Flash Environment
THE TIMELINE WINDOW(Cont...)
Add layer: Simply click this button to add a new layer above the currently active layer. By default, layers are given sequential numeric names. Double-click the layer name in the Layer bar to change the name. Click and drag any part of the Layer bar to move it to a new position in the stack, or drag it on top of a folder layer to place it inside the folder.
Add Layer folder: This button enables you to create folders for storing groups of layers. New folders are automatically placed above the currently selected layer and labeled in the same number sequence as layers. They can be renamed or moved in the same way as other layers.
Delete layer: This button deletes the currently active layer, regardless of whether it is locked. Flash always retains one layer in the Timeline, so if you have only one layer in your document, you can’t delete it unless you add another layer to the Timeline.
Outline Layer toggle: This toggles the colored layer outlines on or off. When on, the filled square icon changes into an outline, and all elements in that layer appear as colored outlines in the Document window. The outline color for the layer can be changed with the Outline Color control of the Layer Properties dialog box, which can be accessed by double-clicking the square Outline color icons in the layer stack or by choosing Modify ->Timeline -> Layer Properties from the application menu.
Frame View options: This button, at the far-right end of the Timeline, accesses the Frame View options menu, which affords many options for the manner in which both the Timeline header and the frames are displayed.
Add Layer folder: This button enables you to create folders for storing groups of layers. New folders are automatically placed above the currently selected layer and labeled in the same number sequence as layers. They can be renamed or moved in the same way as other layers.
Delete layer: This button deletes the currently active layer, regardless of whether it is locked. Flash always retains one layer in the Timeline, so if you have only one layer in your document, you can’t delete it unless you add another layer to the Timeline.
Outline Layer toggle: This toggles the colored layer outlines on or off. When on, the filled square icon changes into an outline, and all elements in that layer appear as colored outlines in the Document window. The outline color for the layer can be changed with the Outline Color control of the Layer Properties dialog box, which can be accessed by double-clicking the square Outline color icons in the layer stack or by choosing Modify ->Timeline -> Layer Properties from the application menu.
Frame View options: This button, at the far-right end of the Timeline, accesses the Frame View options menu, which affords many options for the manner in which both the Timeline header and the frames are displayed.
Frame controls
Center frame: Click this button to shift the Timeline so that the current frame is centered in the visible area of the Timeline.
Onion skin: This enables you to see several frames of animation simultaneously.
Onion Skin outlines: This enables you to see the outlines of several frames of animation simultaneously.
Edit Multiple frames: In general, onion skinning permits you to edit the current frame only. Click this button to make each frame between the onion skin markers editable.
Modify Onion markers: Click this button to open the Modify Onion Markers popup. In addition to making manual adjustments, you can use the options to control the behavior and range of onion skinning.
Onion skin: This enables you to see several frames of animation simultaneously.
Onion Skin outlines: This enables you to see the outlines of several frames of animation simultaneously.
Edit Multiple frames: In general, onion skinning permits you to edit the current frame only. Click this button to make each frame between the onion skin markers editable.
Modify Onion markers: Click this button to open the Modify Onion Markers popup. In addition to making manual adjustments, you can use the options to control the behavior and range of onion skinning.
Timeline Status displays
Current frame: This indicates the number of the current frame.
Current rate: This indicates the frame rate of the movie, measured in frames, or frames per second (fps). The program default of 12 fps is usually a good starting point. We can set the frame rate using, the Document Properties dialog box (Modify -> Document) or in the Properties panel
...Previous Current rate: This indicates the frame rate of the movie, measured in frames, or frames per second (fps). The program default of 12 fps is usually a good starting point. We can set the frame rate using, the Document Properties dialog box (Modify -> Document) or in the Properties panel