How to Make a Map in Flash

Learn how to create a map in Flash from an image. The advantage of using Flash is the small file size and the ability to add interactivities such as navigation and pop-up screens with additional information. Your map will also be in a vector format, which allows you to enlarge or shrink your image without losing quality.

• 1

  Open Flash and click "File," then "New" and then click "Flash File (ActionScript 3.0)" from the pullout menu.

• 2

  Import your map image by clicking on File," then "Import" and then click "Import to Stage." Browse to where your images are and then click "Open."

• 3

  Create a new layer by clicking "Insert Layer" at the bottom of the timeline and name it "borders."

• 4

  Click the "Magnify Glass" on the tool bar and click on your map twice to go from a zoom of 100 percent to 400 percent.

• 5

  Open the properties panel by clicking "Window" from the main menu and "Properties" and "Properties" again from the pullout menu. Click on the "Hairline" from the pull-down line type menu. Click on a color that will show up well against your map by clicking on color box and choosing a color like red.

• 6

  Turn on the "Snap To Object" by pressing down on the magnet at the bottom of the toolbar.

• 7

  Place your cursor where you want to begin tracing the border, click and while holding your mouse down drag to follow the outline of the map. Do the same to outline other areas such as counties.

• 8

  Add color to the map by clicking on an area and then clicking on the "Paint Bucket" from the toolbar. Choose a color and click while holding the "Paint Bucket" over the area you want to add color to.

• 9

  Add information to map areas by creating a new layer and adding information such as city names by using the "Text" tool on the toolbar.