So quick it HURTS!!

Are you a keyboard shortcuts freak like me? If so, and you're also a Flash user, you probably wish there were shortcuts for a lot more stuff in Flash. Like resizing the brush tool (as it is with Photoshop), toggling the onion skin on/off, switching between brush modes, changing brush smoothing..

There are so many things I would like to see keyboard shortcuts for in Flash, but there are some things even Flash extensions can't help you with.

So the other day I discovered a (PC only) program that allows you to set keyboard shortcuts for any number of steps in any program. It's called QuickMacros and it works by capturing your mouse movements, key presses, etc and saving them as macros for which you can then set keyboard shortcuts.

For the uninitiated, a macro is a group of actions saved as one step.. Flash Commands are a type of macro, as are Photoshop Actions.

Remember this isn't just for Flash.. it can be used for any program, even multiple programs. You can even use it to enter long usernames, your credit card number or complicated passwords with just one keypress. Therefore by my (admittedly naive) reasoning, if spyware is logging your keystrokes, it can't get hold of your info because you're not pressing the actual keys. You're just using a shortcut that enters the info automatically.. (feel free to correct me or back me up if you're a tecchy).

So in QuickMacros, I have a macro called 'FlashRecent'. It is assigned the keyboard shortcut Shift+F10, which when pressed, makes all of this happen:

1. Start Flash
2. Open the most recent document
3. Select the Paint Bucket
4. Set 'Don't Close Gaps'
5. Choose the Brush tool
6. Select the smallest brush size
7. Toggle the 'Use Pressure' button (tablet pressure)
8. Open the Property Inspector
9. set Brush Smoothing to 20
10. Close Property Inspector
11. Click the Fill Color swatch - which opens the colour swatches.

All these steps are what I usually need to do each time I start Flash, because Flash doesn't remember these settings when you close/open (with the exception of step 9, which I always check manually anyway... this macro relieves me even of that simple check).

The entire process of setting up my workspace is performed with a simple key combination now, so first thing in the morning I turn on my computer, hit Shift + F10 and go away to make a cup of coffee (it all happens extremely fast, but it's as good a time as any to get coffee).

When coffee's safely on the desk beside me, Flash has the swatches palette open waiting for me to choose a colour and start drawing. NICE!


My macros in the screenshot are:

• FlashRecent as I described above. Notice in the right part of the screen, as well as certain other steps, it runs another of my macros: "Paint Setup". So this macro runs another macro.. which is just bloody lovely.
• Brush (Paint Inside and Paint Normal) sets the brush mode.
  
• Smoothing (20 and 100), sets the brush smoothing slider to these values.
• FFT_Flash is a filter for Flash, meaning that those keyboard shortcuts only work in Flash - very handy, cos I can set the same key presses for different macros in other programs.
• Signature types out my email signature.
  
• the ER_disneyMovs macro is for whenever anyone asks me which Disney movies I worked on. I press Ctrl + Num *, and the list types itself out :D

As you can also see from the screenshot, I'm using a fully functioning trial version, but after just 8 days I know I'll be buying this. It has increased my already lightning workflow by probably 30%. Bear in mind that I'm not the most tech-savvy guy in the world, but I picked this up in minutes. Very easy.

Finally, where can you get it? www.quickmacros.com - - and once again, no I'm not advertising for anyone. I'm simply sharing stuff with you that I've found incredibly useful.
Take the trial for a spin.. it has a Quick Start mode, the documentation is good and even has a couple of simple tutorials to get you going.

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So which Disney movies did I work on?
Now pressing Ctrl+Num*

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Some of the movies I worked on when I was working with Disney are (as you'll see, we were mostly a sequel Studio). These are in the order they came into my head:

• Lion King 2
• Lion King 1.5
• Lady and the Tramp 2
• Little Mermaid 2
• A Goofy Movie
• An Extremely Goofy Movie
• Jungle Book 2
• The Three Musketeers
• Lilo and Stitch 2
• Bambi 2
• Aladdin 2
• Aladdin 3
• Peter Pan 2
• Tarzan 2
• and a whole bunch of Disney TV shows (for Saturday morning cartoons).

In most of those, you'll find my name in the Special Effects credits.

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So if you recently asked me that question in an email and you received that reply, you now know that it took me about half second to type it!

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oh yeah and.. the other night when I said I was going outside to see the meteor shower, I closed down the computer and went outside to find it pissing down rain.. so didn't see any!

(pressing Ctrl Num -)

Adam

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Adam Phillips
www.biteycastle.com