Drawing patterns with the Decorative drawing tool

1. Select the Deco Drawing tool, and select Symmetry Brush from the Drawing Effect menu in the Property inspector.
2. In the Deco Drawing tool Property inspector, select a fill color to use for the default rectangle shape. Or, click Edit to select a custom symbol from the library.

   You can use any movie clip or graphic symbol in the library with the Symmetry Brush effect. These symbol-based particles give you a great deal of creative control over artwork you create.

3. The Symmetry Brush advanced options appear in the Property inspector when you select Symmetry Brush from the Drawing Effect pop-up menu in the Property inspector.

   Rotate Around

   Rotates the shapes in the symmetry around a fixed point that you designate. The default reference point is the center point of the symmetry. To rotate the object around its center point, drag in a circular motion.

   Reflect Across Line

   Flips the shapes an equal distance apart across an invisible line that you specify.

   Reflect Around Point

   Places two shapes an equal distance apart around a fixed point that you specify.

   Grid Translation

   Creates a grid using the shapes in the Symmetry effect you are drawing. Each click of the Deco Drawing tool on the Stage creates a grid of shapes. Adjust the height and width of the shapes using the x and y coordinates defined by the Symmetry Brush handles.

   Test Collisions

   Prevents shapes in the Symmetry effect you are drawing from colliding with one another, regardless of how you increase the number of instances within the Symmetry effect. Deselect this option to overlap the shapes in the Symmetry effect.

4. Click the Stage where you want the Symmetry Brush artwork to appear.
5. Use the Symmetry Brush handles to adjust the size of the symmetry and the number of symbol instances.

1. Select the Deco Drawing tool, and select Grid Fill from the Drawing Effect menu in the Property inspector.
2. In the Property inspector, select a fill color for the default rectangle shape. Or click Edit to select a custom symbol from the library.

   You can use up to 4 movie clip or graphic symbols in the library with the Grid Fill effect. The symbols alternate as Flash fills the grid.

3. Choose a Layout for the grid fill. There are 3 options for Layout.

   Tile Pattern

   The symbols are arranged in a simple grid pattern.

   Brick Pattern

   The symbols are arranged in a horizontally offset grid pattern.

   Floor Pattern

   The symbols are arranged in a horizontally and vertically offset grid pattern.

4. To allow the fill to overlap the edge of the containing symbol, shape, or the Stage, select the Paint Over Edge option.
5. To allow the symbols to be distributed randomly within the grid, select the Random Order option.
6. You can specify the horizontal and vertical spacing and the scale of the fill shape. Once the Grid Fill effect is applied, you cannot change the advanced options in the Property inspector afterwards to alter the fill pattern.

   Horizontal spacing

   Specifies the horizontal distance in pixels between symbols used in the Grid Fill.

   Vertical spacing

   Specifies the vertical distance in pixels between symbols used in the Grid Fill.

   Pattern scale

   Enlarges or shrinks the symbols horizontally (along the x axis), and vertically (along the y axis).

7. Click the Stage or within the shape or symbol where you want the Grid Fill pattern to appear.

1. Select the Deco Drawing tool, and select Vine Fill from the Drawing Effect menu in the Property inspector.
2. In the Deco Drawing tool Property inspector, select a fill color for the default flower and leaf shapes. Or, click Edit to select a custom symbol from the library to replace one or both of the default flower and leaf symbols.

   You can use any movie clip or graphic symbol in the library to replace the default flower and leaf symbols with the Vine Fill effect.

3. You can specify the horizontal and vertical spacing and the scale of the fill shape. After you apply the Vine Fill effect, you cannot change the advanced options in the Property inspector afterward to alter the fill pattern.

   Branch angle

   Specifies the angle of the branch pattern.

   Branch color

   Specifies the color to use for the branch.

   Pattern scale

   Scaling an object enlarges or reduces it both horizontally (along the x axis), and vertically (along the y axis).

   Segment length

   Specifies the length of the segments between leaf and flower nodes.

   Animate pattern

   Specifies that each iteration of the effect is drawn to a new frame in the timeline. This option creates a frame-by-frame animated sequence of the flower pattern as it's drawn.

   Frame step

   Specifies how many frames to span per second of the effect being drawn.

4. Click the Stage or within the shape or symbol where you want the Grid Fill pattern to appear.

Using the Particle System effect, you can create particle animations such as fire, smoke, water, bubbles, and other effects.

To use the particle system effect:

1. Select the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. Set the properties for the effect in the Properties panel.

