• Always create an object well for your project and make sure you save it.
• Always add graphics to the well BEFORE adding them to the background. Once an object is added to the background you can’t change its characteristics. Keeping a copy in the well allows you that flexibility.
• Large graphics should probably be added to the background of your frame if they aren’t going to be changing. The same goes for text blocks.
• Text and graphics added to the background will reduce the size of your file.

If you want the instructions that go with the majority of items in the background variations list, they are now posted at this site.

1. Plain color
2. Graphic – search for appropriate graphic – leave solid and use contrasting text
3. Graphic for background – lower transparency level and place over white background
4. Graphic for background – lower transparency level and place over colored background – background color will show through picture
5. 2 graphics for background – each made partly transparent and placed over top of each other and then both added to the background
6. Transparent graphic combined with a solid color made with the Shape tool
7. Colored glass effect - 2 copies of the same transparent graphic – one is put in the background – then a solid shape filled with a complementary color is added on top – followed by the second copy of the first transparent graphic, lined up to match the first one – then added to the background. The color of the solid shape will show up like glass.
8. Slightly frosted glass effect – put transparent graphic in background – add solid shape filled with complementary color and with transparency somewhat reduced
9. Movie as background – running full frame
10. Slide show done as movie for background
11. Slide show done as move – kept smaller in size – used as an accent on frame
12. Slide show with narration – sound file coordinated to movie
13. Graphic on path

1. Standard text box – with changes to font, size, style, and alignment
2. Standard text box – made transparent
3. Standard text box – made transparent and placed over a graphic element such as a simple shape made by the Shape tool.
4. Standard text box – made transparent and placed over a graphic element such as a simple shape made by the Shape tool and with the transparency level of the shape decreased (provides a border around the text box).
5. Standard text box converted to a graphic
6. Standard text box – left with a solid background – converted into a graphic – and with the intensity of the white level lowered by editing the graphic (no border).
7. Shadow effect - Standard text box – made transparent – duplicated – with the text in each box made a different color – and then layered over each other.
8. Text on path

Navigating through your frames means that you must decide on a variety of things. First is do you want your project to automatically switch between frames or do you want the person viewing your project to have the ability to click buttons and navigate at their will. In considering your navigation options, what is your message? Is it to simply have someone look at your project from beginning to end without interacting? Do you want them to be passive? If you have a complex message that has many layers or elements to it, then you want the individual to pass through some elements or concentrate on those areas where they want to spend more time.

Think “communication.”

1. Presentation clicks – usually used when you are presenting your project to an audience and you simply want to go from frame to frame as you present your project.
2. Buttons – plain or with color – visible
3. Graphics as buttons – create graphic and add invisible button over top
4. Graphics combined with invisible buttons that can go on any object – movies, etc.
5. Graphics as buttons – linked to invisible GoTo object
6. Rollovers – animated buttons
7. Drop-down menus
8. Quit button – on every page
9. Automatic – runs like a movie or slide show. Establish duration for each frame under frame setup option under Frames.

1. Objects can flow along a path
2. Paths can be visible – you can write a name - animate a graph or show a road trip
3. You can demonstrate a flow through a system – ex. Spring run-off – snow melting and running down a mountain and feeding into a river
4. You have no limit in terms of the number of paths
5. Pathing is a powerful tool to gain  a student’s attention because they can create instant activity on the screen - students can draw their name by making their path visible – name appears on the screen – fine-motor movement
6. The path can be enhanced by changing the color and width of the path
7. It can extend the animation  effect of the animation path by creating a duplicate of the path and changing the color and width of the path so students can see it being drawn in 2 colors.
8. From #7, we go to attaching a graphic to the path – attach student’s picture to the path so their picture draws their name
9. Now they can type their name in the text box – create a path animation – of loops and the student can have their name run along the path. The student can start to look at variables – forward and reverse, reverse, forward, looping – students can see what happens when they do it
10. You can use the tool to demonstrate the movement of water through a plant
11. Think processes
12. Think timelines
13. Path + Text Object
14. Path + Graphic
15. Path + Interactivity Tools
16. Path + Link
17. You have can have a path linking directly to another path – so that at the end of one path, the next path begins. Set it up by drawing a link between the paths and then editing the link to say on Movie end so that when the one path finishes, the other starts.
18. Another option is to link one path to the other, having duplicated the path and the objects so they are an exact match and then have a third path that butts right up to the second path so that it looks like two elements have combined to create a third (paths three sequence – title of zoi file demonstrating this combination of features)
19. Third option (zoi file name – paths two spin) – create a tight path that goes in a circle – duplicate and put it directly on top of the first path – change the duration of each path – in the example, one was set at 22 and the other at 33. Look at the variation of movement that results. Cool effect!
20. Path + Container + Branch + GoTo Object: Upon completion of a path, use a branching object to fire off a GoTo object that could transition to another frame
21. Think: Digital Storybook – sequence of events – sound files fire off at different points – think child saying “hi” to a policeman, a fireman, a teacher, and then going on to the rest of the members of the neighborhood on the second frame
22. Path + Container + Branch + GoTo Object: This combination would also work for STEPS IN A PROCESS (look at zoi – path bounce).  Keep in mind that each segment of the entire path could also be individual paths and then you could have one path fire off at the end of the other
23. Path + Button
24. Path + Control Object

1. Text converted to graphic on path
2. Use path to write the title
3. (Put title of project up in lights) Movie playing in text. Bring in movie – use text as white for color and converted to graphic to mask the movie.

1. Use Placeholder objects to indicate where items should go on a frame. You can type up to 256 characters in the title for the object that can appear as directions in the Placeholder object. Just don’t use a period between sentences or that will truncate the message.
2. Use gridlines in combination with Placeholder objects. Gridlines don’t appear when a frame is played but can be used to establish where objects should go.