This tutorial was written for the Flash Designer software, which allows you to create flash animations in a much easier way than by using Macromedia Flash. You may get Flash Designer here.

Program 3D movement with ActionScript

NOTE: Minimum Flash Designer version 5.0.17 (verify revision number under "Help" > "About...", download update if required)

1. Launch Flash Designer and choose "blank document"

2. Set frame size to 300 x 300

3. Set frame delay to 0.05 sec

4. Choose "Ellipse" tool and draw the ball, hold CTRL to draw a circle

5. Choose "Item" > "Line and Fill" > "Gradient Fill"

6. Click "Center Color" and change it to your favourite color (this is the light color)

7. Click "Outer Color" and change it to a color darker than center color (this is the shadow color)

8. Change "Delta X" and "Delta Y" to -50 (this will move the center of the gradient)

9.Click OK to fill the ball with the gradient

10. Choose "Edit" > "Convert to Sprite", the ball will appear as "Sprite2"

11. Choose "Item" > "Placement Properties", check "ActionScript Target" and change "Item Name" to "theBall", click OK

12. Choose "Frame" > "ActionScript" and enter the following code:

Angle++; // increase angle by 1 degree at each frame
rad = Angle / 20; // divide angle by speed
// calculate x and y offset of the ball
// sin and cos are between -1 and 1
X = Math.sin(rad) * 100; // X: -100 to +100 pixels horizontally
Y = Math.cos(rad) * 30; // Y: -30 to +30 pixels vertically
// place the ball at x and y
// (120,120) is the center
theBall._x = 120 + X;
theBall._y = 120 + Y;
// scale the ball based on y coordinate (vertical axis)
// negative y will increase the scale
// 100 is the normal size
theBall._xscale = 100 + Y;
theBall._yscale = 100 + Y;
// fade the ball based on y too
theBall._alpha = 75 + Y / 2;

Press F9 to preview the animation