3. Click the Stage in the location where you want to the effect to appear.

   Flash creates a frame-by-frame animation of the particle effect according to the properties you set. The particles generated on Stage are contained in a group in each frame of the animation.

The Particle System effect has the following properties:

Particle 1

This is the first of 2 symbols you can assign to be used as particles. If you do not specify a symbol, a small black square is used. By choosing graphics wisely, you can generate very interesting and realistic effects.

Particle 2

This is the second symbol that you can assign as a particle.

Total Length

The duration of the animation in frames, starting from the current frame.

Particle Generation

The number of frames in which particles are generated. If the number of frames is less than the Total Length property, the tool stops making new particles in the remaining frames, but the particles already generated continue to animate.

Rate per Frame

The number of particles generated per frame.

Life Span

The number of frames that an individual particle is visible on the Stage.

Initial Speed

The speed of movement of each particle at the beginning of its life span. The unit of speed is pixels per frame.

Initial Size

The scaling of each particle at the beginning of its life span.

Min Initial Direction

The minimum of the range of possible directions of movement of each particle at the beginning of its life span. The measurement is in degrees. Zero is upward; 90 is to thr right; 180 is downward, 270 is to the left, and 360 is also upward. Negative numbers are allowed.

Max Initial Direction

The maximum of the range of possible directions of movement of each particle at the beginning of its life span. The measurement is in degrees. Zero is upward; 90 is to thr right; 180 is downward, 270 is to the left, and 360 is also upward. Negative numbers are allowed.

Gravity

When this number is positive, the particles change direction to downward and their speed increases, as if they are falling. If Gravity is negative, the particles change direction to upward.

Rotation Rate

The degrees of rotation to apply to each particle per frame.

The 3D Brush effect allows you to paint multiple instances of a symbol on the Stage, with 3D perspective. Flash creates 3D perspective by scaling the symbols down near the top of the Stage (the background), and up near the bottom of the Stage (the forground). Symbols drawn closer to the bottom of the Stage are drawn on top of symbols nearer the top of the Stage, regardless the order in which they are drawn.

You can include from 1 to 4 symbols in the painting pattern. Each symbol instance that appears on the Stage is in its own group. You can paint directly on the Stage, or inside a shape or symbol. If the first click of the 3D brush occurs inside a shape, the 3D brush is active only within the shape.

To use the 3D Brush effect:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. Select the 3D Brush effect from the Drawing effect menu in the Property inspector.

3. Select from 1 to 4 symbols that you want to include in the painting pattern.

4. Set the other properties for the effect in the Property inspector. Be sure the Perspective property is selected to create a 3D effect.

5. Drag on the Stage to begin painting. Move the cursor toward the top of the Stage to paint smaller instances. Move the cursor toward the bottom of the Stage to paint larger instances.

The 3D Brush effect has the following properties:

Max objects

The maximum number of objects to paint.

Spray area

The maximum distance from the cursor that instances are painted.

Perspective

This toggles the 3D effect. To paint instances of a consistent size, deselect this option.

Distance scale

This property determines the amount of the 3D perspective effect. Increase the value to increase the scaling caused by moving the cursor up or down.

Random scale range

This property allows the scaling to be randomly determined for each instance. Increase the value to increase the range of scale values that can be applied to each instance.

Random rotation range

This property allows the rotation to be randomly determined for each instance. Increase the value to increase the maximum possible rotation for each instance.

The Building Brush effect allows you to draw buildings on the Stage. The appearance of the buildings depends on values you choose for the building properties.

To draw a building on the Stage:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. In the Property inspector, choose Building Brush from the Drawing Effect menu.

3. Set the properties of the Building Brush effect.

4. Starting where you want the bottom of the building, drag the cursor upwards vertically to the height you want for your finished building.

The Building Brush effect has the following properties:

Building type

The style of building to create.

Building size

The width of the building. Larger values create wider buildings.

The Decorated brush effect allows you to draw decorative lines, such as dotted lines, wavy lines, and others. Experiment with the effect to discover which setting work for your intended designs.

To use the Decorated Brush effect:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. Set the properties for the effect in the Property inspector.

3. Drag the cursor on the Stage.

   The Decorated Brush effect creates a styled line that follows the path of the cursor.

The Decorated Brush effect has the following properties:

Line style

The style of line to draw. Experiment with all 20 choices to see the various effects.

Pattern color

The color of the line.

Pattern size

The size of the selected pattern.

Pattern width

The width of the selected pattern.

The Fire Animation effect creates stylized frame-by-frame fire animation.

To use the Fire Animation effect:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. Choose Fire Animation from the Drawing Effect menu in the Property inspector.

