7. Motion Tweens

Motion tweens work very similarly to shape tweens. They are just used for moving and changing symbols, whereas shape tweens are better for plain fills and lines (so things that are not symbols)

Let’s take a square smiley face this time to move.
He’s already a Symbol – a Movie Clip. You can tell by the blue border and by the information in the properties panel. Remember, this can be done by selecting the shape and pressing F8. Motion Tweens work best on Movie Clips.

1. Draw an object and make it into a symbol (select the object and press F8) Choose "Movie Clip".

It starts off like a shape tween.

2. Create a New Keyframe where you want the motion to end (I used Frame 30).

3. Move the object to its destination.

4. Right-click anywhere along the keyframe in the timeline and select "Create Motion Tween".

Your object should now move. Look at him go...

You can also change the characteristics of the tween using the features in the properties panel. Select any part of the tween on the timeline and look down:

Ease – Speeds up or slows down the movement gradually.
Rotate – Rotates the shape (Select direction and how many times.)
Sound – Makes a sound as it goes – like a zoom!
Effect and Sync – Change the way a sound works – we’ll play with that another time.

Here he is set to rotate.
Wicked eh?

Have a liitle play. Experiment!

Project Idea
Now we're getting to the exciting stuff! The fundamental behind movies - the Motion Tween! Remember your Frame by Frame movie and your shape tween creation? Now, we can do motion tween display! Draw a funny object (anything, a cat, a teacher or a smiley face like me!)

Well done – you’ve mastered simple motion tweens. Remember, different objects need different layers. But supposed you need to move it in a curve or along a line? You'd need motion guides to do that...