What is the “Deco” tool

The “Deco” tool is new in “Flash” CS4 so, those of you who work with the “CS3” version, can skip this topic.

With the “Deco” tool, we can apply an effect to a selected object on the “Stage”. You choose the securities in “Properties window” after you have selected the “Deco” tool.

The “Deco” tool works with symbols, so you have not yet created at this moment. Although, you have a standard symbol that is installed in “Flash”, we can still avoid using the same, it would be pretty boring on the Internet.

The first thing you do is select the “Deco” tool in the toolbox, then in the “Properties Window”, we have three character effects.

We have investigated the “Vine Fill” effect, the “Grid Fill” effect and “Symmetry Brush” effect.

Depending on the selected effect, we have some options.

 

 

“Symmetry Brush”

Let me first start with the “Symmetry Brush” effect.

 

 

We use the “Symmetry Brush” when we make symbols symmetrically around a central point. By default, the selected symbol is a small square of 25 pixels.
But as I mentioned earlier we do this with every symbol in our library.
Just click the “Edit” button, select a symbol in the dialog that appears, and click the OK button.

By means of the handles on the levers we can add symbols, delete, rotate or move.
For this, place the mouse pointer in the handle, and drag it to the position you want.

When this effect is selected, we have a number of “Advanced options”.

1. “Reflect across line”: Turns the symbols equally spaced around a line that you specify.
2. “Reflect ross point”: That will give you two symbols that are equally spaced around a fixed point that you specify.
3. “Rotate around”: Lets you rotate the symbols in the symmetry around a fixed point that you designate. The default reference point is the center of symmetry. If you rotate an object around its center point, drag in a circular motion.
4. “Grid Translation”: This will create a grid with the symbols in the symmetry effect that you sign. Whenever you are with the “Deco” drawing tool, click in the area creates a grid of symbols. Adjust the height and the width of the form with the X-and Y-coordinates which are defined by the handles of the brush symmetry.

• “Crash Test“: This will prevent symbols in the “Symmetry” effect you draw, with each touch. Uncheck this box if you want the symbols in the “Symmetry” effect to overlap.

 

Featured Courses

• Downloading iPad Apps
• Lesson 1: Introduction to Publisher
• Lesson 65: File Formats