Learn sophisticated animation techniques including how to duplicate Movie Clips such that you can create realistic animated trails that diminish in si

Step One: Setting up the Movie

1. Open a new Movie: File > New
2. Open the Property Inspector: Window > Properties (Ctrl F3)
3. In the Property Inspector set the Size: 550 x 400
4. Set the Frame Rate to: 48fps

   Note: Do not set the background to black yet as I personally think it is easier to work on white and set the background to black at the end.

Step Two: Creating the Electron Movie Clip and the Rings

The Ellipse

1. Select the ellipse tool from the toolbar:
2. On the Main Stage draw an: Ellipse
3. Single click in the centre of the ellipse: Delete Fill
4. If the Property Inspector is closed, open it: Window > Properties (Ctrl F3)
5. Click on the stroke (outline) of the ellipse and resize: 192 wide x 61 high
6. For Width select: Hairline
7. Select the Eraser tool
8. Make a very small gap at the top:
   
   
   Note the small gap at the top of the ellipse.
   
   
9. Return to the Selection tool:
10. Right click (Mac: Ctrl click) on the ellipse and select: Convert to Symbol
11. For Name type: Electron Ring
12. For Behavior select: Movie Clip
13. For Registration select top centre:
14. Click: OK
15. Right Click on you new Movie Clip and select: Edit

Note: This will take you inside the Movie Clip you just created. If the Edit Bar is closed, open it (Window> Toolbars > Edit Bar) and you will see the name of the new Movie Clip: Electron Ring



16. Create 2 extra layers by clicking on the Insert Layer button in the Timeline: (or Insert > Timeline > Layer)
17. Name the Layers as follows:
    
    
    Names of Layers inside the symbol: Electron Ring
    
    
18. Right click (Mac: Ctrl click) on the guide layer label select: Guide
    
    
    Note the Guide Layer Icon changes:
    
    
19. Attach the Electron Layer to the Guide Layer by dragging the Electron Layer just under the guide layer.
    
    
    The Guide Layer Icon has changed again:

Note: If you have not done this before it can be very tricky. You barley need to move the electron Layer at all. Just move it slightly up and to the left. The Electron Layer will attach itself to the Guide Layer. When you release the mouse after dragging the Electron layer, if the Guide icon has changed and a dashed line appears beneath guide Layer and Electron Layer is indented, then everything worked!

Now the ellipse that you drew needs a copy in the: Guide Layer

20. Select the: Ellipse
21. Go to: Edit > Copy (Ctrl C)
22. Select Frame 1 of the: Guide Layer
23. Go to: Edit > Place in Place (Ctrl Shift V)
    
    
    You should now see a black Keyframe (dot) in frame 1 of the Guide Layer.
    
    
24. In the Timeline urn off the visibility of the Guide Layer:
    
    
    Visibility of the Guide Layer has been turned off.
    
    
25. Select the Ellipse on the: Ring Layer
26. In the Properties Inspector change the line to: Solid
27. Set the thickness to: 3 pixels
28. With the Ellipse still selected go to: Modify > Shape > Convert Lines to Fills
29. Open the Color Mixer Panel: Window > Design Panels > Color Mixer (Shift F9)
30. Select a Green to Black transparent to Black transparent: Radial Gradient Fill
    
    
    A radial fill with three colours.
    
    • 1st colour is Green 90% Solid: R = 0, G = 255, B = 0, Alpha = 90%
    • 2nd colour is: Black Transparent: R = 0, G = 0, B = 0, Alpha = 0%
    • 2nd colour is: Black Transparent: R = 0, G = 0, B = 0, Alpha = 0%
      
      
      
31. Select the Fill Transform Tool:
32. Click on the: Ellipse
33. Drag the small circle in the centre so that it aligns front edge of the Ellipse:
    
    
    Central circle is in line with the front edge of the Ellipse.
    
    
34. Pull the Square right out to the left side:
    
    
    Square pulled right out to the left side.
    
    
    
    
    Your Ellipse should end up looking similar to this.

Step Three: Making the Electron MC - The Circle

You should still be inside the Electron Ring Movie Clip and not on the Main Stage.

Edit Bar shows that you are editing inside the Electron Ring MC.

Note: If you are not inside the Movie Clip Open the Library (F11) and right click on the Electron Ring MC and select: Edit

1. Select Frame 1 of the: Electron Layer
2. Select the Ellipse tool:
3. Draw a: Circle
4. Select the Selection tool:
5. In the Property Inspector change its size to: 15 x 15 pixels
6. Set the width of the Stroke (outline) to: 3 pixels
7. Change the stroke to: Yellow
8. Change the fill to Green so that it looks something similar to this:
9. Double click in the centre of the circle to select both the fill and stroke: Select Circle
10. Right Click (Mac: Ctrl click) on select: Convert to Symbol
11. For Name type: Circle
12. For Behaviour select: Movie Clip
13. For Registration select centre:
14. Click: OK Making the Electron: The Polygon

Step Four: Making the Electron MC - The Polygon

You should still be inside the Electron Ring Movie Clip with Frame 1 of the Electron layer selected.

1. Select the PolyStar tool:

Note: The PolyStar tool can be found if you click and hold the mouse button on the Rectangle tool and drag to select the PolyStar tool from the pop-up menu.

2. In the Property Inspector click the Options Button:
3. Set the Options similar to this:
   
   
   PolyStar tool options.
   
   
4. Return to the Main Stage by clicking: OK
5. Near the circle draw a: Pentagon
6. Select the centre of the pentagon and: Delete the Centre
7. Make the stroke: Green
8. In the Property Inspector set the size to: 25.6 x 24.4 (width x height)
   
   Your pentagon should look similar to this:
   
   
9. Right click on the pentagon and select: Convert to Symbol
10. For Name type: Pentagon
11. For Behaviour select: Movie Clip
12. For Registration select: Centre
13. Click: OK

Step Five: Making the Electron MC - Combining the Circle and the Pentagon

You should still be inside the Electron Ring Movie Clip with Frame 1 of the Electron layer selected.

1. Drag the circle on top of the Pentagon like this:
2. Select both the shapes: Circle and Pentagon
3. Right click and select: Convert to Symbol
4. For Name type: Electron
5. For Behaviour select: Movie Clip
6. For Registration select Centre
7. Click: OK
8. If the Property Inspector is closed, open it: Window > Properties (Ctrl F3)
9. Give the new Electron MC an Instance Name: myElectron
   
   
   Instance Name: myElectron

TO BE CONTINUED :)