Macromedia Flash – Creating a New Layer

In just about any Flash project where you use imported graphics and animation, you’ll need to create at least a few layers. You need to separate certain elements onto their own layers, particularly when you start to animate objects. You can also stack graphics on top of each other, and even create a sense of depth or overlapping by using multiple layers.

1. Select the background layer on the Timeline and click the Insert Layer button to create a new, empty layer.

   The new layer is created above the background layer (see Figure 9).

   

   Figure 9. Click Insert Layer to insert a new layer above the currently selected layer.

2. Double-click the name of the new layer so the layer’s name becomes editable.

3. Type animation to rename the new layer.

   

   Graphics on the Stage stack according to the layers on the Timeline. For example, anything you put on the animation layer will appear above the image on the background layer. You will add animation to this second layer in Part 2 of this tutorial.

Be sure to save your progress before moving on.

Tip: If you need to reorganize your layers, you can use the Selection tool to select and drag a layer above or below other layers on the Timeline.