Learning Adobe Flash CS4

By Greg Bowden

Chapter 20

Using the Bone

Tool

Guided Computer Tutorials

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© Greg Bowden

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First published 2009

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 Chapter

20
Using the Bone Tool
The BONE TOOL allows you to set hinges either within an object or between a group of
objects. It can be applied to create human movements in arms and legs, robotic arm
movements, crane operations, etc.

The Bones Tool Basics

To illustrate the basics of the BONE TOOL, a simple shape will be converted into an arm.

A Drawing the Shape

1 Load Flash or close the current files, then create a NEW FLASH FILE.

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Learning Adobe Flash CS4

B Applying the Bone Tool

1 Press CTRL+ or COMMAND+ to zoom the view to 200%.

3 When you release the mouse button the first bone is created.

NOTE: This first section will represent a bone from the shoulder to
the elbow.

5 Release the mouse button to create the second bone.

NOTE: This second section will represent a bone from the elbow to
the wrist.

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 Using the Bone Tool 20

NOTE: All the bone sections are moved in the ARMATURE layer.

C Using the Bone Links

The bone sections have set a rotation point at the left of the shape and hinges at the
centre and near the right of the shape.
1 Press CTRL- or COMMAND- to return the view to 100%.

NOTE: There is a circular marker at the right of the shape which the
mouse pointer needs to be over for the shape to be moved.

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Learning Adobe Flash CS4

3 The PROPERTIES panel allows you to control the movement of the bones.

6 Try rotating the shape and you should not be able to do so. Only the right section
should rotate

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 Using the Bone Tool 20
10 Press CTRL+Z or COMMAND+Z to undo the stretches.

NOTE: i If you wanted the shape to stretch in the vertical place, you
would turn on ENABLE in the JOINT Y TRANSLATION section
of the PROPERTIES panel.
ii You might like to try joint options on the other bones.

D Bone Styles
You can change the appearance of the bone markers. At the moment they are solid
arrows, but they can be changed to LINES or WIRE.

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Learning Adobe Flash CS4

4 Click on the KEYFRAME MARKER at FRAME 1 of the ARMATURE 1 layer and set the
type to WIRE to see its appearance.

NOTE: You can adjust the STRENGTH and TYPE of the bone easing
(movement) using the settings in the EASE box in the
PROPERTIES panel.

E Runtime
You can give users of your animation the ability to manipulate the arm from within the
animation using the RUNTIME option.

3 Select TEST MOVIE from the CONTROL menu.

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6 Close the TEST MOVIE screen.

Animating Imported Images

When animating an image that you import, you need to separate the sections to be
animated because Flash cannot distinguish objects like arms and legs. Let’s make a
jogger raise his arm and wave. A jogger has been prepared for you and his arm will need
to be separated into 3 sections, biceps, forearm and hand, then the 3 sections will be
linked using the BONE TOOL

A Loading the Prepared File

1 Close the current file without saving and click on the OPEN button.
2 Access the CHAPTER 20 folder of the FLASHcs4 SUPPORT FILES and open the
BONES file.
3 Use SAVE AS from the FILE menu to save the file in your STORAGE folder as:
Jogger

B Separating the Biceps

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