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The Toolbox
Welcome to my 3rd tutorial, the tools panel. Well, the tools panel looks like this:
I will describe from top left to bottom right in a zig zag pattern. If you don't understand, you will in a minute:
- I'll start with the selection tool. This is, as the name implies, used for selecting things on the stage. It is the small black arrow.
- Next is the subselection tool. It is the small white arrow. It is used for selecting and editing vector points on an object, which are basically points on a raw object( an object that has been drawn in Flash or broken apart in Flash, and has not been converted to a symbol or grouped) where that object is curved or has a corner.
- Next up is the free transform tool, used for skewing, distorting and resizing an object. it looks like a square with smaller little squares around the edge and with another in the middle.
- Then there is the gradient transform tool, left of the free transform tool. It is used for selecting and editing gradient fills inside raw objects.
- There is also the line tool. This looks like a line. It is used to draw lines.Well, that was short.
- The next tool is the lasso tool. This is used for selecting, but only selecting what is inside of the shape that you have drawn. If part of a grouped object or symbol is inside the selection shape, all of it will be selected.
- Next we have the pen tool. Used for drawing lines exactly how you want them or editing vector points.
- There is also the text tool. Used for typing text. You can change the font and size and colour in the properties panel.
- Oval and rectangle tool, pretty basic, used for drawing ovals and rectangles.
- Pencil and brush tools, used for drawing lines. The pencil tool uses the stroke colour, and the brush tool uses the fill colour and smooths your lines depending on the smoothing, in the properties panel.
- Ink bottle and Fill tool. The ink bottle creates strokes for something, and the Fill tool creates fills.
- Eye dropper tool is used for acheiving a desired colour and looks like a turkey baster.
- And finally, the eraser tool. Looks like an eraser (UK: rubber). Erases.
Thank you, I hope you've found this tutorial useful, and I hope you'll join me next time.
Leon.
