by William Hurley

A Case Study of the Infinite Media, Inc. Shocked Logo
Part II: Animating the Blur Effect of the Infinite Media Logo

Welcome to Part II of the case study we began last week. This example covers motion animation, rollover commands, URL links, and a few other topics. Because it covers so many topics we will be completing this example over a period of three weeks. The example has been moved to the top of the page for convenience.

At the end of Part I last week we finished the graphics and found ourselves ready to import the files into Director. This week we will complete everything but the Lingo involved in the project. It is important to note that you can use Lingo to control many aspects of animation. However, we will use a more traditional approach to creating the animation and blur effect using multiple frames. In later columns we will demonstrate the different uses of Lingo for animation.

Step 1: Once you have imported your two graphic files into Director, we will place the graphic that has the blur effect in two frames of your score. Place this graphic at frame 1 and frame 5 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.



Step 2: Now that we have the blurred graphic at frame 1 and frame 5, use the Sprite Info window to change the size of the cast member at frame 1. To do this select the cast member by clicking on it once. With the cast member selected choose "Sprite Info" from the Score menu. This will present you with the window seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2.



Set the option for Scale to 10. This will reduce the cast member to 10 percent of the original size at the frame we have selected.

Step 3: Now that we have reduced the size of our cast member at frame 1, move it to the bottom center of the stage. Now move the cast member we place at frame 5 to the top center of the stage. This should place them into positions similar to those shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3.



Figure 4.



Step 4: Select both of the cast members and then use the Paste In Between Linear command.

We have now created five cast members that when played back create the illusion of the graphic image moving almost on a curve closer and closer toward us. If you look at all these images on the stage at one time, they would look like the images in Figure 5.

Figure 5.



Step 5: Now place the graphic image of the nonblurred graphic onto the stage at frame 6. This will mark the end of the transition we have created.

Step 6: This is the last step in our animation. To create a more realistic animation try selecting each frame and then moving it in the directions listed below.

Now play back the animation and see the effect you have created. You can also create other effects such as the one you see if you roll the mouse over the image at the top of the page. Try different combinations of blurs along with different lines of movement within your Shockwave movies.

Next week we will cover Part III, until then please feel free to ask me any questions about today's column by sending me e-mail. I will respond to as much of the mail as possible.

Past installments of Simply Shocking

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