How To Create a Movie Clip in Flash

If you are using Flash for a presentation, know that there are three different types of symbols that you can create: button, graphic and movie clip. The movie clip is particularly interesting to use, as it gives flair and appeal to any presentation, through the use of animations, sounds and interactivity. Added to this is the movie clip’s versatility and relative ease of use. If you are interested to find out how to create a movie clip in Flash, read on for some basic guidelines:

* Have a symbol to work with. In Flash, a symbol is required if you want to give animation to an object. First, you could either draw an object on the Flash stage, or import an object from your computer files. Press F8 to convert it to a symbol that you could work with. A pop-up box will appear which will let you give the new symbol a name. Click on the option “movie clip” (versus “button” and “graphic”). You will find that the movie clip you have just created is now contained in the library.
* Create a symbol from scratch. If you want to draw your own symbol on the Flash “stage”, click on the “Insert” button on the top corner of the screen. Click on “new symbol,” give it a name, and choose “movie clip” as the type of symbol. With regards to naming your symbol, it’s a good idea to name it with the letters “mc” so you can remember that it’s a movie clip. Use the available tools and controls to create your image on the Flash stage.
* Know how to organize your symbols. Remember, even if you delete your symbol on the stage of the Flash program, it’s still stored in the library so it will still be there. To delete an existing symbol, you’d have to delete it from the library itself. To better organize your library, you can store your symbols inside folders, in much the same way that your computer files in your hard drive are organized. Simply use the folder icon (the one with a plus on it) located at the bottom of the library window.
* Create a “motion tween”. One of the simplest movie clips you can do is a “motion tween”; that is, you could make a symbol move from one direction to another repetitively. Once you already have a symbol to work with, use the frames and the timeline above the screen to determine the speed and direction of the movement of the symbol. Here’s a simple way to do it: first, click on a frame in the timeline (say, the 25th) and insert a frame. Then, right-click on that same frame and select “create motion tween”. Insert a key frame. Third, insert another key frame on a different part of the timeline (say, the 15th) and then with your mouse, move the symbol to another part of the stage. Essentially, you are directing the movement of the symbol as it will appear during the animation. Save your work, and then view your movie clip.
* Create a morphing tween. Another simple movie clip animation you could do is to create a morphing movie clip, where a symbol transforms into another symbol. First, set the symbol that you want to work with. Click on a frame in the timeline and insert a key frame. Go back to the stage and set another symbol on the stage. Right click on a frame in the timeline (before the key frame) and select “shape” from the tween panel. Save your work and view your movie clip.


Creating a movie clip may take some practice, and a little bit of trial-and-error, but with enough time you’d be able to be handy with it.