How to Create Maps in Flash

Completed Map

Interactive maps are a fun and powerful way to display information relative to locations. With maps that are interactive, you can hide irrelevant information, display images of a city and add animation to an otherwise stagnant map. Adobe Flash makes creating interactive maps easy. However, before you add interactivity to a map, you will need to create a map that is vector-based. You can create a vector-based map inside Flash by tracing a pixel-based image or sketching your own map.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Flash
• Pixel-based Map (optional)

Instructions

1. 

   Create two Layers. Name the top layer "Map" and the bottom layer "Border". Then, make sure that you are currently on the "Map" layer.

2. 

   Import a map. If you have a pixel-based map that you want to trace, select "File>Import>Import to Stage". Navigate to the map and press "Import". You can skip this step if you want to draw your own map.

3. 

   Lock the "Map" layer. To avoid editing the original map, press the dot underneath the lock in the "Map" layer. Then, select the "Border" layer.

4. 

   Draw your map. If you are tracing a map, draw on top of the map image to create the new vector-based map. Select the pen tool. Click in one corner of a border, then click at the end of the line segment to create a straight line. If the border is curved, click and hold down the mouse while you drag to create the curve.

5. Edit if necessary. If the lines in the new map do not line up perfectly with the old map, you can easily adjust them. To move a point on a line, select the direct selection tool (the white arrow). Then, click on a single point and drag it to the new position. To adjust a curve, select the curve point. Two anchor points appear. Drag one of the anchor points.

6. 

   Fill with color. Select the "Paint Bucket" tool and the desired fill color. Click inside the borders to fill a section with that color. Repeat this step for each enclosed border.

7. 

   Add text. Create a new layer called "Text." Select the "Text" tool. Then, select the font style, size and color from the "Properties" dialog box. Click where you want the text to begin and type the text.

References

• How to make a clean vector country map from a bitmap image

Resources

• Add interactivity to your map
• Add more interactivity to your map