Help with my vine flash animation

[jacob111]

Hi, I've been trying to figure out how to make this idea work: My animation starts off with this image of a dead tree without any roots going into the ground(cross section). Then gradually, the tree sprouts roots that grow through the ground and while this is happening, branches and leaves are forming on the tree that looked dead. So basically the same effect for the roots and the leave/branches of the tree---a vine growing animation. But I have been unable to figure out the best way to accomplish this..please help
Thanks, Jacob

[Dylan Marvin]

http://www.actionscript.org/forums/showthread.php3?t=79284

[jacob111]

Hey, I'm still pretty new with most of flash, but I think I can handle making a mask to create the growing vine (or roots in my case) effect and then I'm guessing you just create a movie clip where the vector image of a leave basically enlarges(w/ a motion tween?) and then place that movie clip in several places along the vine (subsequently moving in time along the timeline), so that as the vine image is uncovered by the moving mask, then the small leaves grow out. My image consists of a vine graphic that is a little more complex and when I set the mask to make it look like the vine is growing, the straight line created by the mask is too apparent. You mention that it is possible to make it look better by using multiple masks, but I can't really picture how that would work, or how to go about doing it. Please let me know how this might best be accomplished.
Thanks, Jacob

[Headshotz]

Instead of drawing a rectangle just use the paintbrush tool or something easy to draw with, on each frame of the mask layer add a little bit on. It may not be the most professional looking way to acheive it (there is probably some complex çode used to acheive it), but it will look smoother.