LESSON 3: LAYERS

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LESSON 3: LAYERS

OBJECTIVES
When you have finished this lesson, you will understand:
o layers and their basic properties
o how to create, name, hide, and lock layers

STOP: To use this note , Please Open Flash 5> Click Help > Click Lessons> Click 04 Layers

Understanding layers
You can think of layers as transparent sheets of acetate stacked on top of each other. Where there is nothing on a layer, you can see through it to the layers below.
Layers help you organize the artwork in a movie. You can draw and edit artwork on one layer without affecting artwork on another layer.
Refer Lesson 4: Layers

Selecting layers
Drawing and editing occur on the active layer. To make a layer active, you select it. The active layer is highlighted in the Timeline window and the pencil icon indicates it can be edited. The three objects in the work area are each on a separate layer.
1. Using the Arrow tool, select the triangle in the work area. Notice that the Triangle layer becomes the active layer.
2. Select the Circle layer in the Timeline window.Notice that the circle is selected in the work area.

Changing the order of layers
When images overlap, the contents of layers at the top of the Timeline window appear in front of the contents of layers below them.
1. Using the Arrow tool, move the triangle over the circle in the work area.Notice that the triangle covers the circle and that no connection or segmenting occurs, even though the graphics are not groups or symbols.

Creating, naming, locking, and hiding layers
In this scene the background is in separate layers so that you can draw in the foreground.
1. Click the Water layer in the Timeline window and click the Add Layer button at the bottom of the Timeline window.The new layer appears above the Water layer and becomes the active layer.

2. Double-click the layer name, type Fish as the new name for the layer, and press Enter (Windows). You can begin drawing in the new layer immediately, but it is easier if you first hide the Plants layer to reduce clutter on the Stage and lock the Water layer. There are controls to the right of each layer name that let you lock or hide the contents of the current layer.
- Click in the Lock column for the Water layer and in the Eye column for the Plants layer. Icons appear next to the layer name to show which layers are locked or hidden.

4. Click the Fish layer in the Timeline window to make sure it is the active layer.
5. Use any of the drawing tools to draw in the Fish layer.

6. Click in the Eye column of the Plants layer to make it visible again. Objects placed in the Fish layer appear between the Water and Plant objects.

In a later lesson you will learn about the importance of layers in animation.

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