Newbie really needing help

Question

I am learning to use flash and the first project I choose was
a fireworks display. I am doing ok except one area that I keep
getting stuck in. Using the paint bucket fill tool. I am trying to
fill an area that I made with the line tool with a gradient fill. I
Have made sure there were no gaps in the drawing and have followed
the books instructions but I can't get it to fill. The project had
another area that was to be filled with a solid white, and couldn't
get it to work there either. Could someone please tell me where I
am going wrong? It can't be that hard. Ir maybe it can. Any help
would be appreciated. Thank you

Answer 1

Hi Akersrus,
Dont worry when we are here to help you. If you are very sure
that there are no gaps in the shape you created then maybe your
process of creating and adding the gradient was wrong. Lets see a
small tutorial to do so -
Open Flash (I use Flash CS3 and AS2.0 here - doesnt really
matter for illustration though)
1. Take the pencil tool and draw a closed shape. See that the
shape is closed by simply filling a solid color in it, and then
remove the color. Good idea for beginners.
2. The 'Fill Color' palette should be selected, now press
SHIFT+F9 , or goto Window -> Color.
3. A Color tool window pops where you can edit gradients and
do every possible gradient effects or styles. Select the 'Linear'
dropdown, and change the default colors to something you like in
the color selection pallete in the same tool window down below.
4. Once the effects are all set in the color window, select
the paint bucket tool, drag on the object you had drawn, you will
see a line forming which indicates the direction of the gradient,
let go, and you will see the gradient formed. You can edit the
existing style in the COLOR window anytime and then drag again on
the object.
Hope this small and humble tutorial helps you. And see that
you don't have any serious gaps in your illustration!
Enjoy Flash!