I have tried this but every time I draw a gradient, it makes a left to right fill ( not a vertical one ) and when you rotate it, it gets all out of shape ! It would help if you could tell me how to constrain the gradient to draw vertically....

Regards,

TL.

Okay.

1. Ned, I couldn't open the link that you gave above.

2. I found a work around to create a nice graduated mask ( because I couldn't figure out the gradient tool). I created it in PS and imported it to the stage !

3. I made both the maskee and the mask into movie clip symbols and checked the 'cacheasbitmap' button.

4. As you can see, the mask still appears as a hard line rather than a soft fade.

5. After some checking online, I discovered that Flash can't really see a mask as a soft fade without AS.

6. I added

mask_mc.cacheAsBitmap = true;

me_mc.cacheAsBitmap = true;

me_mc.mask = mask_mc;

as instructed but the animation still appears as a harsh line. What am I doing wrong ?

an see the file:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-cQQhdwl3C-WjVtNmRzRHE0OWM/edit

Ned, I took your advice and created a new gradient in Flash and inserted the same code ( with the instance names chaged of course ). However, it still appears as a harsh line instead of a gentle fade. I looked at your file. Mine is the same. At this point, it moves as a nice fade effect. But yours, like mine, turns into a hard line if you turn the gradient into a mask layer. How do I make the mask reperesent the gradient that it is ?

Regards,

TL.

As far as I can see, that is what I have done also. But in both yours and my file, the effect is a harsh line as opposed to a creeping fade. I tried to follow the tut seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5RtkhmkilM but mine just doesn't have the same effect. I tried changing the 'cache as bitmap' button on and off in the properties ( thinking that maybe the AS was clashing with it) but it made no difference either way !

My file can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-cQQhdwl3C-NUNIV1BNS0JFR0U/edit

Regards,

TL.

I've just had a look at the tut again and I realised that I had it done correctly. The problem ( if we can call it that ) is that it won't show you the full effect in a timeline scrub. However, when I run a test swf you see the soft edge. You just don't get a wisiwig in the timeline.

Phew, that's a relief.

Future note to self ( and others ): run regular test swf's - you may have done things that you didn't realise !

here is my file with the rather pretty soft edge mask fade: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-cQQhdwl3C-TWZOUWpQSzZTVGc/edit

Regards,

TL.