HOWTO's

Name
How to make a transition effect

Purpose
A transition effect is used to gradually go from one frame to another. (eg. one frame slides over one another or pixel per pixel etc..)

Use
1. In the transition channel, double-click on the frame where you want the transition to occur to display the dialog box.
2. In the categories list, select a categorie (eg. All), and in the transition list, the desired transition.
3. Click OK.
4. In addition the transition becomes a member of the Cast.



Example
transition

Set backs
(dunno yet)

More Information
Reference: ‘Macromedia director7 and Lingo authorized’, Phil Gross,p.100.

Related topics


Name
How to add a keyframe

Purpose
Keyframes can be used as reference points for tweening.

Use
1. Select a sprite in the score.
2. Right-click on the frame in that sprite where you want a have a keyframe.
3. Select ‘insert keyframe’.
4. The sprite will now show that is has a keyframe.



Example
keyframe

Set backs
(dunno yet)

More Information
Reference: ‘Macromedia director7 and Lingo authorized’, Phil Gross,p.60.

Related topics


Name
Tweening

Purpose
Tweening can be used to animate sprites.

Use
1. Select a keyframe in the score. (the start of a sprite is also a keyframe).
2. Go to the stage and drag the selected sprite frame to a desired point in the stage.
3. Playback and watch
4. Hint: holding down SHIFT while dragging will keep the spriteframes aligned!

[NOTE]: Insert screenshot.

Example
tweening

Set backs
I find working with keyframes and tweening rather confusing. You should save your work a lot, because you could end up dragging the wrong keyframes and making a mess of your whole movie.

More Information
Reference: ‘Macromedia director7 and Lingo authorized’, Phil Gross,p.58-62.


Name
How to let text zoom into screen

Purpose
The purpose is quite obvious. It's could look really cool!!

Use
There are at least two ways of letting text zoom in. One way is to make several text objects one larger than the other, and place them in sequence on the Stage. But an easier and prettier solution is to make a text bitmap with the paint window or, even better, an external editor such as Adobe Photoshop. I'll explain how to use a bitmap.
1. Make a bitmap. This bitmap has to be the largest enhancement of your zoom-sequence
2. Place it on the Stage
3. Click on the first sprite of the segment (be sure it is a keyframe). 3. Grab a corner of the object and, while holding down the CRTL and SHIFT key (to keep the proportions accurate), make the object smaller.
4. Now drag the reference point of the first sprite precisely over the last one
5. Playback.

Example
zoomin.dcr

Set backs
One setback is, that text can't be used to zoom, you have to make seperate cast members and place them one after another one the Score. Or you can use a bitmap, but the anti-aliasing doesnt work that smooth in director, so again you may want to use seperate cast members.

More Information
Name
How to add a background and dynamically change its colour


Name
How to make the background of an imported picture transparent

Purpose
First of all it's just prettier. But also, it would be nice, that if two images overlap only the images do so and not also the background of these images...

Use
1. select the desired sprite in the score 2. select the choice 'background transparent' from the ink-effects [insert image]
3. double-click on the background-color indicator
4. select the color that has to be transparent
5. you're done!

Example


Set backs


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Name
How to repeat a sequence

Purpose


Use
1. click on the 'marker-bar' to set a marker on the beginning of the sequence
2. give the new marker a name, and make sure you dragged it into the right position
3. double-click on the endframe in the behaviour-channel
4. now insert between 'on exitframe' and 'end' the following line: go to '[Location]', where [Location] is the name you gave the new marker
5. playback

Example


Set backs


More Information
Name
How to pause your movie


Name
How to ... etc. etc.