3. Set the properties for the Fire Animation effect.

4. Drag on the Stage to create the animation.

   Flash adds frames to the timeline while you hold the mouse button.

In most situations, it is best to place your fire animation inside its own symbol, such as a movie clip symbol.

The Fire Animation effect has the following properties:

Fire size

The width and height of the flames. Higher values create larger flames.

Fire speed

The speed of the animation. Larger values create faster flames.

Fire duration

The number of frames created in the timeline during the animation.

End animation

Select this option to create an animation of the fire burning out instead of burning continuously. Flash adds additional frames after the specified Fire duration to accommodate the burning-out effect. If you want to loop the finished animation to create a continuous burning effect, do not select this option.

Flame color

The color of the tips of the flames.

Flame core color

The color of the base of the flames.

Fire spark

The number of individual flames at the base of the fire.

The Flame Brush effect allows you to draw flames on the Stage in the current frame of the timeline

To use the Flame Brush effect:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. Choose Flame Brush from the Drawing Effect menu in the Property inspector.

3. Set the properties for the Flame Brush effect.

4. Drag on the Stage to draw flames.

The Flame Brush effect has the following properties:

Flame size

The width and height of the flames. Higher values create larger flames.

Flame color

The color of the center of the flames. As you draw, the flames change from the selected color to black.

The Flower Brush effect allows you to draw stylized flowers in the current frame of the timeline.

To use the Flower Brush effect:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. Choose Flower Brush from the Drawing Effect menu in the Property inspector.

3. Select a flower from the Flower Type menu.

4. Set the properties for the Flower Brush effect.

5. Drag on the Stage to draw flowers.

The Flower Brush effect has the following properties:

Flower color

The color of the flowers.

Flower size

The width and height of the flowers. Higher values create larger flowers.

Leaf color

The color of the leaves.

Leaf size

The width and height of the leaves. Higher values create larger leaves.

Fruit color

The color of the fruit.

Branch

Select this option to draw branches in addition to the flowers and leaves.

Branch color

The color of the branches.

The Lightning Brush effect lets you create lightning bolts. You can also create animated lighting.

To use the Lightning Brush effect:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. Select the Lightning Brush effect from the Drawing Effect menu in the Property inspector.

3. Set the Properties for the Lightning Brush effect.

4. Drag on the Stage. Flash draws lightning toward the direction you move the mouse.

The Lightning Brush effect has the following properties:

Lightning color

The color of the lightning.

Lightning scale

The length of the lightning.

Animation

This option allows you to create frame-by-frame animation of the lightning. Flash adds frames to the current layer in the Timeline while the lightning is being drawn.

Beam width

the thickness of the lightning at its root.

Complexity

The number of times each branch divides. Higher values create longer lightning with more branches.

The Smoke Animation effect creates stylized frame-by-frame smoke animation.

To use the Smoke Animation effect:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. Choose Smoke Animation from the Drawing Effect menu in the Property inspector.

3. Set the properties for the Smoke Animation effect.

4. Drag on the Stage to create the animation.

   Flash adds frames to the timeline while you hold the mouse button.

In most situations, it is best to place your smoke animation inside its own symbol, such as a movie clip symbol.

The Smoke Animation effect has the following properties:

Smoke size

The width and height of the smoke. Higher values create larger flames.

Smoke speed

The speed of the animation. Larger values create faster smoke.

Smoke duration

The number of frames created in the timeline during the animation.

End animation

Select this option to create an animation of the smoke burning out instead of smoking continuously. Flash adds additional frames after the specified Smoke duration to accommodate the burning-out effect. If you want to loop the finished animation to create a continuous smoking effect, do not select this option.

Smoke color

The color of the smoke.

Background color

The background color of the smoke. The smoke changes to this color as it dissipates.

The Tree Brush effect allows you to quickly create tree artwork.

To use the Tree Brush effect:

1. Click the Deco tool in the Tools panel.

2. In the Property inspector, select the Tree Brush effect from the Drawing Effect menu.

3. Set the properties for the Tree Brush effect.

4. Drag on the Stage to create a tree.

   Create large branches by dragging. Create smaller branches by keeping the cursor in one place.

Flash creates branches that are contained in groups on the Stage.

The Tree Brush effect has the following properties:

Tree style

The kind of tree to create. Each tree style is based on an actual tree species.

Tree Scale

The size of the tree. Values must be between 75-100. Higher values create larger trees.

Branch color

The color of the tree stems.

Leaf Color

The color of the leaves.

Flower/Fruit color

The color of the flowers and fruit.