Adobe Animate CC Basics

Overview

This lecture provides a rapid introduction to Adobe Animate CC, covering the basics of creating, editing, and exporting animations, along with advanced tools like symbols and motion tweens.

Getting Started in Animate CC

• Open Animate CC, click "Create New," set resolution (e.g., 1920x1080), and frame rate (e.g., 12 fps for 2D animation).
• The main workspace includes the canvas (stage) and the timeline.
• Use the brush tool (B) to draw; adjust stroke width as needed.
• Create a new blank key frame with F7 for each frame of animation.

Frame-by-Frame Animation Basics

• Onion skinning helps see previous and next frames while animating.
• Use V for selection tool to move drawn elements; arrow keys allow precise movement.
• Zoom in/out with Z/Alt+Z; pan with the space bar (hand tool).
• Loop playback by enabling loop button and adjusting the loop range slider.

Coloring and Layers

• Fill areas with the paint bucket (K); pick colors from swatches or custom palette.
• Close gaps in line art for proper fills using "Close Gaps" in the tool menu.
• Step through frames with comma and period keys.
• Add new layers for additional elements; lock/unlock layers to prevent edits.
• Extend keyframes' duration with F5 and delete with Shift+F5.

Exporting Animations

• Export as .swf (keeps vector format but less shareable) using Ctrl+Enter.
• Save project files before exporting (File > Save As).
• Export videos via File > Export > Export Video/Media using H.264 format.
• Media Encoder is required for video export and may need to be installed separately.

Symbols and Advanced Editing

• Convert drawings into symbols (Modify > Convert to Symbol), e.g., for reusable faces.
• Duplicate keyframes with F6 to retain previous content for minor edits.
• Edit symbol contents universally by double-clicking on one instance.
• Use "Edit Multiple Frames" to transform objects across multiple frames simultaneously.
• Convert multiple layers into a single symbol for easier manipulation and duplication.

Animation Cleanup and Vector Tools

• Create a cleanup layer above rough animation; lower rough layer opacity for tracing.
• Use line tool or pen tool for precise vector outlines.
• Change stroke color and width via properties; use the eyedropper for color matching.
• Hide rough layers from export by turning them into guide layers.

Motion Tweening

• Right-click on a symbol's layer and select "Create Motion Tween" for automatic movement.
• Adjust timeline length (F5) to control animation speed and complexity.
• Modify motion paths by dragging the curve tool; scale and transform objects with Q.
• Animate nested symbols (e.g., a face turning) by entering symbol edit mode and applying motion tweens within.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Stage/Canvas — The main drawing area in Animate CC.
• Timeline — Sequence of frames and layers for animation.
• Key Frame — A frame where a new drawing or change is made.
• Onion Skinning — Feature to view multiple frames at once for reference.
• Symbol — Reusable graphic object stored in the library.
• Motion Tween — Automated animation between two points for symbols.
• .swf File — Flash format for vector animations.
• Guide Layer — Layer not rendered in final exports, used for reference only.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Practice creating a short looping animation using frame-by-frame techniques.
• Experiment with symbols and motion tweening on your own project.
• Export your animation as both .swf and video formats.
• Review keyboard shortcuts list provided in course materials.