3.0. Open Flash CS3 and create a new file by selecting the New. If you don't own a copy of Flash CS3, you can download a fully functioning 30-day. This blog post is also available in PDF form as a TechRepublic download, which includes the sample flash file described. Flash CS3 will allow you to create an animated movie file using the timeline, and then convert the onscreen action into ActionScript with a handful of mouse clicks. The catch? Writing animation for ActionScript is extremely complex and time-consuming.īut Flash CS3 has changed that. While there is nothing wrong with animating objects using the timeline, animating a Flash movie with ActionScript has an enormous advantage in that the end movie puts much less strain on the end viewer's processor and memory, thereby increasing the performance of the movie. However, it's well-known among professional Flash developers that if you want really responsive, snappy and attention-getting animation, you should animate with ActionScript code. In a previous How Do I.? blog entry, I showed you how easy it is to create an animated movie using Flash CS3's Timeline, utilizing keyframes and Motion Tween actions.

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