Duplicating and altering nested symbols

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
October 22, 2021
2 replies
321 views

I have a very simple drawing of a ninja, composed of about 8 shapes. Each shape (head, body, limbs and eyes) have been converted to symbols and combined to make one 'master ninja symbol.' My intention was to create an army of differing Ninjas. I know I could go and copy and paste, break apart and change, rename all symbols and reassemble limbs, but this seems like the long way around. Is there any way I can copy the master and change color / shape etc, without altering master ninja? I hope this makes sense. File pasted below.

This topic has been closed for replies.

thepixelsmith

Community Expert

You can control some color properties of the symbol instance.

In the Properties panel, the Tint and the Advanced options in the Color Effects group let you make adjustments to each instance.

I don't know if it will give you the level of adjustment you want, but it might work.

The problem would be changing the shape of the symbols themselves. While individual symbol instances can have their transform properties adjusted the point of a symbol is to create a reusable master object. So if you wanted a symbol with different shapes you would really want multiple symbols.

J

Jim5CECAuthor

Participant

Thanks Pixelsmith. I think multiple symbols, drawing a new version for each is the way to go. These guys are beginners and the drawing practice will help. I mistakenly thought I might be able to shortcut the process by duplicating and altering symbols, but nesting symbols caught me out. I'll be checking Flanimate for myself, but keeping things simple for the kids.

n. tilcheff

Legend

You can use Duplicate Symbol Recursive.

For colour variations, you can use Symbol Palette Control.

Nick - Character Designer and Animator, Flash user since 1998 | Member of the Flanimate Power Tools team - extensions for character animation

J

Jim5CECAuthor

Participant

Thanks for the reply Nick. I'm teaching secondary school students and was looking for a simple solution. Flanimate looks great, but possibly beyond where I want to take the kids. I'll give the Symbol Palette Control a go. Cheers.

n. tilcheff

Legend

All the best, Jim! 🙂

Nick - Character Designer and Animator, Flash user since 1998 | Member of the Flanimate Power Tools team - extensions for character animation

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded