How to: "Make a Superhero" in Flash

Drawing your superhero in Flash creates a vector image.

Create your superhero in Flash by first starting with a conceptualized drawing of your hero. To do this: Draw a stick figure with the proportions your want for your hero, such as short legs, a long body or a big head. Next add bulk to your stick figure by drawing in muscles or even fat, then fine-tune your figure with details. Scan your image and then import it into Flash to use Flash's drawing tools to trace over your drawing. Create your hero in a dynamic pose such as running, fighting or flying, and try using a foreshortening technique to add interest, like a fist extending toward you.

Instructions

1. Open Flash and click "File," "New" and then "Flash File (ActionScript 3.0)" from the pull-out menu. Import your superhero image by clicking on "File," "Import" and then "Import to Stage." Browse to where your image is and click "Open."

2. Insert a blank keyframe by right-clicking on Frame 1 and choosing "Insert Blank Keyframe." Turn on the onion skin by clicking the "Onion Skin" icon located at the bottom of the timeline.

3. Create a new layer by clicking "Insert Layer" at the bottom of the timeline. Trace over your image by using Flash's drawing tools such as the "Oval" and "Rectangle" tool.

4. Copy and paste your drawing to a new layer by pressing "Ctrl" and "X" on your keyboard, clicking on "Insert New Layer" located at the bottom of the timeline and then right-clicking on the stage and choosing "Paste in Place" from the pull-out menu.

5. Convert your drawing to a symbol by right-clicking and clicking "Convert to Symbol." Give your symbol a useful name such as "leg R" or "arm L." Do not name your layer at this time. Repeat this process for the rest of your drawing.

6. Click on the "Select Tool" from the toolbar and, while holding your mouse down, drag across the stage to highlight all of your drawing. Press "Ctrl" and "C" on your keyboard. Create a new layer by clicking the "Insert New Layer" icon at the bottom of the timeline. Paste your drawings in the new layer by pressing "Ctrl," "Shift" and "V" on your keyboard.

7. Delete all of your other layers so all you have is the one new layer with your drawings. Click "Frame 1" of the new layer and click the "Select Tool" from the toolbar. While holding your mouse down, drag across the stage to highlight all of your drawing. Right-click on your drawings and choose "Distribute to Layers" from the pull-out menu. Flash will place each symbol on its own layer and name it according to the symbol name.

Tips & Warnings

• Organize your character in the timeline and library by creating a layer folder to hold other layers; for example, a "Head" folder will include the eyes, mouth and nose.

References

• Draw Comics: How to Draw Superheros
• Adobe: Designing and animating characters in Flash