The Timeline organizes and controls a document’s content over time in layers and frames. Like films, Flash documents divide lengths of time into frames. Layers are like multiple film strips stacked on top of one another, each containing a different image that appears on the Stage. The major components of the Timeline are layers, frames, and the playhead.

Layers in a document are listed in a column on the left side of the Timeline. Frames contained in each layer appear in a row to the right of the layer name. The Timeline header at the top of the Timeline indicates frame numbers. The playhead indicates the current frame displayed on the Stage. As a document plays, the playhead moves from left to right through the Timeline.

The Timeline status displayed at the bottom of the Timeline indicates the selected frame number, the current frame rate, and the elapsed time to the current frame.

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Parts of the Timeline

A.

Playhead

B.

Empty keyframe

C.

Timeline header

D.

Guide layer icon

E.

Frame View pop‑up menu

F.

Frame-by-frame animation

G.

Tweened animation

H.

Scroll To Playhead button

I.

Onion-skinning buttons

J.

Current Frame indicator

K.

Frame Rate indicator

L.

Elapsed Time indicator

The Timeline shows where animation occurs in a document, including frame-by-frame animation, tweened animation, and motion paths.

Controls in the layers section of the Timeline let you hide, show, lock, or unlock layers, as well as display layer contents as outlines. You can drag frames to a new location on the same layer or to a different layer.

For a video tutorial about the Timeline, keyframes, and frame rates, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0123.