Experiment with type in Flash

  • Software Flash CS4 or later
  • Time needed 1 hour
  • Skills-Code with ActionScript (AS3)-Learn how to use bitmap data-Reuse code for prototyping
  • Download support files

Using Flash as a graphic tool in the same way that you use Photoshop or Illustrator can help you try out countless unique effects by simply altering a couple of variables. This makes the program much quicker than its Adobe stablemates for the rapid prototyping of ideas for yourself or your clients.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to scan a text graphic and use its shape to create unique effects with ActionScript. Once the shape has been stored, we’ll walk through how to replace the text colour with elements of your choice or a creation from the library.

By changing the position, colour, scale and rotation of these new elements, and applying effects such as blurring or a drop shadow, you’ll see how simple it is to produce some stunning effects for use in your design projects. I’ll also cover how to save your designs or refresh them if they aren’t quite what you want.

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The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of eight full-time members of staff: Editor Georgia Coggan, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Ecommerce Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Editor, Digital Art and 3D Ian Dean, Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur Einarsson and Ecommerce Writer Beth Nicholls and Staff Writer Natalie Fear, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq. 

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