Glossary

=Here are the definitions of all the Flash lingo.=


 * Key frame: A key frame is a frame that is placed at the beginning or at the end of a moment. If there is already a keyframe and another key frame is inserted, there will be a line that connects both of them. There are two types of lines for this. One is dotted and other the other is an arrow. If the line is dotted, it was not done correctly and so you should do it again so that you get the line with the arrow.


 * Tween: A tween is something that changes an object and animation to the item chosen. There are different varieties of Tweens.


 * Motion Tween: Motion tween is a tool that will allow you to move an object from one location to the next and also includes features like rotating shapes. You can do this by right clicking on the desired position of the timeline and click on motion tween.


 * Shape Tween: Shape tween is an amazing function that allows you to change shapes from one state to another state gradually through out the time requested.


 * Layers: Layers in flash animation are separate parts that when placed together form a motion altogether. Each layer can only contain one type of tween. Example: the first layer you will have is the background, the next layer the first animation then the next the second tween and ect...


 * .swf: swf files are completed, compiled and published files that cannot be edited with Adobe Flash. However, many swf decompiles do exist. Attempting to import .swf files using Flash allows it to retrieve some assets from the .swf, but not all.


 * .fla: fla files contain source material for the Flash application. Flash authoring software can edit FLA files and compile them into .swf files. Proprietary to Adobe, the FLA format in no sense counts as "open".


 * Timeline is something in flash that shows what you're doing and shows the tweens you used. It also shows the timings of keyframes.