Exercise #4

Rotating Text
See it work!
Download the source file

1. Creating the circular text
   Begin with some text created around a path. I used Fireworks 4 to create the text then exported to .swf. To see how to create text around a path, click here.
   
   
   
2. Import the TEXT and CONVERT it to a MOVIE CLIP
   Import the Text into Flash, Control-R, and while it's selected, convert it to a movie clip by pressing F8 on your keyboard.
   
   
   
3. Convert the text to a GRAPHIC
   Right click the Text movie clip and choose, Edit In Place. Next, convert the text to a Graphic by clicking F8 again and choosing Graphic. This creates a graphic inside a movie clip. We're going to animate/rotate the text so it will need to be a graphic.
   
   
   
4. Begin creating the text MOTION TWEEN
   Next, create a keyframe at Frame 200 by clicking once on it and then clicking F6 on your keyboard to Insert Keyframe.
   
   
   
5. Create the MOTION TWEEN
   Right click anywhere in the timeline between Frame 1 and Frame 200 and choose CREATE MOTION TWEEN. In the Frames Panel, choose ROTATION, and then CW (clockwise) 1 time.
   
   
   
6. TEST the ROTATE TWEEN
   Drag your playhead to run through the frames to make sure it rotates once over the 200 frames. If it works, return to the main stage.
   
   
   
7. SKEW the Movie Clip back to top
   Back on the main stage skew the Rotate Text movie clip to the left like the image below. You'll fine tune it later.
   
   
   
8. IMPORT the Image to Rotate Around
   Create a new layer and import your image to use. Click here to import our image. Place the image layer below the text movie clip layer.
   
   
   
9. Preparing the Image
   Convert your image to a graphic by selecting it and clicking F8. Next copy the image by selecting and clicking Control-C.
   
   
   
10. Duplicating the Image
    Create a new layer above the text layer and click CONTROL / SHIFT / V to Paste In Place. This will cover up part of the text now.This places the image copy directly above the original image but on its own layer above the text layer.
    
    
    
11. Creating the MASK back to top
    Create a new layer above the Image Copy layer. Right-click the new layer and select Mask from the drop down menu.
    Flash will lock both the masking and the masked layer.
    Unlock the top layer and draw out a shape using any of the tools: rectangle, circle, or pen tool. I used the line tool since the image is not a perfect rectangle.
    Draw out a shape around the part of the the image that you want to go IN FRONT OF THE TEXT.
    
    
    
12. Viewing the MASK in Action
    Lock the top Layer and making sure the Image Copy Layer is also locked, you should see that the text movie clip is hidden or behind the image in the area you drew out your shape.
    
    
    
13. Testing and Adjusting the Mask
    Test your movie by clicking CONTROL / ENTER or F12. Your text should be rotating around your image.
    If the text is rotating around the image but doesn't appear to be hidden in the right places, readjust your shape to cover the parts of the can where the text should be hidden.
    
    
    
14. Create the SHADOW back to top
    If you want to create the shadow for the text select the text movie clip and copy it by clicking CONTROL / C and then create a new layer and drag it all the way to the bottom of the layers.
    Paste In Place on the new layer by clicking CONTROL / SHIFT / V.
    
    
    
15. Apply a TINT EFFECT to the Shadow Image
    With the text copy selected, adjust the tint of it by going to the Effects Panel and choosing Tint. Select a light grey.
    
    
    
16. Tweaking the Shadow
    Using the Scale and Skew Tools, adjust the text shadow. It will need some tweaking and at this point you may need to adjust your main text.
    
    
    If you adjust the main text, be sure you don't lose your masking effect. If you do, go back to your shape and readjust it to accommodate your new text size.
    
    
17. Test the Movie
    Test your movie. You should be all set. If you want your text to rotate faster, shorten the keyframes for the text movie.
    

Attaching Text to a Path in Fireworks back to top

1. Opening a new CANVAS and Creating the Text to Rotate
   Let's begin by creating a new document 350x350.
   Type some text. For this example I'll use "This Top-of-the-Line Multiplexer is 25% off Today ONLY! BUY NOW!" The text is 22 pt. verdana bold. Make sure you type enough text to fit around the image.
   
   
   
2. Crerating the Path for Attachment
   Next draw out a path using circle tool. Make sure there is NO FILL COLOR selcted and that there is a STROKE COLOR.
   Select both the text and the path
   
   
   
3. Attaching the Text to the Path
   Select TEXT / ATTACH TO PATH from the menu bar .
   
   
   
4. Tweak the Text
   Edit the text while on the path. You can still edit your text once it's attached to the path. Just double click the text to open up the TEXT PROPERTIES BOX. You can now edit the text properties the same as before you attached it to the path.
   
   
   
5. Adjusting the Alignment
   You can also adjust the position of the text on the path by changing the alignment of the text. Right, left, center, justify.
   
   
   
6. Adjust the BASELINE SHIFT back to top
   There's also an option, called the BASELINE SHIFT that lets you move the text up and down along the Y-axis. You can play with the slider by moving it up/down for either positive or negative values, or you can input your own value.
   Click OK.
   
   
   
7. Change the Text Color
   You can also change the color of the text. From the fill color, select a different color.
   Now there are several things we can do to modify our text once its been attached to the path.
   Notice how the text begins at the far left. It's actually starting at the first anchor point drawn.
   
   
   
8. Offset the Start Point
   Make sure the text is selected, and under the OBJECTS panel, notice the TEXT OFFSET option. By default this is 0 which represents the first anchor of the path. If you enter a new number, say 100, you see it has moved over towards the middle.
   
   
   
9. Detaching the Text from the Path back to top
   Now, say you want to modify the path. Well, you need to detach the text from the path first. Making sure the text is selected, go up to TEXT /DETACH FROM PATH. Now you can make any adjustments to the path. To reattach the text go back up to TEXT / ATTACH TO PATH.