Creating An Animated Gradient Mask

How to create a simple animated gradient mask:

1. Create the components:

• In the toolbar click on the "Text Tool" icon.
• Type the required text on stage e.g. "GRADIENT".
• Then in the align panel click on the "Align horizontal center" and the "Align vertical center".
• Select frame "1" of the "light" layer.
• In the toolbar click on the "Rectangle Tool" icon.
• Left click and drag the mouse then release to create a rectangle on stage.
• Click on the "Selection Tool" icon and select the rectangle fill.
• Then in the color panel in the color mixer:
  • Drag the color box on the left to the middle of the gradient
  • Set the color in the middle of the gradient to "#00CCFF".
  • Left click below the gradient editor to add another color box on the left.
  • Set the color box on the left to "#000000".

2. Create a simple position tween:

• In the main menu go to Modify > Convert to Symbol.
• Then in the "Convert to Symbol" window:
  • Enter the name of the symbol e.g. "ball".
  • Set the "Type" of symbol to "Graphic".
  • Press the "OK" button.
• Position "light_mc" on the left edge of the canvas.
• In the timeline:
  • Right click on frame "50" in the "text_mask" layer and select "Insert Frame".
  • Right click on frame "50" in the "light" layer and select "Insert Keyframe".
• Select frame "25" then right click and choose "Insert Keyframe".
• Reposition "light_mc" at the right edge of the stage.
• In the timeline:
  • Right click between frames "50" and "25" then select "Convert to motion tween".
  • Right click between frames "25" and "1" then select "Convert to motion tween".

3. Convert layer to a mask:

• Right click on the "text_mask" layer and select "Mask" from the drop down menu.

3. Preview the mask shape tween:

• In the main menu go to Control > Text Movie.