In this thoroughly explained, detailed lesson, I will show you how to create a really cool and simple mask appearance using some special flash tips and tricks. You can use this lesson for some flash banner, animation, presentation. Using this lesson, you will also learn how to apply flash filters (Blur, Glow...) on any image, object, how to create mask layer.... Let's start!




Example:



Step 1

Start flash. Set the movie's width and movie's height at whatever you want. Set the background colour as whatever you like, I used #FDFDFD for this example. Set your Flash movie's frame rate to 24.See the picture below.



Step 2

Take the Line Tool (N) and go to the Properties Panel (Ctrl+F3) below the stage. Then, choose the following options:

1. Enter #000000 for the stroke color,
2. Select Solid as the type of outline, with the line thickness set to 2,
3. Turn on the Stroke hinting option to get rid of any blurry edges while drawing.



Then, draw a vertical line like it is shown on the picture below.



Step 3

While the line is still selected, press F8 key (Convert to Symbol) to convert this line into a Movie Clip Symbol.



Step 4

While the new made Movie Clip is still selected, go again to the Properties Panel below the stage. Then, click on Filters tab > plus icon and select the Glow filter. Make the adjustements as follows:

1. Blur X and Y : 5
2. Strength : 100%
3. Quality : Low.
4. Color : #999999.



After that, click again on plus icon and select the Bevel Filter. the, make the adjustements as follows:

1. Blur X and Y : 5
2. Strength : 100%
3. Quality : Low.
4. Color : #999999.
5. Angle: 45
6. Distance: 5
7. Shadow: black
8. Highlight: white
9. Type: Iner



Step 5

Click again on plus icon and select a Drop Shadow filter. Then, make the adjustements as follows:

1. Blur X and Y : 5
2. Strength : 26%
3. Quality : Low.
4. Color : black.
5. Angle: 45
6. Distance: 5



Now, you have this:



Step 6

Double click on layer 1 to rename its name into a line.

Step 7

Create a new layer and name it mask area. After that, place that layer below the line layer using the Selection Tool (V) and "drag and drop" technique.

Step 8

While the mask area layer is still selected, take the Rectangle Tool (R). In the Colors portion of the Tool panel, block the Stroke color by clicking on the little paint bucket icon and then on the small square with the red diagonal line. For Fill color choose any color and draw a rectangle size as the picture that you will be Import into a flash in next step. See the picture below.



Step 9

Create a new layer and name it picture. Then, take the Selection Tool (V), and place it below the mask area layer. See the picture below.



Step 10

While the picture layer is still selected, choose File > Import > Import to Stage (shortcut key: Ctrl+R) and import any picture that you will be use for this tutorial. You can also download my picture if you like.



Step 11

Take the Selection Tool (V), and place the picture on the position like it is shown on the picture below.



Step 12

While the picture is still selected, press F8 key (Convert to Symbol) to convert this picture into a Movie Clip Symbol.



Step 13

Now, click on frame 25 of layers line and mask and press F5 key. After that, go back on layer picture, click on frame 20 and press F6 key. Then, take the Selection Tool (V) and place the picture on the position like it is shown on the picture below.



Step 14

After that, click on frame 25 and press again F6 key. Then, move the picture a little left. See the picture below.



While you're still on frame 25, go to the A.S.Panel (F9). Then, enter the folowing A.S.code inside the Actions panel:

stop();

Step 15

Right-click anywhere on the gray area between the frame 1 and 20 and after that frame 20 and 25 on the timeline and choose Create Motion Tween from the menu that appears.



Step 16

Select mask area layer and convert it to a mask by right-clicking on the mask area layer and selecting Mask. See the picture below.





We're done!

Have a nice day!

Download source file (.fla)