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Work with mask layers

You can use mask layers to reveal portions of a picture or graphic in the layer below. To create a mask, you specify that a layer is a mask layer, and either draw or place a filled shape on that layer. You can use any filled shape, including groups, text, and symbols, as a mask. The mask layer reveals the area of linked layers beneath the filled shape.

For a video tutorial about animating masks, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0127.

For a sample of scriptable masks, see the Flash Samples web page at www.adobe.com/go/learn_fl_samples. Download and decompress the Samples zip file and navigate to the Masking\ScriptableMasks folder to access the sample.

Create a mask layer

  1. Select or create a layer containing the objects to appear inside the mask.
  2. Select Insert > Timeline > Layer to create a new layer above it. A mask layer always masks the layer immediately below it; create the mask layer in the proper place.
  3. Place a filled shape, text, or an instance of a symbol on the mask layer. Flash ignores bitmaps, gradients, transparency, colors, and line styles in a mask layer. Any filled area is completely transparent in the mask; any nonfilled area is opaque.
  4. Right-click (Windows) or Control‑click (Macintosh) the mask layer’s name in the Timeline, and select Mask. A mask layer icon indicates the mask layer. The layer immediately below it is linked to the mask layer, and its contents show through the filled area on the mask. The masked layer name is indented, and its icon changes to a masked layer icon.
  5. To display the mask effect in Flash, lock the mask layer and the masked layer.

Mask additional layers after creating a mask layer

  • Drag an existing layer directly below the mask layer.

  • Create a new layer anywhere below the mask layer.

  • Select Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties, and select Masked.

Unlink layers from a mask layer

 Select the layer to unlink and do one of the following:

  • Drag the layer above the mask layer.

  • Select Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties, and select Normal.

Animate a filled shape, type object, or graphic symbol instance on a mask layer

  1. Select the mask layer in the Timeline.
  2. To unlock the mask layer, click in the Lock column.
  3. Do one of the following:

    • If the mask object is a filled shape, apply shape tweening to the object.

    • If the mask object is a type object or graphic symbol instance, apply motion tweening to the object.

  4. When the animation operation is complete, click in the Lock column for the mask layer to relock the layer.

Animate a movie clip on a mask layer

  1. Select the mask layer in the Timeline.
  2. To edit the movie clip in place and to display the movie clip’s Timeline, double-click the movie clip on the Stage.
  3. Apply motion tweening to the movie clip.
  4. When the animation procedure is complete, click the Back button to return to document-editing mode.
  5. To lock the layer again, click in the Lock column for the mask layer.


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