How to Make Flash Text Animation

If you've ever visited a website with animated text, chances are good that the text you saw was created using Adobe Flash. Adobe Flash is a popular design platform that allows its users to create unique graphics and websites. One of the most exciting options available in Flash is the ability to highly customize text. Even if you're a beginner, creating a beautiful text effect in Flash is relatively quick and easy.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Flash

Instructions

1. 

   Open a new file in Adobe Flash by clicking "File" then "New." Name the file "Header" and set dimensions to 700 px width by 100 px height. Go to File and select "Save As" and save file as header.fla.

2. 

   Select the text tool from the toolbar, or type "T" on your keyboard. Click on the stage, and type the text you'd like to animate.

3. 

   Press Ctrl + K on your keyboard to open the Align box, or go to Window on the menu bar, and select "Align." Select the text you've just typed, and press the center alignment and center distribution buttons in the Align box.

4. 

   Right-click on the text, and select "Break Apart." Next, right-click on the selected text again, and choose "Break Apart." This gives each letter in your text its own layer.

5. 

   Go to Edit on the toolbar, and select "Deselect All," or press Ctrl + Shift + A on your keyboard. Select the first letter and convert to symbol by pressing F8, or going to Modify on the menu bar, and selecting "Convert to Symbol." Repeat for each of the letters.

6. 

   Open the Library by pressing Ctrl + L, or going to Window then "Library." Here you will find all the text symbols you've just created.

7. Delete Layer 1, which should be blank.

8. 

   Select frame 20 in the first letter's layer. Here, it is "P." Convert it to a keyframe by right-clicking on it and selecting that option.

9. 

   Move the letter "P" to exact center of the stage, with help from the Align box.

10. Return to frame 1 on this same layer. Under the properties box, select "Motion" as the Tween option. Repeat Steps 9 and 10 for each of the letters.

11. Select all frames in the layer. Right-click and select "Reverse frames." Repeat for each of the remaining letters.

12. Go to frame 1 and press "Enter" on your keyboard to view the animation from the stage.

13. Return to Frame 1 on "P" layer. Select the text, and in the properties box, change the Color to "Alpha" and "0%." Hide and lock the layer by clicking on the eye and the lock respectively. Repeat for each of the other letter layers.

14. Create a background graphic. Save the file. Then go to File, and select "Export Movie" or press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S. Save as a .swf flash movie. Use with your favorite web page editor.

Tips & Warnings

• Many forums also allow a flash text footer.

• Save your work as you go to avoid losing any progress.