2. Open up LIBRARY: Window > Library
The Library is one of the most important components in making a Flash animation.
This is where you will store all your graphics, text, and sounds. Flash refers to all the items in the Library as "Symbols".
From the Library you will access and re-use the items.

3. As you can see in Graphic 1 (right) I have imported all the various pieces of my cartoon man into the Library: There is the arm, body, eyeball, head, leg, and so on.

4. Then in the stage area (where all the layers are - see Graphic 1 left), I added a layer (by clicking the the little "+ box" at the bottom left of the layers area).
IMPORTANT: For every item in the Libray make a separate, different layer. Plus a few more....
(For example: You will notice in the Library there is only one instance of an eyeball or leg, but the character has two eyeballs and two legs. I draw the body part once (eyeball, leg) and re-use it, placing each on its own layer.)
So that you know which layer is which - name them.

5. Now drag and position each Symbol (graphic) in the Library for each different Layer.
(It is best to think which item is above which when placing on the layers: For example - the eyeball will go on a layer above the head. If it is vice-versa, the head graphic will cover the eye.)
To put the "arm" symbol graphic to the "arm" layer:
a) Click on the "arm" layer;
b) Then go to the Library, click on the "arm" symbol/graphic and;
c) Drag it to the Stage area (the white rectangle) where the graphic will appear - NOT to the Layer area.

6. Now you need to add some empty frames.
If there are no frames in your animation - nothing will happen. Flash is a bit confusing at first - one thinks there are frames when a new document opens, but those are just little empty boxes one sees in the timeline.
Flash only adds one real frame at the start of each new layer.
One has to insert the frames, before there are any frames to work with....

With all the layers in, then add blank Frames (not Keyframes or Blank Keyframes) to all the layers.)
Adding frames is accomplished by selecting all the little boxes (click cursor on a box and drag to add more) in the timeline you want to have frames in and then clicking the "F5" key or INSERT > FRAME command. You can add frames to one or may layers at a time - just "grab" as many as you want.

7. Once all the parts of the graphic are in place you can reposition them in the Stage area by clicking on them.
(If you try to click on one part and another item is always selcted - say the eyeball and the head - lock the one layer that is causeing problems. Just go to that layer and "Lock" icon at the top.)

1. Going to layer "iball" - the man's left eyeball - I click on Frame 3 and then add a Keyframe (F6 or INSERT > Keyframe).
I then do the same at Frame 5, 7 and 9 - each time inserting a Keyframe.
(See "Graphic 2" at right >>).

This method is a bit different than how others show how to set up an animation, but my way makes it more organized and the start point (Frame 1) is always exactly the same as the end point (Frame 9) - which is important in many actions within an animation.

2. Then for the right eyeball I do the same thing, Since I want both eyes to move to the same direction at the same time.
Insert a Keyframe in frames 3,5,7,9.

Position the Eyes:
3. Then go to Frame 3 ("Graphic 3" >>>) for the left eye, click on it. Then go down to the stage and move the eye in the new location to the left.
I did the same for the right eye Keyframe 3.

4. Frame 5 returns the eye back to its original position . No changes to the eye locations are made in Frame 5.

5. Go to Frame 7 left eyeball.
I moved the left eyeball up to the top, right section of the eye. Then on to Frame 7 right eyeball - moved it to it's new postion.
("Graphic 4" >>>).

If we ran the animation as is the eyes would appear jump in jerky motion from place to place.

To make a smooth transition in between each movement on must have Flash do the in-betweening.

To do this for eyeball right, click on any empty space between two Keyframes then go to INSERT > Create Motion Tween.
A little arrow will appear on the layer (See Graphic 5 right).

Do this for every space between each Keyframe.

The animation is now a smooth transition between each Keyframe. To make the movement slower add frames (not Keyframes) inbetween the Keyframes.
Just position the cursor between each Keyframe and click either the "F5" key or INSERT > FRAMES.

To see the finished animation: Click here.