| Here is how to create Flash animation using the 3D Transform filter. This is just one example. |
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| 1. First you have to prepare an outlined object. You cannot use a text object with 3D Transform. In this example, we typed FILTERiT. To convert text to outlines, go to Type>Create Outlines... The idea here is to rotate the object in 3D. So what you have to do is by changing the angle of the object slightly in every layer and save the file as a SWF file at the end so that it would look like the object is rotating. |
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2. Once you have the object ready in your document, press Command C (Ctrl+ C for Windows) to copy the object and press Command + F (Ctrl+F for Windows) 23 times to paste in front. So now you should have 24 copies of the same object including the original. These copies will eventually have their own layer so lets move on. If you look in the Layers palette, you can see that there is "Layer 1" as the parent layer and a total of 24 path groups.
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| 3. Select the top most path group layer ONLY as shown here. Make sure the square appears next to the path you chose. |
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| 4. Now, go to Filter>FILTERiT>3D Transform from the Illustrator menu. Once the dialog box appears, select "Arc" from the pull down menu. |
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| 5. Change its settings to X=30, Y=45, Cursor H=0, V=-150 as shown here and click OK. |
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| 6. Now select the second path from the top in the Layers palette. Again, make sure you click the right side of the layer and the square appears. |
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| 7. Press Option + Command + E (Alt + Ctrl + E for Windows) to bring up the 3D Transform dialog box again and change the setting to x=15 (Note: it is the small "x" this time, not the big "X") and click OK. |
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| 8. From here, you are basically repeating the same step. So for the third group layer from the top and repeat Step 7 and change the setting to x=30. In other words, keep adding 15 degrees each time you choose a new group layer. For the fourth group layer, you change it to x=45, x=60 for fifth, x=75 for sixth and so forth. |
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| 9. Once you completed this process, select the PARENT layer (Layer 1) and choose "Release to Layers (Sequence)" from the Layers palette command options (click the arrow on the Layer's palette). |
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| 10. Go to File> Export from the menu and save it as "Macromedia Flash (SWF)" from the pull down menu. Select "AI Layers to SWF frames" as your Export Options in the dialog box. Frame rate of 12 is ok for this example. Leave everything else as default. |
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| 11. Now you should have the swf file and be able to view what you have just created. |
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