How to Make Realistic Gradient Smoke in Flash
Realistic smoke is tough to animate, but it can add to the mood of an image. If you want to make smoke rise from a chimney or a pipe, in your Flash animation, the secret is to use a gradient blend in creating the smoke.
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Instructions
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1
Set up a gradient fill with the "Color" palette. The fill style should be radial with the center dark gray and the outer edge lighter gray. Set the light gray alpha to 0 percent. Draw an ellipse with the gradient fill and no stroke.
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2
Convert the circle object to a movie clip named "Smoke" (type F8 and choose "Movie Clip" for the symbol property). Double click on the smoke object to open the movie clip timeline. Select the smoke object on the movie clip timeline and convert it a symbol named "smoke instance" (select "Graphic" for the symbol property). Double click on the "Smoke Instance" symbol to work on its timeline (you will now be nested three timelines deep).
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3
Add a keyframe (F6) to any frame further down the "Smoke Instance" timeline. Select any frame between the two keyframes and choose "Create Motion Tween" ("Insert" menu, "Timeline" submenu). An arrow will link the two keyframes.
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Double the smoke object size in the last keyframe and drag it up as far as you want the smoke instance to travel. Return to the "smoke" timeline.
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Set the "Smoke Instance" movie clip blend mode to multiply. Add a keyframe to extend the timeline the same number of frames as the symbol animation. Add a motion tween. Select the finishing keyframe and set the movie clip alpha to 0 percent.
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6
Add a second layer. Select all of the frames with the "Smoke Instance" symbol and hold down the "Option/Alt" and drag a copy to the new layer. Select all of the frames in the new layer and drag them further down the timeline (about halfway through the first animation).
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Continue to add copies of the smoke instance to different layers and drag the animations further down the timeline. Vary the intervals so that one or two instances disappear entirely before the next instance begins. Vary the ending alpha percentage and the movie clip scale slightly. Hold down the "Command/Control" and "Return" keys to test the movie and watch the smoke rise and fade.
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Tips & Warnings
With Flash 8 and later, you can add filters to movie clips. Try blurring the smoke instances with different settings at low quality. Don't apply too much blurring or you can seriously slow down playback.
