Flash shadow effect

After you have completed  flash easing ball animation, you should have it all on one layer.

Step 1

• Create a new layer for the shadow.
• Ensure that the shadow layer is underneath the ball layer.
• If it is not, simply click and drag the layer until it moves beneath the first layer.
• On frame 1 of your shadow layer, draw a new circle, the same size as your ball.
• Alternatively, double click your ball and then copy it, then return to Scene 1, and paste it on the shadow layer.
• Change the color of the new ball to a light grey.
• The Position will be  underneath the ball, see Img 1.

Img 1

Step 2

• Reshape the shadow, because it doesn’t look too realistic.
• Select the shadow, the select the Free Transform Tool from the Tools menu.
• You should see various boxes around your shadow.
• Now  flatten the shape, so select the middle box along the top of the shadow, and drag it down, see Img 2.

Img 2

• Release the mouse button and it should now look something like this, once you have shaped it correctly see Img 3.

Img 3

• Position the shadow so when the ball bounces, it is underneath it.
• So make sure it is in the right place, go to frame 15 on your shadow layer. You should see the ball at the bottom of the stage. Position the shadow so it is in the following position, see Img 4

Img 4

Step 3

• Insert a keyframe on frames 15 and 30 on your shadow layer, by right clicking the frame and selecting “Insert Keyframe”. Once you have done this, create two motion tweens.
• Between frames 1 and 15, and the other between 15 and 30.
• Do this by right clicking and selecting “Create Motion Tween”.
• This timeline should look like Img 5

Img 5

Step 4

• Last step, to get the shadow smaller as the ball moves away from the ground, go to keyframe 1 on your shadow layer. Select the Free Transform Tool again.
• Reduce the size of the shadow by pulling either the left or right hand side handles inwards.
• You should reduce the shadow to around the following size, see img 6

Img 6

• Do the same for keyframe 30, reduce the size of the shadow to the same size as the shadow in keyframe 1.
• Test the movie Control + Enter.