(1) Simple Fade

• open the program, click on the stage and set the resolution of the flash movie 200*100 from the Properties Panel
• write a simple text on the first frame an the first layer (doesn't matter the properties of the text, just the color has to be different than the background, we will use the default color, white)
• name the layer "text" so you can identify the layer
• create another layer (right click on any layer will display a menu, and by pressing Insert Layer a new layer will be created above)
• name the new layer "fade"
• on the layer "fade" in the first frame draw a white rectangle and on the property panel set: width = 200, height = 100, x = 0, y = 0 which means the rectangle covers all the visible surface of the Stage (you can also draw a bigger rectangle if the rectangle includes the surface of the Flash movie)
• in the "fade" layer at frame 20 insert a new KeyFrame (right click on the frame 20) then double click on the rectangle to select it and on the Color Panel set the alpha property of the color to 0 (now in the frame 20 you have a complete transparent square)
• now select the first frame and from the Properties Panel select Tween Shape
• copy the first frame, insert a new KeyFrame at frame 40, then Paste
• select the first frame and from the Properties Panel select Tween Shape, the do the same for frame 20
• click the first frame from the layer named "text" and insert frames until you get to frame 40 (Menu/Insert/Timeline/Frame or press F5) or just insert a new KeyFrame on the frame 40
• now compile (CTRL+ENTER)

Please take in consideration our next advices:

• as you have probably realized the text does not fade, but it is hidden by the square witch can't be seen because it has the same color as the background
• use this technique only if you have one color on the background
• check the Mask Chapter to learn another way to do the fade