Follow the previous steps
to create the basic/non soften-edged transition. To add
the soften edges, we will use a useful Flash tool called
Soften Edges.
You should now have a timeline that looks similar to this.
Insert a new layer above the InitialImage layer. Call
this new layer: SoftEdges.
Copy all the frames of the OvalMask layer. The way to
do this is to click the layer name (OvalMask), , then do
Edit>>CopyFrames (CTRL-ALT-C). Then paste the
frames you just copied into the SoftEdge layer. (Click
the first frame of the SoftEdge layer, then do Edit>>PasteFrames.)
This is what the timeline should look like now:
Hide the OvalMask and EndingImage layer and select the
circle on the SoftEdge layer.
Now do Shape>>SoftenFillEdges and use the
following values. Depending on how large the stage is,
you might need to play around with these values. (If the
movie turns out to be running to slow, decrease the Number of
steps.
You will notice that the circle now has a soft edge.
Here's mine when zoomed in:
Do the SoftEdge to the small circle in the frame labelled
Transition and TransitionFinished.
Test the movie. Note, that I use a yellow circle
above because I'm using an image that has a lot of yellows. In
most cases, you might want to use a natural color such as
white or gray so that it works on most backgrounds.
Remove the InitialImage layer completely and you can get
a nice intro to a movie or something.
Showing another image after the closing (like the
example on the top of this : just insert another
image after the FullCircle frame.
Why It Works:
OvalMask layer causes the Image below it (EndingImage)
to be masked. Ie: Only parts of the Ending Image
that is covered by the oval shape will be visible.
SoftEdges is not masked, so it will show as fully.
Because we copy the frames from the OvalMask layer, the
size and the transformation of the oval will be identical
to that of the OvalMask. The Soften Edges that are
added are outside of the masking area, so they will show
through. See conceptual view below: