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Text Effects In Flash MX

Morphing Text (Example)
  1. Create text. (Do not convert to symbol.)
  2. Insert keyframe in final frame.
  3. Make changes to text in final frame.
  4. Go to first keyframe. Click on Modify menu and choose Break Apart.
  5. Repeat Step 4.
  6. Repeat Step 4 & 5 in the final keyframe.
  7. Click on a frame between the first and final keyframes and select Shape from the Tween menu.

Morphing Text (Example)

  1. Create text. (Do not convert to symbol.)
  2. Click Modify menu and select Break Apart.
  3. Repeat Step 2.
  4. In keyframe, select Shape from the Tween menu.
  5. Insert final keyframe.
  6. Delete previous text and insert new.
  7. Repeat Steps 2 & 3 in final keyframe.
  8. Adjust Blend.

Text Glint (Example)

  1. Create a text layer and create your text.
  2. In a separate layer, draw a rectangle with a linear gradient. Make sure this layer is directly below the text layer.
  3. Right-click on the text layer and select Mask. This will lock both layers and change their appearance.
  4. Unlock both layers in the time line.
  5. Create a Motion Tween in the layer containing the rectangle.
  6. Move the rectangle in the color layer from one side of the stage in the first keyframe to the other side of the stage in the final keyframe.

** Could use images behind text instead of rectangle

Outlined Text (Example)

  1. Create text in a layer.
  2. Click the Modify menu and choose Break Apart.
  3. Repeat Step 2.
  4. Choose a stroke color for the outline.
  5. Select the ink bottle tool and click on the edge of each letter to add the outline.
  6. When finished the text can be converted to a symbol.


Dissolving Text with a Twist (Example)

  1. Create text in a new layer.
  2. Convert it to a Movie Clip symbol.
  3. Double-click on the symbol to enter movie symbol edit mode.
  4. Click on Modify, then Break Apart.
  5. Click on Modify, then Distribute to Layers.
  6. Turn each letter into a graphic symbol.
  7. Insert frames and all final keyframe for all layers.
  8. Insert a Motion Tween for each layer.
  9. Adjust the letters in the final keyframe, setting all alpha values to 0%.
  10. Click Edit, then edit document to return to the scene or click Scene link.

** Movie action will only be seen in Test Movie mode.

Zoom Effect (Example)

  1. Make new layer and type in text.
  2. Click on Modify menu, then select Break Apart.
  3. Click on Modify menu, then select Distribute to Layers.
  4. Convert each letter to a symbol.
  5. In first letter’s layer, insert ending keyframe.
  6. In first keyframe, make letter larger and set its alpha value to 0%. In last keyframe, make letter smaller and set its alpha value to 100%. Move letter slightly left.
  7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 for each layer.
  8. Insert a Motion Tween in each layer.

3D Text (Example)

  1. Insert text in a layer. Bold, plain fonts work best.
  2. Duplicate the text in that layer by pressing CTRL+D
  3. Change the color of the second text and offset it from the original.
  4. Break apart both groups of text by selecting Break Apart from the Modify menu or by pressing CTRL+B. This must be done twice for each.
  5. Use the line tool to join corners of the letters with their shadow.
  6. Fill in the spaces between the letters using the paint bucket.
  7. The text can now be changed to a symbol.