Foundation Flash CS5 For Designers- P2: Flash is one of the most engaging, innovative, and versatile technologies available-allowing the creation of anything from animated banners and simple cartoons to Rich Internet Applications, interactive videos, and dynamic user interfaces for web sites, kiosks, devices, or DVDs. The possibilities are endless, and now it just got better | LEARNING THE FLASH CS5 PROFESSIONAL INTERFACE Figure 1-28. The size and the location of selections can also be changed in the Properties panel. The Tools panel The Tools panel as shown in Figure 1-29 is divided into four major areas Tools These allow you to create select and manipulate text and graphics placed on the stage. View These allow you to pan across the stage or to zoom in on specific areas of the stage. Colors These tools allow you to select and change fill stroke and gradient colors. Options This is a context-sensitive area of the panel. In many ways it is not unlike the Properties panel. It will change depending upon which tool you have selected. 29 CHAPTER 1 Tools View Color Options Figure 1-29. The Tools panel 30 LEARNING THE FLASH CS5 PROFESSIONAL INTERFACE If there is a small down arrow in the bottom-right corner of a tool this indicates additional tool options. Click and hold that arrow and the options will appear in a drop-down menu as shown in Figure 1-30. T Pen Tool P Add Anchor Point Tool I- Delete Anchor Point Tool i b Convert Anchor Point Tool C Figure 1-30. Some tools contain extra tools which are shown in a drop-down list. The Library panel The Library panel is one of those features of the application that is so indispensable to Flash developers and designers that we simply can t think of anybody who doesn t use it . . . religiously. In very simple terms it is the place where content including video and audio that is used in the movie is stored for reuse later in the movie. It is also the place where symbols and copies of components that you may use are automatically placed when the symbols are created or the components are added to the stage. Let s wander over to the Library and take a look. If the file isn t open open it now. Click the Library icon on the right side of the screen or click the Library tab if the panel isn t collapsed. The Library will fly out as shown in Figure 1-31. .
