Layer Folders

To make things a bit tidy in our “Timeline”, we can place the different “Layers” in “Layer” folders. This is useful when you have dozens of “Layers” in your film and want to quickly find a specific “Layer”. In this example I have only three “Layers” with figures plus an “ActionScript Layer”, but I think it is important that this be neatly arranged.

For this we first select the “Layer” above which you want to place the new folder.
Then click the “New Layer” button at the bottom of the “Timeline”.

Click and drag the “Layer” you want to place the folder on the folder icon, and let the mouse go.
This places the “Layer”, in this case, the “Rectangle Layer” in the new folder. By the indentation that is added to the “Layer” name we can conclude that, this “Layer” is in the above folder.

If you have multiple “Layers” that all belong in this folder, you select all these by holding the shift key on your keyboard pressed, and drag it all at once above the folder icon.
Finally, give the new folder a meaningful name, by double-clicking.

To select a folder to open or close, click the down pointing arrow to the left of the folder icon.

 

“Mask”

We use a “Mask” to hide certain parts of an object and display other parts of an object.

The first thing you should do to apply a “Mask” to an existing “Layer” is to “Mask Layer”. This “Layer” should be above the “Mask Layer” that you want to “Mask”.
To add a “Mask” you first add a standard “Layer”, preferably above the “Layer” you want to apply the “Mask” to. This is for the simple reason that we do need to move later.

Now you have two ways of creating a “Mask” to this new “Layer”.

The first way is the double-clicking the name of the new “Layer”. This opens the “Layer Properties” dialog.

In the top box you give the (“Mask”) “Mask” a name, select “Mask” as the type, and you click the OK button.
This makes this “Layer” a “Mask Layer” (1).

Then double-click the icon of the masking “Layer”, in this case the “Circle Layer”, and select “Masked” in the dialog.
This makes the “Layer” of a masked “Layer” (2).

 

 

What you need to do is draw it in the main frame of the “Mask Layer”, and then test the movie.
To choose a movie to test it, select your “Control” in the menu bar and click “Test Movie” from the drop-down menu.

So this was a first way to add a “Mask” “Layer” to your movie.
But there is a second and much quicker way.

Add a “Layer” above the “Layer” you want to “Mask”.
Draw a figure that you want to use as a “Mask” in this new “Layer”.
Right-click this “Layer” and choose “Mask” in the drop-down menu.
This will be immediately informed if the new “Layer” is a “Mask Layer”, and if the underlying “Layer” of a masked “Layer”.

Both “Layers” are automatically locked so you immediately see the results of your “Mask”, without you having to test the “Flash” movie.

Tip: The edges of an image that you use as a “Mask” are not included in the “Mask”. Only the filling of the figure is considered as a “Mask”. So it is unnecessary to provide a figure that has an edge, or region, call it what you want, to serve as a “Mask” .

 

“Layer” to an existing “Mask”

To edit an existing “Layer” to add a ” Mask Layer” click and drag this “Layer” below the “Mask Layer” or a masked “Layer”.

 

Delete “Layer” from an existing “Mask”

To delete a masked “Layer” a “normal” “Layer”, click and drag the “Layer” up or down, away from the “Mask Layer”.
A second way is double-clicking the icon for the masked “Layer” and selecting “Normal” in the dialog box that appears.

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