Learn 3D Art in Flash CS4.

This entry is part 21 of 23 in the series Flash CS4 Tutorials

There are 2 new tools added to the Flash CS4, the 3D translation tool and the 3D rotation tool, both of which you will find directly under the free transform tool, under the main menu on the extreme right of the flash CS4 Screen like this one.
Learn 3D Art in Flash CS4.
I have on stage a simple movie clip containing a simple vector shape, having selected the free rotation tool, we want to transform this two dimensional object to 3 dimensional space, now click the 3D rotation tool and click on the movie clip, we can see a 3 dimensional guide here like this.
Learn 3D Art in Flash CS4.
This vertical red line is the ‘x’ axis, the green horizontal line is the ‘y’ axis and the blue circle is the ‘z’ axis, now at any point we can click and drag the ‘x’, ’y’ and ‘z’ axis, we can manipulate the object by clicking on the axis and dragging to any direction, just try it,
We also have an orange circle which is called a free transform 3D rotation tool in the diagram above. This will manipulate the object in a 3D space all along the axis, you can change the center point of this guide by clicking on the centre point and dragging it to any direction, now if you manipulate the object, its going to transform around the centre point like this one below.
Learn 3D Art in Flash CS4.
If any any point you want to return the guide to its centre of the object, just double click inside it,
Now lets go and create some animation using the 3d rotation tool, so on the stage click on the movie clip, right click and create motion tween, you will notice the time line like this
Learn 3D Art in Flash CS4.
Scrub the time line you will see the 3d animation in flash CS4.
You can also adjust the 3d position and view on the right of your screen by adjusting the vanishing point along the ‘x’ axis and the ‘y’ axis.

You can use the same logic for a bitmap image as well.