The original discussion was "TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK".

I've tried everything that was suggested and I'm still unable to find a solution to get the planet to revolve around the sun and become invisible when it rotates around the back of the sun. I tried attaching my Flash movie but all I received was an error message indicating that the file type couldn't be uploaded. Can I emal the file to someone and find out what on earth I'm doing wrong?
Both the planet and the sun are graphic symbols. I've tried using two instances of the sun as someone suggested but that didn't work either for me.

Thanks.

me: just cut the .nospam

It's not something on earth you are doing wrong, is it ?

You will never need 2 suns, so you may have misunderstood the advice.

Ciaran

[quoted text, click to view]
solution to get the planet to revolve around the sun and become invisible
when it rotates around the back of the sun. I tried attaching my Flash
movie but all I received was an error message indicating that the file type
couldn't be uploaded. Can I emal the file to someone and find out what on
earth I'm doing wrong?
[quoted text, click to view]
instances of the sun as someone suggested but that didn't work either for
me.
[quoted text, click to view]

It's very simple so you must be doing something 'odd'. This is presuming the
planet starts out in front of the sun - if not just rejig the position

1. Create your animation of the rotating planet - I would assume you would
have this following a motion path

2. new layer: Sun which is placed behind the planet

3. Another layer on top of the planet layer: A copy of the sun. On the
timeline, this should only exist while the planet is in the position of
moving behind the sun - it actually moves behind this one and not the
original which is hidden by this sun

SO your layers are in this order top down

second sun - only exists where required to appear in front of planet
planet - exists all the time
first sun - exists all the time

I have an example but it's at work, but it is really simple

WP

[quoted text, click to view]
solution to get the planet to revolve around the sun and become invisible
when it rotates around the back of the sun. I tried attaching my Flash
movie but all I received was an error message indicating that the file type
couldn't be uploaded. Can I emal the file to someone and find out what on
earth I'm doing wrong?
[quoted text, click to view]
instances of the sun as someone suggested but that didn't work either for
me.
[quoted text, click to view]