Flash: Instances

Once you've made some symbols for your library, you need to put instances of them in your movie.

Instances are like shadows of your symbol. They can be placed throughout your document and then altered as needed.

Why use instances?

They save time: you won't have to re-make objects, just place new copies of them.
The save space: instances don't take up as much space as new objects, so the more instances you use, the faster your reader will be able to get your movie.
They're adjustable: if you were to make new objects for each copy of something you want, you would have to go back and change each one if you decide to adjust your design. If you use symbols and instances, just changing the symbol will adjust the look of all your instances.

Adding instances and altering their looks

To add an instance to your movie, select the symbol you want to use (in your library window), click on the preview picture, and drag it to your movie. A copy of the image will appear on your stage.

Four Flash Instances, each altered

Flash allows you to make a variety of changes to the look of an instance, or to many instances. In the still image above (exported from Jane's flash movie), you can see four different instances, each changed. Jane has added labels so we can see the changes she made.

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