Flash CS3 Documentation

Learning ActionScript 2.0 in Adobe Flash > Animation, Filters, and Drawings > Drawing with ActionScript > Using complex gradient fills

Using complex gradient fills

The Flash Drawing API supports gradient fills as well as solid fills. The following procedure creates a new movie clip on the Stage, use the Drawing API to create a square, and then fills the square with a radial red and blue gradient.

To create a complex gradient:

1. Create a new Flash document and save it as radialgradient.fla.
2. Add the following ActionScript to Frame 1 of the Timeline:

   this.createEmptyMovieClip("gradient_mc", 10);
   var fillType:String = "radial";
   var colors:Array = [0xFF0000, 0x0000FF];
   var alphas:Array = [100, 100];
   var ratios:Array = [0, 0xFF];
   var matrix:Object = {a:200, b:0, c:0, d:0, e:200, f:0, g:200, h:200, i:1};
   var spreadMethod:String = "reflect";
   var interpolationMethod:String = "linearRGB";
   var focalPointRatio:Number = 0.9;
   with (gradient_mc) {
       beginGradientFill(fillType, colors, alphas, ratios, matrix, spreadMethod, interpolationMethod, focalPointRatio);
       moveTo(100, 100);
       lineTo(100, 300);
       lineTo(300, 300);
       lineTo(300, 100);
       lineTo(100, 100);
       endFill();
   }
   

   The preceding ActionScript code uses the Drawing API to create a square on the Stage and calls the beginGradientFill() method to fill the square with a red and blue circular gradient.

3. Save the Flash document and select Control > Test Movie to view the Flash file.

Flash CS3