In today's video tutorial, I'll show you how to create an ActionScript 3D particle effect that causes multiple stars to animate out in all directions in 3D space. Here is the ActionScript for this tutorial:

var container:MovieClip = new MovieClip();
addChild(container);
 
root.transform.perspectiveProjection.fieldOfView = 120;
 
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, addStar);
 
function addStar(e:Event):void
{
	var mc:star = new star();
	mc.x = stage.stageWidth / 2;
	mc.y = stage.stageHeight / 2;
	mc.z = 0;
	mc.xVel = Math.random() * 4 - 2;
	mc.yVel = Math.random() * 4 - 2;
	mc.zVel = Math.random() * 4 - 2;
	mc.count = 0;
	container.addChild(mc);
	mc.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, animate);
}
 
function animate(e:Event):void
{
	e.currentTarget.x += e.currentTarget.xVel;
	e.currentTarget.y += e.currentTarget.yVel;
	e.currentTarget.z += e.currentTarget.zVel;
	e.currentTarget.count++;
	if (e.currentTarget.count >= 100)
	{
		e.currentTarget.removeEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, animate);
		container.removeChild(MovieClip(e.currentTarget));
	}
}

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Inverse Kinematics! The feature we've all been waiting for! IK is going to make character animation a lot easier than it once was. With IK, you can build a bone structure to link different pieces of a character or object together in order to make it easier to animate.

In today's video, Craig will discuss how to create and animate bone structures using Flash's Bone Tool.

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If you're familiar with using motion paths in Flash CS3, then you might be a little confused when trying to create your own custom path using Flash CS4. In Flash CS4, a motion path is automatically created any time you create a motion tween, and there is only so much you can do to customize the path that is created for you.

What if you want to create a motion path from scratch in Flash CS4? Well, in this video, I'll show you exactly how to do it, and you'll discover that it has become easier than ever!

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