Adobe Illustrator - Languages

With the Release to Layers command and expanded SWF export options, it's easy to construct dynamic Flash animations from layers in Illustrator. You can automatically generate layers consisting of objects that build up cumulatively and then export the layers to SWF frames. Follow this tip to see how you can create animated text that builds itself up character by character.

1. Create a line of text.
Open a new Illustrator artwork window in RGB color mode. Select a type tool in the toolbox, and click in your artwork to set a type insertion point. Enter the desired characters on the keyboard.

Illustrator contains type tools for entering both horizontal and vertical text. You can change type attributes, such as font, size, and spacing, by choosing Type > Character and setting options in the Character palette.

2. Convert the type to graphic objects.
Use the selection tool to select the type you just created, and choose Type > Create Outlines.

The Create Outlines command converts type characters to graphic objects. Converting type to graphic objects gives you the freedom to apply Illustrator's full array of filters and editing features. Here, we have converted the type so that we can apply the Free Distort filter and later the Release to Layers command.

3. Distort the shape of the characters.
With all the type characters selected, and choose Filter > Distort > Free Distort. Drag the bounding box handles to change the shape of the type as desired, and click OK.

Notice that the distortion applies to the characters as they appear on each layer.

4. Release the type characters to separate layers.
In the Layers palette, select the group containing the type characters. Press Shift, and choose Release to Layers from the Layers palette menu.

When you hold down Shift in conjunction with the Release to Layers command, objects on the selected layer are placed cumulatively on separate layers. In our example, the character "1" is released to the first layer, "1 2" to the second layer, and so on. This cumulative behavior is especially useful for preparing animations of objects that build up step by step, as if being painted or written.

5. Export the file to SWF format.

Choose File > Export, choose Flash (SWF) for the format, and click Save (Windows) or Export (Mac OS). In the Flash Format Options dialog box, for Export As, choose AI Layers to SWF Frames, and click OK.

When exporting to SWF format, you can choose between exporting the entire file to a single SWF file, exporting layers in the file to SWF frames, or exporting layers in the file to separate SWF files. Because we are building an animation, we have chosen to export the layers to separate SWF frames.

Step 6. Import the file into Macromedia Flash.
Drag and drop the SWF file into your browser for viewing, or import into Flash for further editing.