Class 8 CBSE – Flash – Symbols and Instances

What is Flash ​in Computer

Flash is a versatile multimedia software designed for crafting vector graphics, animations, games, and various elements that enhance web pages. It’s not just limited to that, as Flash also plays a significant role in video creation online. The software enables the seamless integration of animations and images into specific visuals. This functionality comes into play when the software is used to run or activate a specific function. To view Flash content in web browsers, the Flash player plug-in comes into play, and it’s worth noting that most web browsers are compatible with Flash technology.

What is Flash used for

Flash stands out as a top-tier multimedia format on the web due to its flexibility in animation creation, pre-installed browser plug-ins, and vector-based design. Flash animations boast smaller file sizes compared to video versions, making for efficient content delivery on the Internet. These animations can also incorporate dynamic audio, visuals, and data. The Flash drawing tools enable the crafting of vector images, characterized by intricate lines and curves, all in a compact size. This ensures speedy downloads for an uninterrupted online experience.

Features of Flash 8

1. Visual effects enhance animation, presentations, and forms, lending a professional touch.
2. Readability options improve text legibility, particularly for small-sized fonts.
3. Consolidated libraries expedite object searches in movies, offering efficient library access from a single panel.
4. Graphics gain strength with the capability to avoid redundant representation of vector objects, transforming them into bitmaps.
5. Flash 8 introduces a top-notch, fully customizable new independent codec, elevating quality.

What is Library in Flash?

In Flash, the library serves as a storage facility for reusable assets such as graphics, animations, buttons, sounds, videos, and even fonts. These elements, which can be reused throughout a Flash project, are commonly referred to as “symbols” and are inserted into a Flash movie as instances.

What are Symbols and Instance in Flash ​in Computer

Symbols are reusable objects within a project’s library, while instances are copies of those symbols that can be modified without affecting the original symbol. Graphic symbols encompass static or animated artwork and fall within this categorization of design elements.

What are Symbols in Flash

Symbols are products of the Flash tools and are reusable image, animation, graphic, movie clip, sound file, font, or button that resides in the library, crafted as objects. When these objects are transformed into symbols, they find a place in a library during their creation. This inclusion in the library enables their versatile use on numerous occasions, within the same project, or even in different movies or animations. Upon creating a symbol, Flash meticulously stores it in a designated library. Subsequently, whenever the object is employed within a project, it takes the form of an instance.

Note: After incorporating a symbol into a movie, any modifications made by the user to the symbol result in automatic updates to its instances.

Different Types of Symbols in Flash

1. What is Graphic Symbols in Flash

Graphic Symbols, the simplest within the trio of symbols, primarily cater to static images. However, it’s worth noting that animation can still be integrated into a Graphic Symbol. Yet, it’s important to be aware that Flash won’t acknowledge any sounds or actions enclosed within it. Moreover, Graphic Symbols lack autonomous playback outside the main timeline—they necessitate a dedicated frame on the main timeline to function.

2. Whats is Button Symbols in Flash

Use button symbols if you want to add mouse-related interactivity such as clicks and roll overs to your Flash movie. For example, you could create a button that plays a song whenever it is clicked.

3. What is Movie Clip Symbols in Flash

The movie clip symbol is like a combination of graphics, buttons and more. It can be used for static artwork and animation, but it can also be used with ActionScript so that interactive functionality can be added to it. But unlike buttons, movie clips are capable of much more than mouse-related interactivity.

How to convert an Object to a Symbol in Flash

Step 1: Select the Object

We need to select the object that need to be converted to a symbol.

Select an Object

Step 2: Open the Dialog Box of Symbol Properties

Check Library for Object

Step 3: Click the Menu and Insert New Symbol

Quick Tip: Press Ctrl + F8 to insert new symbol

Step 4: Type a Name of the Symbol and Select the Behavior and Click Ok

Now select the behavior in which the object need to be converted, We can choose between Movie Clips, Button and Graphics.

Convert to Symbol

What are Instances in Flash

An instance is akin to a duplicate of a symbol found on the Stage or even on the surrounding gray space, known as the Pasteboard. Notably, an instance has the potential to differ from its original symbol when it comes to color, size, and functionality. Crafting an instance is as simple as grabbing the symbol from the library and placing it on the Stage or Pasteboard. Once you’ve accomplished that, the Color Effect choices in the Properties panel come into play, enabling you to modify the instance’s brightness, tint, alpha, and RGB color settings according to your preferences.

What is the use of a Symbol Instance?

The use of a symbol instance is to create multiple copies of a symbol and can edit them independently

What is the Difference Between Symbols and Instances

Despite their apparent similarity, a significant distinction exists that when we employ a symbol that we’ve generated for a movie, any alterations made will automatically update the instances. In contrast, the original object will remain unaltered, preserving its initial form as it was during its creation. This distinctiveness empowers us to reuse the object for future instances, ensuring flexibility and consistency.

Symbols	Instances
1. Symbols are reusable media elements such as graphics, buttons, movie clips etc. that can be used in a movie.	1. Instance is an occurrence of a symbol. 2. The symbol is stored in the file’s library.
2. The symbol is stored in the file’s library. 2. An instance is placed on the Stage.	2. An instance is placed on the Stage. 3. A change in any of the symbols effect all its instances.
3. A change in any of the symbols effect all its instances.	3. A change in an individual instance need not effect the symbol.

Conclusion

The Flash technology reveals a world of possibilities in multimedia creation and interactive content. Flash serves as a versatile platform that empowers creators to fashion engaging digital content, replete with animations, graphics, videos, and interactive elements. Its widespread use is evident in its applications across various platforms, including desktops and mobile devices, contributing to the rich user experiences we encounter daily. One of the cornerstones of Flash’s functionality lies in its utilization of symbols and instances. These concepts revolutionize the way we handle and manipulate visual elements within our projects. Symbols, the building blocks of Flash, offer an ingenious way to store objects that can be reused and repurposed across different scenes, animations, or even separate projects. This not only streamlines the design process but also ensures consistency and efficiency in content creation. Instances, on the other hand, are the dynamic offspring of symbols. They allow for flexibility and customization while maintaining a link to their parent symbols. Instances provide the ability to modify color, size, and function while keeping the fundamental attributes of the original symbol intact. This is particularly valuable in scenarios where similar elements need to be modified for different contexts without affecting the source symbol.