Flash web site design tutorial - Fade-in and fade-out effect

A continuous fade-in and out effect involves creating three keyframes on the Time line. The logic behind creating this effect is quite simple. The first and the last frames have an invisible symbol while the middle keyframe has a fully visible symbol instance.

This time, instead of using shapes, we shall employ some text.

Step 1
Open a new file. Change the layer name to fade-in-out. Hightlight the first frame on the layer.
Click on the Text Tool . Select a bold font like Arial Black, size 48. Type some text (your name!), center the text with Modify - Align and clicking on the third icon from the left in both Vertical and Horizontal alignments and checking the Align to Page checkbox.

Step 2
If the text is not selected, click on it with the the Arrow tool . Now, make this text into a symbol by clicking Insert - Convert to Symbol. Give a name to this symbol and be sure that its Behavior is set to Graphic.

Step 3
Make two keyframes (frame number 1 is already a keyframe) at frames 15 and 30. (To make a keyframe, right-click on the frame and select Insert Keyframe from the menu).

Step 4
Hightlight frame 1 and click Modify - Instance. Change the Alpha level (in the Color Effect) to 0%. Repeat the process for frame 30.

Step 5
Our time line with the required keyframes is all set for the addition of motion tweens.
Create Motion Tweens between frames 1 and 15 and 15 and 30. You can do this by right-clicking on one of the middle frames and selecting Create Motion Tween from the menu.

Tip: When working with large text it is better to apply View - Antialias Text option for a smoother efect.