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Creating Frame-by-Frame Animations

As mentioned earlier, you use frame-by-frame animation when a graphic changes in every frame. Although it’s more time-consuming (and results in a larger file size) than tweening, frame-by-frame animation is essentially created the same way as tweened animations:

1. Click the layer and frame where you want the animation to begin.
2. Insert a keyframe by pressing F6 on your keyboard.
3. Add the starting graphic to the Stage, in the position where you want it.
4. Click the next frame on the same layer and insert another keyframe (F6) to copy the graphic from the last frame, or insert a blank keyframe (F6) if you want to add a new graphic.

For example, if you’re animating a comic face, the second graphic might show the eyebrows slightly raised and the eyes subtly widened. If the animation shows the same image in motion, nudge the position of the graphic.

5. Continue as above, replacing and repositioning graphics in each keyframe.

6. To test the animation, drag the playhead along the Timeline, or press Ctrl+Enter (or Cmd+Return) to test the compiled movie.