using flash buttons

The first step in building our firefighter project is to create a new document in Flash. This tutorial will use ActionScript 2.0, which is easier for most people to learn. Open Flash CS4 on your computer, and from the new document menu select Flash File (ActionScript 2.0).

In the upper right side of the Flash screen, set your workspace layout to Classic. This tutorial will use the classic layout, as it is more familiar for people who have used earlier versions of Flash.

Download the Heroes-tutorial.zip file and extract it if you have not downloaded the tutorial files yet. To import the images we will be using in this tutorial, go to the File menu at the top of the screen, and select Import -> Import to Library.

Select all of the images from the tutorial folder. Use the shift key (command key on a Mac) to select multiple photos at one time so that you do not have to import each file separately.

Next, drag the firefighter.gif image from the library to your stage. If your Library is not visible, select it from the Window menu at the top of the screen. You can drag the library window to the right side of the screen.

After you drag the firefighter image to the stage, we will name the layer that your firefighter is on. Naming the layer allows us to have an easy way to know what elements are on this layer. In your timeline, double click on the word "layer 1" to edit the layer name, and type "firefighter".

Our firefighter image will serve as a background reference for the invisible buttons we will create later. Layers are a way of organizing elements in our Flash project. Layers determine the stacking order for objects on your stage.

Since our firefighter needs no further work, we will lock the firefighter layer to prevent us from accidentally modifying it or moving it. When a layer is locked, you cannot make any modification or additions until it is unlocked. To lock the firefighter layer, click the small dot below the eyeball symbol in the timeline.

Next, we will create a new layer above the firefighter layer and name it "title". To create a new layer, click the small new layer button on the lower right side of the timeline.

Name the new layer "title" by double clicking on the layer name.

Click the text tool in your tool palette . When you select the text tool, Flash will automatically display properties related to the text tool in your properties window. If your properties window is not displayed, you can bring it up by first clicking on the Window menu and selecting Properties.

Here you can choose text properties like the font, font-size, color and other characteristics of text. Next, click on your stage and type in a title for your project. This tutorial will use the same title the Minneapolis Star Tribune used, "Heroes of Public Safety" for the title.

To move your text, you must switch your tool to the selection tool (the black arrow tool). The selection tool is always used for moving objects on the stage. If you want to make further adjustments to your text, choose the text tool and highlight the text you want to adjust, and you can make additional adjustments like changing the font size.

Once you set the text size and position the way you want, use the selection tool (black arrow tool) to select your text once. The selected text will display a blue outline to indicate it is selected. From the properties window, scroll down to the bottom and find the filters section and click the small add filter button at the bottom right of the image.

From the pop-up menu, choose the drop shadow filter.

Several menu options will be displayed in the filter properties section. Feel free to edit these options to see how they affect the drop shadow on your text. We recommend choosing the high quality setting and reducing the distance of the shadow from the text for the most aesthetic appearance.

After you have made your desired text adjustment, lock the title layer.

The next section will take you through the process of creating invisible buttons.