You rotate movie clip instances in 3D space with the 3D Rotation tool 
. A 3D rotation control appears on top of selected objects on the Stage. The X control is red, the Y control is green, and the Z control is blue. Use the orange free rotate control to rotate around the X and Y axes at the same time.
The default mode of the 3D Rotation tool is global. Rotating an object in global 3D space is the same as moving it relative to the Stage. Rotating an object in local 3D space is the same as moving it relative to its parent movie clip if it has one. To toggle the 3D Rotation tool between global and local modes, click the Global toggle button in the Options section of the Tools panel while the 3D Rotation tool is selected. You can temporarily toggle the mode from global to local by pressing the D key while dragging with the 3D Rotation tool.
The 3D Rotation and Translation tools occupy the same space in the Tools panel. Click and hold the active 3D tool icon in the Tools panel to select the currently inactive 3D tool.
By default, selected objects that have 3D rotation applied appear with a 3D axis overlay on the Stage. You can turn off this overlay in the General section of Flash Preferences.
Rotate a single object in 3D space
- Select the 3D Rotation tool in the Tools panel (or press the W key).Verify that the tool is in the mode that you want by checking the Global toggle button in the Options section of the Tools panel. Click the button or press the D key to toggle the mode between global and local.
- Select a movie clip on the Stage.The 3D Rotation controls appear overlaid on selected object. If the controls appear in a different location, double-click the control center point to move it to the selected object.
- Place the pointer over one of the four rotation axis controls.The pointer changes when over one of the four controls.
- Drag one of the axis controls to rotate around that axis, or the free rotate control (outer orange circle) to rotate x and y simultaneously.Drag the X axis control left or right to rotate around the x axis. Drag the y-axis control up or down to rotate around the y axis. Drag the z-axis control in a circular motion to rotate around the z axis.
- To relocate the rotation control center point relative to the movie clip, drag the center point. To constrain the movement of the center point to 45° increments, press the Shift key while dragging.Moving the rotation control center point lets you control the effect of the rotation on the object and its appearance. Double-click the center point to move it back to the center of the selected movie clip.The location of the rotation control center point for the selected object appears in the Transform panel as the 3D Center Point property. You can modify the location of the center point in the Transform panel.
Rotate a multiple-object selection in 3D space
- Select the 3D Rotation tool in the Tools panel (or press the W key).Verify that the tool is in the mode that you want by checking the Global toggle button in the Options section of the Tools panel. Click the button or press the D key to toggle the mode between global and local.
- Select multiple movie clips on the Stage.The 3D Rotation controls appear overlaid on the most recently selected object.
- Place the pointer over one of the four rotation axis controls.The pointer changes when over one of the four controls.
- Drag one of the axis controls to rotate around that axis, or the free rotate control (outer orange circle) to rotate X and Y simultaneously.Drag the x-axis control left or right to rotate around the x axis. Drag the y-axis control up or down to rotate around the y axis. Drag the z-axis control in a circular motion to rotate around the z axis.All of the selected movie clips rotate around the 3D center point which appears at the center of the rotation controls.
- To relocate the 3D rotation control center point, do one of the following:
- To move the center point to an arbitrary location, drag the center point.
- To move the center point to the center of one of the selected movie clips, Shift-double-click the movie clip.
- To move the center point to the center of the group of selected movie clips, double-click the center point.
Changing the location of the 3D rotation center point lets you control the effect of the rotation on the objects.
The location of the rotation control center point for the selected object appears in the Transform panel as the 3D Center Point. You can modify the location of the center point in the Transform panel.
Rotate a selection with the Transform panel
- Open the Transform panel (Window > Transform).
- Select one or more movie clips on the Stage.
- In the Transform panel, enter the desired values in the 3D Rotation X, Y, and Z fields to rotate the selection. These fields contain hot text, so you can drag the values to change them.
Note: The 3D rotation takes place in global or local 3D space, depending on the current mode of the 3D Rotation tool in the Tools panel.
- To move the 3D rotation point, enter the desired values in the 3D Center Point X, Y, and Z field
January 4, 2011 at 4:04 am
When I use the 3d tool, my vector image looks/becomes a bitmap image. Is there a way I can still show it as vector when I publish it?
March 7, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I used the 3d rotation tool to rotate a dial around a speedometer. It works fine in flash 10 but the dial jumps to the other side of stage and loses it’s animation in Flash 9 player. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem?