The example above is the Flash Orbiting ball. This tutorial will lead you through the process to create an object that flies around text, a logo or object, anything you choose. There are 4 layers needed to create this effect.
- The ball
- The motion guide for the ball
- The text in front of the ball
- The text for the back of the ball
First start a new movie and create or import an object. For this tutorial I chose a ball. Name that layer Ball, this can be done by double clicking the layers title and typing a new name. Make sure the ball or object is selected by clicking on it, then choose insert> convert to symbol.
Now, left click on a key frame somewhere down the timeline (I chose frame 20) and right click in that keyframe and select insert keyframe from the pop up menu. NOTE: the more frames inbetween the first keyframe and the last keyframe indicate the speed of the object Orbiting. For example more frames slower speed - less frames faster speed.
Next, left click the first keyframe and drag your mouse to the last keyframe while holding down the left mouse button. Then right click on on any of those selected frames and choose properties
Follow the picture above for the proper settings for the frame properties.
Second, create a motion guide for that object. You can do this by right clicking on the layer named ball and choose add motion guide from the pop up menu. Select the first keyframe of the motion guide layer, then choose the circle shape from the tools menu and make the fill color empty and the outline anycolor you like. Use the tool to draw a circle and keep in mind that this is the path your object or ball will follow.
In the above picture I drew a circle and sqewed it using this button 
Select the part of the circle that lies between the two pencil lines you drew and right click it. Then choose cut from the pop up menu, It should look like this picture below.
Now cut the rest of the pencil lines you drew in until only the broken circle remains.
Note: If you are having a hard time seeing it, click the 
Now select the first keyframe of the ball layer and move the ball or object over one end of the broken circle. Next, Choose the last keyframe of the ball layer and move the ball or object over the other end of the broken circle.
Test your movie by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the Enter key. At this point you may need to move the ball in the first and last keyframe of the ball layer to position it correctly over the ends of the broken circle motion guide. When it works the ball or object will follow the broken circle from start to finish. Double click the left mouse button in the last keyframe of the motion guide layer and choose the actions tab from the pop up menu click the + button in the top left hand corner and choose goto from the drop down menu. Make sure your actions look like the below frame properties window.
Third Select the Add a layer button 
NOTE: Give the name a shadow effect by first using the text tool to write my name and then choosing edit from the main menu.
Then Duplicate from the drop down menu. So now I have 2 instances of the same text, then all I do is change the color of the text in the back and align it behind the first.
Now insert a keyframe by right clicking in the last keyframe on the name layer and choosing insert keyframe from the pop up menu. The last keyframe here is number 20.
Last lets look at the frames and layers again before we publish our 3D animation.
You should now have 3 layers:
- The name
- The ball
- The motion guide
Next, right click on the first keyframe of the name layer and choose copy frames from the pop up menu.
Then add a new layer
Drag that layer to the top by left clicking and holding down the mouse button while dragging that layer using the mouse cursor, to the top.
Quick Overview: What essentially is happening here is the ball is going around and around. The text is some times in front of the ball and some times in back of the ball, thats why we have a name layer on top and on bottom. The trick is to have the top name layer visable over the ball only when the ball is on the right side of the circle guide. So, the ball appears to be behind the name.
Notice where the ball is in the position shown above, This is when we want the top layer called name to be visable so it will cover the ball.
Now, left click and hold down the mouse button in the top layers first keyframe and drag it to the third frame. This will move the first keyframe to frame number 3. Then place your mouse cursor over frame 20 in the top layer called name and left click, holding down the mouse button and drag the cursor over to frame number 13 that's seven frames highlighted. Finally right click in any of those selected frames and choose delete frames from the pop up menu and it should look like above.
Then choose File>Save as and then File> Publish.
Now that wasn't so bad, was it? Think about it a little bit durring the next couple of days and let your subconcious work on it. You'll develop better ideas for cool pseudo 3D effects. Make sure you submit them to Flashkit so others can see what you've done and learn from your experience.
Download the files used in this tutorial. Download (88 kb)