Tween
Flash uses tweening to create animation on the stage.
Use the ball graphic from the symbols tutorial.
Step 1
Select Insert / New Symbol from the main menu above the timeline. Name this ballMc select the option of Movie Clip and Press Ok.
Step 2
The stage will be blank except for a small cross representing the centre point. Drag the ball graphic from the library and place this circle on the cross on frame 1 of the timeline.
Note this is the movie clips own timeline and not the main timeline.
Step 3
Select frame 15 and right click and from the list select insert keyframe. Move the ball graphic to another location about 100 pixels away.
Click on frame 1 and open the property inspector found underneath the stage at the bottom of the screen. In the Property Inspector select motion from the drop down menu next to the Tween: text.
This creates a motion tween animation between the two keyframes the ball now moves across the stage. The timeline should change to a purple colour with an arrow between the two keyframes to represent the motion tween.
Step 4
Finally select scene from the option underneath the timeline to return to the main timeline, delete the ball graphic from the stage and then drag an instance of ballMc to the stage in frame 1 of the timeline.
Control/ Test Movie to see your animation. See the example below, press the play button to start the motion tween.
Shape Tween
Another form of tweening is the shape tween.
Step 1
Create a new actionscript as3 file.
Step 2
Select the oval tool and draw a circle on the stage this should be on frame 1 of layer 1.
Step 3
Right click on frame 10 and Insert a blank keyframe.
Step 4
Select the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle on the stage. Your timeline should look like below.
Step 5
Select frame 1 and open the properties panel, from the drop down list select shape.
Next select control/ test movie to see your anaimation.
Note you cannot do a shape tween on a symbol item e.g. movie clip, graphic or button.