Flash CS5: The Missing Manual

Working with Multiple Layers

A layer is a named sequence of frames in the timeline. When you work with a single layer, adding content to frames is easy: You just click a keyframe and use Flash's drawing, painting, and text tools to create an image on the stage. But when you work with multiple layers, you need to keep track of the layers' order and what objects are on each layer. For example, suppose you're creating a composite drawing with mountains in the background, a car driving by in the foreground, and a separate layer for your sound clips. You may find adding content a bit trickier, because you have to be aware of the layer to which you're adding your content. Fortunately, as you see in the steps below, the timeline's Show/Hide icon helps you keep track of which content you've placed on which layer.

To add content to multiple layers:

1. Open the file 04-1_Multiple_Layers.fla.

   You can find this file (and all the other example files) on this book's Missing CD page at www.missingmanuals.com/cds.

2. Click the first keyframe in Layer 1.

   Flash highlights the selected frame, as well as the layer name. You also see a little pencil icon that lets you know this frame is now ready for editing.

3. Use Flash's drawing and painting tools to draw a fence on the stage.

   Your fence doesn't have to be fancy; a quick "wooden" fence like the one in Figure 4-7 is fine.

   

   Figure 4-7. You can tell at a glance which layer ...