ptg Chapter 11 Creating Masks 301 To activate a mask, you simply lock it and any of the linked layers beneath it. Linked layers are indented in the Layer Name region and have tinted blue icons. You can lock and unlock a mask and its layers to edit them and see the effects of the mask in the Flash development environment. You can also use the Test command (in Flash Professional) to view the masking effects in the Flash Player. Activating a Mask Activate a Mask Open a document with a masked layer. Click the black dot in the lock column of the mask layer to lock it. The dot changes to a lock icon. Click this dot on each linked layer to lock all of them and see the masking effect. TIMESAVER You can click the Lock icon at the top of the lock layers column to lock all the layers in your Timeline simultaneously. 3 2 1 2 Shapes drawn on the mask layer define the visible area. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 302 Chapter 11 Masks are editable. Which type of element you are using in the mask layer defines the procedure for editing: editable shapes can be modi- fied with Flash's drawing tools, while groups and symbols must be edited in their own editing modes. Regardless, Flash only concerns itself with the fill area. Changes to color, alpha, and other such attrib- utes are ignored. To edit a mask, you must first unlock it. To view your changes, simply re-lock the mask layer and all of its linked layers. Editing a Mask Edit a Mask If the mask layer is locked, click on the lock icon in the Lock Layer column to unlock the layer and enable it for editing. Edit the shape of the mask or, if using a group or symbol, enter the group or symbol's editing mode. Re-lock the mask layer and any linked layers to view changes. 3 2 1 1 Add or delete shapes, or draw new ones with any of Flash’s drawing tools. 3 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 11 Creating Masks 303 To remove a mask layer entirely, select it and then click the Delete Layer icon. You can also convert a mask layer back to a normal layer in the Layer Properties dialog box. Additionally, you can remove linked layers from a mask layer set by dragging them out of the indented set. Removing a Mask Remove a Mask Click on the mask layer to select it. Click the Modify menu, point to Timeline, and then click Layer Properties. Click the Normal option from the Layer Type list. Click OK. The mask layer is converted into a normal layer. TIMESAVER Press Control+click (Mac) or right-click (Win) the Layer Name area of the mask layer you want to convert back into a normal layer, and then click Mask to deselect it. 4 3 2 1 3 4 Mask layer becomes a Normal layer. 1 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 304 Chapter 11 Add layers to an existing mask by dragging them to any region within the masked layer hierarchy. Simply drag it between layers already linked, drag it under the mask layer, or drag it slightly up toward the bottom of a masked layer set. There is no limit to the number of layers that can be contained in a mask. Additionally, you can remove linked layers by dragging them out and above the mask layer set. Adding Layers to a Mask Link Additional Layers to a Mask To add additional layers to a mask, do one of the following: ◆ Click and drag the layer below the mask. ◆ Click and drag the layer until it touches the bottom of a layer already linked to the mask. 1 To add a l ayer t o the t op of o r betw e en the l inke d laye r s of the mask set, click and drag the layer into the indented set. To add a l ayer t o the b otto m of the m ask s e t, click and drag slightly below the set to link it. Layers linked to the mask. Any layer can be added to an existing mask layer set. Did You Know? You can change the order of the linked layers. Masked layers behave the same as other layers. Click and drag the layers to reorder them in the indented set. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 11 Creating Masks 305 Remove a Linked Layer from a Mask Click on the linked layer, and then drag it above the masked layer. The layer will no longer be linked to the mask and the indentation disappears. 1 Select the layer you want to remove. Drag it above the mask layer until a gray bar appears. 1 Select the layer you want to remove. Layer is no longer linked to the mask. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 306 Chapter 11 To create special effects such as a spotlighting effect or a gradual reveal of artwork on the Stage, you can animate a mask. Use any form of animation such as frame-by-frame animation or a shape or motion tween. The path of the shape or object on the mask layer will reveal the art below as it passes over it. Transforms to scale and position work well as well as shape tweens to editable objects. Other effects such as color and alpha will be ignored. Animating a Mask Layer Animate a Mask Place artwork in a linked layer. Click on the first frame of the layer's mask layer in the Timeline. Do one of the following: ◆ Draw a shape on the Stage with any of Flash's drawing tools. ◆ Drag an instance of a symbol from the Library. Select the first frame with the shape or symbol. Click the Insert menu, and then click Classic Tween (when using symbols) or Shape Tween (when using editable shapes). Click frame 12 in the Timeline. Click the Insert menu, point to Timeline, and then click Keyframe. TIMESAVER Press F6 to add a keyframe. Transform the object with any of Flash's editing procedures: scale, skew, position, or in the case of shape tweening, edit the shape of the object. Lock the mask layer and linked layer to see the effect. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 6 Frame 1 3 5 7 9 10 Tweened scale changes on th e ma sk layer reveal the photograph located on the linked layer beneath the mask in stages. 8 9 From the Library of Wow! eBook . the Layer Name region and have tinted blue icons. You can lock and unlock a mask and its layers to edit them and see the effects of the mask in the Flash development environment. You can also. environment. You can also use the Test command (in Flash Professional) to view the masking effects in the Flash Player. Activating a Mask Activate a Mask Open a document with a masked layer. Click the. editable shapes can be modi- fied with Flash& apos;s drawing tools, while groups and symbols must be edited in their own editing modes. Regardless, Flash only concerns itself with the fill area.