| Dessolving words:
Step 1:
Type the text you're gonna dissolve on it's own separate layer. It's good
to name this layer so you don't get it confused with other stuff in your
movie.
Step 2:
Convert your text into a movie clip symbol. Either click Insert> Convert
to Symbol, or press F8. Name it something like "dissolve". Double
click on it's name in the Library (Ctrl-L) to edit it.
Step 3:
Okay, in your symbol's timeline, create a number of layers equal to the
number of letters in the to-be-dissolved word. Name these according to
the letters. Check out Figure 1.1.
Figure 1.1
Step 4:
Select your word and break it apart. Ctrl-B.
Step 5:
Okay, now select the first letter in your word. This would be the "D"
in my example. Press F8 to convert to symbol. Name it something like "letter_d".
Cut it from the layer and paste it into it's corresponding layer. Use
Ctrl-Shift-V to do this, so it will paste into place.
Guidelines for this:
Zoom in a little bit. It's important you select the whole letter, and
this usually makes it easier.
You may have repeating letters, such as the "ss" in "dissolving".
You'll need to name the second letter "letter_s2".(Or something
like that.)
Step 6:
Okay, back with me now? You should have each letter on its own separate
layer. Should look something like Figure 1.2.
Figure 1.2
Step 7:
Now, all depending on how fast you want your word to dissolve, create
a frame on all of the layers. I did it on frame 40. This shows on Figure
1.2 also. Check it out.
Note: An easy way to do this is to select the desired frame on your top
layer, hold down Shift, and select it on your bottom layer. This selects
across all layers.
Step 8:
This is where your creative instincts come in. Start with your first letter.
Move it away from your word, scale it some, rotate it some, and change
the Alpha to 0%. There's a lot of possibilities here, so do whatever you
feel like. Do this to all of your letters. My beautiful example is Figure
1.3.
Figure 1.3
Step 9:
I said "Let there be motion." and there was. Select a frame
somewhere between the start and ending frames of your top layer. Hold
down Shift and do the same to all of your layers. Check Figure 1.4. Click
Insert> Create Motion Tween.
Figure 1.4
Step 10:
So beautiful it brings a tear to my eye. Drag your time slider back and
forth to view your handiwork. Don't like it? Undo a few times and try
again.
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