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Authoring Your Own SwishMax Effects - The Basics
With the release of SwishMax a new option has given you the ability to make your own effects.
This tutorial will hopefully teach you in a plain and simple manner how to get down to the business of making your own custom SwishMax effects.
Enabling Effects Authoring
First you must enable the "Authoring" capabilities. This is a 2 step process.
To do this you must select:
"Tools"
"Preferences"
Then select the "Effects" tab.
Now check the "Allow Effect Authoring" checkbox.
Now insert the word "Home" into your movie. Make sure Static Text is selected.
Right-Click on the timeline of your text and scroll down to core effects.
For this example we will select the core effect called "Transform".
Now your effects dialog box will appear.
Check the "author" box on the upper right.
As you see, new Tabs become available in your effects box.
Authoring is now ready.
Its time to start making your own, easily adjustable, custom effects.
Making a Swishmax Effect
Now were going to add a customizing factor to the "Custom" tab.
(You can add up to nine of them to an effect.)
For our example we will add a "slider" to change the spacing between each letter at the end of the effect.
First Select the "Transforms" Tab.
1. Select the "End" checkbox.
After selecting the "End" checkbox you will be able to modify the "End" effects.
2. RIGHT-CLICK the "Spacing" box in the "End" category (it will have 100 in it by default)
In this box type the letter "s" (No Quotes and not capitalized)
Now select the "Author" tab.
In the first box type "Spacing" and in the "Variable" box type the letter "s" (No Quotes and not capitalized)
In the box next to it that says "Edit". click it and select "Slider".
Now the Min/Max box will appear. Type 100 in the Min box and 400 in the Max box.
Now we can see our effect AND adjust it while it plays.
(This makes getting the perfect effect just like you want it.)
Select the "Custom" tab.
Then click  the button.
The effect plays and you can adjust your new "Spacing" slider and see the effect change.
When you are happy with your effect,
1. Name It
2. Save it.
NOTES :
Dynamic Text and Static Text react differently to effects. Static Text is more highly affected by effects and by far the best choice.
If you right-click to set you letter variable and the box WILL NOT let you put a variable letter in it, this means it is NOT accessible. If you just have to put one there than you will have to select a different "Core Effect".
Next tutorial coming soon,
EvilTex
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