How to Create a Movie Clip in Flash

Movie clips are a fundamental part of Flash movies. They can help you manage your content within the movie and also allow several different elements to play at staggered times. Movie clips can contain action and several small Flash movies which will load inside the main file. These movie clips can be edited whenever necessary, and will be saved in your main file's library, allowing them to be accessed at any point while you make your main Flash movie.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Open Flash and create a new file.

2. 

   Click on the "New Symbol" icon at the bottom left-hand corner of the library.

3. 

   When the "Create New Symbol" box pops up, select the "Movie Clip" button and rename your movie clip.

4. Add an "_mc" ending to your symbol name to help you organize your movie clips in the library.

5. Drag objects from your stage into the library to turn them into a symbol.

6. 

   Understand that your movie clip will have its own timeline and layers. Work with them as you would your main Flash movie.

Tips & Warnings

• Using several movie clips on your main timeline will help you organize your Flash movie, particularly when you get into ActionScript.