flash (macromedia): I'm trying to create a cartoonish flash movie, I've been reading here in this
forum and seen different tutorials so I know some of the tips that?s been
mentioned here earlier but still I have a couple of questions.

When I design a character I put every item on a different layer and converts
it to a symbol or movie, head, eyes, arms, legs etc are all symbols on
different layers. Then I import the saved character to my ?cartoon?-movie, but
now to the matter of my post.

Should I make my character a symbol itself in the scene or have all the
different layers and symbols loose in the scene?

I don?t know if I?ve explained it enough so here?s an example:

Scene > Character-as-symbol > Different layers with symbols (arms, leg, head)
Or
Scene > Different layers with symbols (arms, leg, head)


I?ve noticed benefits using both methods, when my character is a symbol of
it?s own I can easily swap the symbol to another symbol, like, turning his head
or something like that. But instead I can?t make frame-by-frame animation and
I?m locked up to the pre-made animations and symbols.
If I instead use the character as several layers in the scene I get full
control of every frame and the frame-by-frame animation is easy. I can also
change the scale and shape of the characters different parts using ?first
frame? and then have different shapes at different frames in the symbol, but
then I can?t use pre-made animations.

So what?s the best way? Is there a better way? What structure of layers and
symbols are you using when you are implanting a character in a scene?


I?d really appreciate some help in this matter, I don?t want dig myself into a
whole with poor design and structure and not be able to continue the cartoon
halfway done.

I know all too well what you mean.
Both methods work for different needs.
Whenever I need a character to walk across the stage, I nest the walkcycle in
a symbol and then motion tween the symbol across the stage.
But then if I need to use frame-by-frame animation, I then select the
walkcycle symbol in the last frame of my tween, create a new layer and a blank
keyframe AFTER the last frame of the tween - do a "paste-in-place" so
character is in exactly the same position and then press Ctrl+B (Break Apart).
Next, with all the symbols of the character selected on this new frame - right
click over them and select "Distribute to Layers". This will place each symbol
on its own layer - now you can continue your animation on the main timeline.
remember to create a blank keyframe after the last keyframe of your motion
tween walk cycle or whatever your nested animation was.
does this help?