public function Matrix(a:Number = 1, b:Number = 0, c:Number = 0, d:Number = 1, tx:Number = 0, ty:Number = 0)

If you do not provide any parameters to the new Matrix() constructor, it creates an "identity matrix" with the following values:

In matrix notation, the identity matrix looks like this:

 import flash.geom.Matrix;
 
  var matrix_1:Matrix = new Matrix();
  trace(matrix_1); // (a=1, b=0, c=0, d=1, tx=0, ty=0)
  
  var matrix_2:Matrix = new Matrix(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6);
  trace(matrix_2); // (a=1, b=2, c=3, d=4, tx=5, ty=6)
 

public function clone():Matrix

public function concat(m:Matrix):void

For example, if matrix m1 scales an object by a factor of four, and matrix m2 rotates an object by 1.5707963267949 radians (Math.PI/2), then m1.concat(m2) transforms m1 into a matrix that scales an object by a factor of four and rotates the object by Math.PI/2 radians.

This method replaces the source matrix with the concatenated matrix. If you want to concatenate two matrixes without altering either of the two source matrixes, first copy the source matrix by using the clone() method, as shown in the Class Examples section.

public function createBox(scaleX:Number, scaleY:Number, rotation:Number = 0, tx:Number = 0, ty:Number = 0):void

Using the createBox() method lets you obtain the same matrix as you would if you applied the identity(), rotate(), scale(), and translate() methods in succession. For example, mat1.createBox(2,2,Math.PI/4, 100, 100) has the same effect as the following:

  import flash.geom.Matrix;
    var mat1:Matrix = new Matrix();
  mat1.identity();
  mat1.rotate(Math.PI/4);
  mat1.scale(2,2);
  mat1.translate(10,20);
  

public function createGradientBox(width:Number, height:Number, rotation:Number = 0, tx:Number = 0, ty:Number = 0):void

For example, consider a gradient with the following characteristics:

• GradientType.LINEAR
• Two colors, green and blue, with the ratios array set to [0, 255]
• SpreadMethod.PAD
• InterpolationMethod.LINEAR_RGB

The following illustrations show gradients in which the matrix was defined using the createGradientBox() method with different parameter settings, as indicated:

createGradientBox() settings	Resulting gradient
width = 25; height = 25; rotation = 0; tx = 0; ty = 0;
width = 25; height = 25; rotation = 0; tx = 25; ty = 0;
width = 50; height = 50; rotation = 0; tx = 0; ty = 0;
width = 50; height = 50; rotation = Math.PI / 4; // 45° tx = 0; ty = 0;

public function deltaTransformPoint(point:Point):Point

public function identity():void

After calling the identity() method, the resulting matrix has the following properties: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=1, tx=0, ty=0.

In matrix notation, the identity matrix looks like this:

public function invert():void

public function rotate(angle:Number):void

The rotate() method alters the a, b, c, and d properties of the Matrix object. In matrix notation, this is the same as concatenating the current matrix with the following:

public function scale(sx:Number, sy:Number):void

The scale() method alters the a and d properties of the matrix object. In matrix notation, this is the same as concatenating the current matrix with the following:

public function toString():String

public function transformPoint(point:Point):Point

public function translate(dx:Number, dy:Number):void

1. The application creates a new Matrix object myMatrix, and it uses the trace() method to output the default property values for the myMatrix object.
2. Then the application calls the createGradientBox() with the width and height parameters set to 200 pixels, no rotation, and the distance to translate along the x and y axes set to 50 pixels.
3. The application prints the myMatrix again to show the change after calling createGradientBox().
4. The application then sets up three variables to control how the gradient box is filled:
1. colors: sets the gradient colors to range between solid red and solid blue.
2. alphas: sets the opacity to solid.
3. ratios: sets the distribution of the colors to be equal for both red and blue.
5. The application calls the graphics methods beginGradientFill(), which operates on the myMatrix object, and it calls the lineTo() method, resulting in the gradient filled box.

package {
    import flash.geom.Matrix;
    import flash.display.Sprite;
    import flash.display.GradientType;

    public class MatrixExample extends Sprite {

        public function MatrixExample() {
            var myMatrix:Matrix = new Matrix();
            trace(myMatrix.toString());    // (a=1, b=0, c=0, d=1, tx=0, ty=0)

            myMatrix.createGradientBox(200, 200, 0, 50, 50);
            trace(myMatrix.toString());    // (a=0.1220703125, b=0, c=0, d=0.1220703125, tx=150, ty=150)

            var colors:Array = [0xFF0000, 0x0000FF];
            var alphas:Array = [100, 100];
            var ratios:Array = [0, 0xFF];
            graphics.beginGradientFill(GradientType.LINEAR, colors, alphas, ratios, myMatrix);
            graphics.lineTo(0, 300);
            graphics.lineTo(300, 300);
            graphics.lineTo(300, 0);
            graphics.lineTo(0, 0);
        }
    }
}