Adobe Flash Professional CC 2014 v.13.0 User Manual
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When you edit a bitmap graphic, you modify pixels rather than lines and curves. Bitmap graphics are resolution dependent, because the data
describing the image is fixed to a grid of a particular size. Editing a bitmap graphic can change the quality of its appearance. In particular, resizing
a bitmap graphic can make the edges of the image ragged as pixels are redistributed within the grid. Displaying a bitmap graphic on an output
device that has a lower resolution than the image itself also degrades its quality.
Paths
Whenever you draw a line or shape in Flash, you create a line called a path. A path is made up of one or more straight or curved segments. The
beginning and end of each segment is denoted by anchor points, which work like pins holding a wire in place. A path can be closed (for example,
a circle), or open, with distinct endpoints (for example, a wavy line).
You change the shape of a path by dragging its anchor points, the direction points at the end of direction lines that appear at anchor points, or the
path segment itself.
Components of a path
A. Selected (solid) endpoint B. Selected anchor point C. Unselected anchor point D. Curved path segment E. Direction point F. Direction
line.
Paths can have two kinds of anchor points: corner points and smooth points. At a corner point, a path abruptly changes direction. At a smooth
point, path segments are connected as a continuous curve. You can draw a path using any combination of corner and smooth points. If you draw
the wrong type of point, you can always change it.
Points on a path
A. Four corner points B. Four smooth points C. Combination of corner and smooth points.
A corner point can connect any two straight or curved segments, while a smooth point always connects two curved segments.
A corner point can connect both straight segments and curved segments.
Note: Don’t confuse corner and smooth points with straight and curved segments.
A path outline is called a stroke. A color or gradient applied to an open or closed path interior area is called a fill. A stroke can have weight
(thickness), color, and a dash pattern. After you create a path or shape, you can change the characteristics of its stroke and fill.
Direction lines and direction points
When you select an anchor point that connects curved segments (or select the segment itself), the anchor points of the connecting segments
display direction handles, which consist of direction lines that end in direction points. The angle and length of the direction lines determine the
shape and size of the curved segments. Moving the direction points reshapes the curves. Direction lines don’t appear in the final output.
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