In this advanced flash tutorial I will show you how to create advanced mask photo animation using some special flash tricks and action script code. This animation can be used for any web banner or for some presentation. Using this lesson you will also learn how to animate any photo, how to apply flash filters on it, how to create mask layer, apply action script code on last frame and much much more. Let's start!

Example:



Step 1

First, save the image below that we will use for this lesson as background.





Step 2

Create a new flash document. Press Ctrl+J key on the keyboard (Document Properties) and set the width of your document to 400 pixels and the height to 250 pixels. Select any color as background color. Set your Flash movie's frame rate to 34 and click ok.

Step 3

Call the current layer photo. Double-click on its default name (Layer 1) to change it. Press Enter once you have typed in the new name!

Step 4

Choose now File > Import > Import to stage (Ctrl+R) and import a photo that you just saved in step 1 into a flash stage. While the photo is still selected, go to the Align Panel (Ctrl+K) and do the following:

1. Make sure that the Align/Distribute to Stage button is turned on,
2. Click on the Align horizontal center button and
3. Click the Align vertical center button.



Step 5

While the photo is still selected, hit F8 key (Convert to Symbol) to convert it into a Movie Clip Symbol.



Step 6

Click now on frame 25 and hit F6 key.

Step 7

While you're still on frame 25, select the Selection Tool (V) and click once on the photo to select it. Then, go to the Properties Panel (Ctrl+F3) below the stage. Select Filters tab from the left side. Click after that on the plus icon and select the Blur filter. Make the adjustments as follows:



Step 8

Click now on the Properties Tab button. On the right, you will see the Color menu. Select Alpha in it and put it down to 30%.



Step 9

Go back on the first frame. After that, select again Alpha and put it down to 0%.

Step 10

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



Step 11

Create a new layer above the layer photo and name it mask

Step 12

Select mask layer and draw a rectangle shape about 500x5 px and place it on the center of background.



Step 13

While the rectangle shape is still selected hit F8 key (Convert to Symbol) to convert it into a movie clip symbol.



Step 14

Double-click on the movie clip (rectangle) on stage with the Selection tool(V).You should now be inside the Movie Clip.



Step 15

It's time for mask animation. While the rectangle shape is still selected, hit again F8 key (Convert to Symbol) to convert it into a Movie Clip Symbol.