Unlike in Flash, where all the tools for creating artwork are contained in a single toolbox, Director has a suite of media editors for creating and editing cast members. In addition to using the Tool palette to create text, buttons, and graphics on the Stage, you can use the Paint and Vector Shapes windows to create bitmap and Vector Shape cast members, and the Text, Field, and Button editing windows to create static and editable text.

 
The Tool palette
The Tool palette is similar to the Flash toolbox, and contains tools that you use to draw, paint, select, and modify artwork on the Stage.

To view the Tool palette choose Window > Tool palette.

Use the Tool palette to create Shape cast members and buttons on the Stage.

You use the Tool palette to create Shape cast members. Shape cast members are non anti-aliased shapes that are similar to vectors, but require even less memory. Because shapes are not anti-aliased they do not appear as smooth on the Stage as Vector Shape cast members. You cannot use the tools in the Tool palette to modify elements created in the Paint or Vector Shape windows.

The Radio Button, Check Box, and Button tools create simple buttons, but you must attach a script to the button in order for them to work. You can attach a script using The Behavior Inspector or by using Using the Script window and Lingo.

 
The Paint window
You use the Paint window to create bitmap cast members or edit bitmaps that you create using Fireworks or other programs, and import into Director. The tools in the Paint window are best suited for editing imported graphics and are not designed to create complex bitmaps. Anything you create in the Paint window automatically appears in the Cast window as a cast member.

To open the Paint window, choose Window > Paint.

Use the Paint window to create and edit bitmap cast members.

You can change the settings for the Text, Air Brush, Brush, Paint Bucket and Filled Rectangle and Oval tools by double-clicking on them to open the associated Properties dialog for the tool.

You can import bitmaps, JPEGs, and animated GIFs into Director as bitmap cast members. When you edit imported JPEG or GIF images in the Paint window, Director displays a warning that editing the file automatically changes the cast member's original compression setting to the compression setting used by Director for files of this type. To set compression for all cast members needing compression, choose File > Publish Settings > Compression. To set compression for a specific cast member, use the Property Inspector.

Just as vectors are Flash's specialty, bitmaps are Director's specialty. As a Flash user you are probably more used to working with vectors than you are with bitmaps. You might even be in the habit of not using bitmaps because of the limitations Flash places on bitmaps. It is important to remember that Director is designed to handle bitmaps and allow yourself to try new things.

For information on creating, editing and importing bitmaps, refer to the "Vector Shapes and Bitmaps" chapter in the Using Director manual.

To create a bitmap cast member using the Paint window:

1	Choose Window > Paint to open the Paint window.
2	Click the foreground color chip to select a color.
3	Choose a drawing tool.
4	Use the Ink pop-up menu to select an ink effect for the tool.
	Note: You cannot set the ink for all tools. For example, you cannot choose an ink for the pencil tool.
5	Create your art.
6	Edit your art using the Eraser, Marquee, and Lasso tools.
7	Use the Registration Point tool to set the registration point for the cast member.
8	Enter a name for the cast member in the name field. Giving your cast members names makes it easier to keep track of them while making your movies.
9	Click the New Cast Member button to create another bitmap cast member, use the Next or Previous Cast Member buttons to edit other bitmap cast members in the cast.

 
The Vector Shape window
You use the Vector Shapes window to create vector cast members, or to edit vector cast members created in other programs such as Freehand.

To view the Vector Shape window, choose Window > Vector Shape.

Use the Vector Shape window to create and edit Vector Shape cast members.

The tools in the Vector Shapes window are designed to allow you to create simple vectors, and perform edits on vector art you import from other programs, they are not designed to create complex vector art.

You cannot use the Vector Shapes window to edit Flash cast members. You should use Vector Shape cast members instead of Flash cast members to display simple vector art, as they take up less memory. Use Flash cast members only when you want to take advantage of other Flash movie capabilities.

For more information on creating and using Vector Shape cast members, refer to the "Vector Shapes and Bitmaps" chapter in the Using Director manual.

To create Vector cast members using the Vector Shape window:

1	Open the Vector Shape window if it is not already open.
2	Use the Pen and Shape tools to create shapes.
3	Use the Pen and Arrow tools to edit shapes.
4	Select or deselect the Close Shape check box to open and close shapes.
5	Use the Stroke Width menu to specify the width of the outlines.
6	Use the gradient color chips to choose gradient colors.
7	Use the Gradient Type, Cycles, Spread, Angle, X and Y offset menus to specify gradient effects.
8	Use the Registration Point tool to set the registration point of the cast member.
9	Enter a name for the cast member in the Name field. Giving you cast members names makes it easier to keep track of them while making your movies.
10	Use the New cast member button to create another Vector Shape cast member. Use the Next and Previous buttons to edit other Vector Shape cast members.

 
The Text, Field and Button windows
The Text, Field and Button windows are nearly identical in appearance, although the Field and Button windows have fewer text control options.

You use the Text and Field windows to create and edit Text and Field cast members. You use the Button window to edit the text of buttons you create on the Stage using the Tool palette or using Insert > Control > Push Button, Radio Button, Check Box, or Field. You can also use The Text Inspector to edit text, button and field cast members on the Stage.

To open the Text window, choose Window > Text.

The Text window is very similar to the Button and Field windows in appearance.

To open the Field window choose Window > Field.

To open the Button window create a Control button using Insert > Control, and then double-click the cast member in the Cast window.

As with other cast members created in Director, text and field cast members you create in the Text and Field windows automatically appear in the Cast window.

Text cast members that are 14 points or larger, are anti-aliased by default; text cast members smaller than 14 points are aliased by default. Anti-aliased text appears crisper and smoother around the edges, which is important when displaying text in a large font size. Anti-aliased text cast members take up more memory than field cast members and are best used for large or fancy text. You can have text cast members or sprites display 3D text by selecting 3D Mode from the Display menu on the Text tab in the Property Inspector, and specify 3D properties such as the x, y, z coordinate space, bevel edge and depth, smoothness, shader texture and diffuse light on the 3D Extruder tab in the Property Inspector.

Field cast members take up less space than text cast members, and are best suited for large blocks of plain text. Field cast members cannot display 3D text.

You can type text directly into the Text or Field windows, or import plain text or rich text format files. Fonts can be embedded in a movie so the text is displayed properly on any system. For information about using embedded fonts, refer to the Embedding fonts in movies section of the Text chapter in the Using Director manual.

You can convert text and field cast members to rendered bitmaps using Modify > Convert to Bitmap.

You can allow users to enter or edit the text in text and field cast members while the movie is playing by selecting the Editable check box on the Text or Field tab for a sprite in The Property Inspector. You can also control text cast members with Lingo to enter or change text while the movie is playing.

You use the Button editing window to edit the text on buttons. The text control options in the Button window are similar to those in the Field window. You can use embedded fonts to display button text, but buttons cannot be converted to bitmaps.

Unlike Flash, which always uses embedded fonts to display text, Director displays all text using the System fonts on the user's computer. If you use special fonts, or want to make sure that the text is always displayed using the fonts you specify in authoring, you must embed the fonts in your movie. Embedded fonts appear as cast members in the Cast window.

For more information about working with Text and Field cast members, text, and embedded fonts, refer to the "Text" chapter in the Using Director manual, and to the articles, TechNotes, and examples on the Director Support Center.